Fair Trade & Sustainability
Fair Trade Fortnight 2023: Why Choose Fair Trade?
Fair Trade Fortnight is here! And we couldn’t be more excited to get involved. For the next 2 weeks, we’ll be donating 10% of our sales to the Asha Kiran School in Moradabad, India. Unfortunately, slowing sales have meant that one of our fantastic producer groups has been struggling to meet the needs of one of the schools they contribute towards as part of their Fair Trade community work. Hopefully, our donation will help towards purchasing some much needed school supplies for the disadvantaged children the school provides an important education to. Let’s take a look at what Fair Trade Fortnight is and why it’s so important.
What is Fair Trade Fortnight?
Every year for 2 weeks in February and March, we celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight. Established in 1997 by the Fairtrade Foundation, the global campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of Fair Trade, and just how necessary it is, with a fortnight of events.
Schools, colleges, businesses, campaigners, and local groups all get involved to spread the message of just how important Fair Trade is. It’s a fantastic opportunity for everyone who cares about Fair Trade to support its mission in some way, big or small.
What does Fair Trade mean and why does it matter?
Fair Trade is about putting people and planet first. Farmers, artisans and workers all over the world can be exploited by unfair trade practices. This can mean they’re working in unsafe conditions, unable to bring themselves out of poverty, and unable to create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their communities.
Fair Trade is a system that aims to ensure a certain set of standards are met in the production and supply or products and ingredients. It ensures workers vulnerable to exploitation have rights, safer conditions, and fairer pay.
Not only does it change the lives of the people who produce the products, it also helps to build a better world. For even more information, take a look at our blog post all about Fair Trade and why it’s so important to us.
What’s the message of Fair Trade Fortnight this year?
In 2023, Fair Trade Fortnight is focusing on the need to save our favourite foods. Climate change is making the crops used for coffee, bananas and cocoa harder and harder to grow. Along with the deeply unfair balance of trade, the communities that grow these crops are being pushed to their limits.
Fair Trade means extra income, power, and support for these communities. Not only are the farmers paid fairly, they’re also able to work to build a more sustainable future, ensuring continued income for themselves and their communities, and a brighter outlook for the environment.
How can I get involved in Fair Trade Fortnight?
- Join a Big Fairtrade Get Together. These are free online events running throughout the next 2 weeks, where you have the opportunity to hear from farmers and experts on building a sustainable future. Sign up for these here.
- You can also keep an eye out for, or even start your own, local Fair Trade event. It could be a quiz night, a coffee morning, a bake off – whatever you want to do to spread awareness. Share Fair Trade goodies with friends and community members and learn more about the benefits of Fair Trade together.
- Haven’t got much time? Even just choosing a Fair Trade alternative at the supermarket, donating to a Fair Trade charity like the Fairtrade Foundation, or talking about the event with friends and family will help to raise awareness and share just how important it is for us all to support Fair Trade.
Take a look at the fairtrade.org website for more events and inspiration.