What is fair trade?
We believe that injustice in trade is a global issue. In a world where the gap between rich and poor continues to grow and where, in business, maximising profit is higher up the agenda than social responsibility, millions of hard-working and skilled producers and workers throughout the developing world remain in poverty.
Fair trade was created as an alternative way of doing trade. It is based on partnership, which means that the interests of farmers and workers are just as important as other commercial considerations. It also represents one solution to poverty and a model for development.
Key Principles of Fair Trade
- Trading practices are fair and not one-sided.
- Prices paid are fair and sufficient for producers and workers to earn more than enough to merely meet their day-to-day needs.
- Payments are often made in advance to ensure the supplier can fulfill orders.
- Producers and workers have a voice, whether organised into groups or involved in workplaces where there is freedom of association.
- Safe working conditions, non-discrimination and welfare of children.
The FAIRTRADE Mark
The Fairtrade Foundation licenses the FAIRTRADE Mark to thousands of products in the UK. The supply chain of each of these products must comply with the Fairtrade Standards. The Mark is recognised by over 80% of the UK population. Traidcraft is proud of the fact that we were one of the founders of the Fairtrade Foundation back in the 1990’s.
The Wider World of Fair Trade
Fair trade has grown enormously since the 1980s. There are lots of organisations throughout the world who share the same mission and philosophy as Traidcraft. We call ourselves Fair Trade Organisations (FTOs) and often work together.
Traidcraft is a member of two larger membership organisations.
- The European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) - a group of like-minded FTOs in Europe, who collaborate on product development, purchasing and a whole range of other things.
- The World Fair Organisation (WFTO) - a larger global membership body of FTOs which has members from developing countries; producers from Africa, Central and Latin America and Asia who are seeking to benefit from Fair Trade.
Fair trade helps us all earn money so the whole community can benefit