TRADING FAIRLY
How changing your brand of tea can help give families a better way of life
Why is buying Fairtrade products so important?
By choosing Fairtrade you ensure a better price and working conditions for farmers in some of the world’s poorest regions. It also helps them invest in community projects such as healthcare and clean water, as well as business initiatives. There are now 1.6 million Fairtrade farmers across 74 developing countries offering more than 5,000 products, but we can all do more to help.
What is Fairtrade Fortnight?
It’s our chance to highlight the importance of the logo and get people involved. This year we want to make people think Fairtrade at break times, by encouraging them to choose Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar at work and home. It’s such an easy thing to do, but can make a huge difference to the farmers.
How have things changed for the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK in the past 20 years?
Amazingly one in three bananas sold in the UK is Fairtrade, which is a huge achievement and a great example of mainstream success. The type of product available is also changing; you can buy a Fairtrade KitKat now. On average a farmer receives around 30 per cent more for his produce as a result of you choosing Fairtrade.
What about furniture and homewares?
Our blue and green logo currently covers food drink, flowers, clothes and gold, but doesn’t extend to furniture. If you’re looking for fairly traded furniture and homeware, it’s better if you visit a shop with strong ethical credentials and ask how they source their items.
Could each household and business become a Fairtrade hero?
There’s really no reason why not. Start by making sure your coffee and tea at home and work are Fairtrade and try to influence others to get involved. After all, eating delicious Fairtrade chocolate is hardly a hardship!
If we only buy one product that’s Fairtrade which one should it be and why?
An influx of European sugar has hit Fairtrade supplies hard, so it’s worth seeking out
Fairtrade sugar, but at this time of year I’d encourage everyone to buy Fairtrade flowers. In Kenya, for instance, our work is really helping communities tackle some huge problems.