Making the Fairtrade Decision

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is a global organization that uses trade as a tool for sustainable development. To ensure producers at the start of the supply chain are paid and treated fairly, the organization implements Fairtrade Standards for products and operates global certification and auditing systems, as well as supports and challenges businesses and governments to make trade fair.

Fairtrade Standards exist for many products, including

Food products:

• bananas
• cocoa
• coffee
• tea
• fruit and vegetables
• honey
• juices
• nuts, seeds, and oils
• grains
• spices
• sugar
• wine

Non-food products: 

• cosmetics
• cotton
• cut flowers and ornamental plants
• sports balls
• gold
• platinum
• silver

Why is Fairtrade important?

An organization that is 50 percent governed by the producers that it serves, Fairtrade works to defend the most disadvantaged producers in the world by building a model of trade that

• prioritizes fair pay
• advocates for workers’ rights
• promotes gender equality
• combats child labour
• supports resilient communities
• fights climate change

Look for the logo

Inspiring and empowering shoppers to think more about what they buy is one of the Fairtrade’s major goals, and the FAIRTRADE Mark is a key way that the organization accomplishes this.

Products bearing a FAIRTRADE Mark assures you that it meets the economic, social, and environmental criteria defined by the Fairtrade Standards. Therefore, when you buy products with this logo, you are supporting farmers and workers as they improve their lives and their communities, showing solidarity with farmers and workers, and advocating for trade justice and economic sustainability for all.