Available nationwide from February, Traidcraft's new fair trade rubber gloves will cost £1.10 and give people the opportunity to help "wash unfair trade away" and make a positive difference to fair trade rubber farmers in Sri Lanka.
As part of the Firstlight Project, set-up by Sri Lankan rubber manufacturer, the farmers receive a fair price for their rubber latex, as well as technical support and help with purchasing equipment.
With over 26 million pairs of rubber gloves sold annually in the UK, consumers who switch to fair trade could help make a big difference to the small-scale farmers, like Mr. Sampala who is featured on the back of the packaging.
The bright packaging also features the slogan "I'm washing unfair trade away" and is in keeping with the award-winning design of Traidcraft’s successful recycled tissue range which features similar eye-catching campaign phrases such as "I'm blowing poverty away".
The aim of the brightly coloured and compelling thought-bubble mottos is to get shoppers to think about their purchasing decisions and how a small change in buying could dramatically change the lives of others.
Traidcraft work with Firstlight to ensure that the impact reaches further as the price paid also includes a development premium. This means that the benefit of fair trade can be felt by farmers and their communities.
The rubber gloves will be available direct from Traidcraft at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk or on 0845 330 8900.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
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Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 23 February to 7 March 2009.
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Traidcraft is the UK's leading fair trade organisation and 2009 marks 30 years of fighting poverty through trade.
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BM Polyco is a glove and hand protection supplier who has been leading the European Glove Market in Quality, Service and Innovation since 1979.
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Consumers who wear rubber gloves use approximately 150 pairs in their lifetime.
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On average women spend over 2 hours and 30 minutes a day doing housework: cooking, washing up, cleaning and ironing – 1 hour and 30 minutes more than men. Both sexes spend similar lengths of time gardening or looking after pets. DIY and car maintenance are the only chores that men, in general, spend more time on than women. Source: BBC Good Homes.
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All products are available at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk or through our customer order line on 0845 330 8900.
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Traidcraft works to fight poverty through trade by:
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Trading with people in Africa, Asia and Latin America
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Supporting people in the developing world to build sustainable businesses
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Influencing policy making in government and business
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Traidcraft sources its products from community-based businesses in the developing world, paying fair prices to the producers and distributing the products in the UK. The goods are sold via supermarkets, independent retailers, online, mail order, and a network of more than 5,000 individual sellers of fair trade products.
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For product information, high resolution images and samples contact Cool Blue on 01642 351011 or email liz.fenwick@coolbluebrand.com or rachael.heath@coolbluebrand.com.
