Fairtrade

What is Fairtrade?

As the name suggests, Fairtrade is about making trade fair for everyone, but especially the farmers and workers in the developing world.  Fairtrade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.

 

Who is The Fairtrade Coalition?

The Shropshire Fairtrade Coalition is a group of individuals, organisations and businesses from around Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin whose aim is to help promote Fairtrade. After a two year campaign Shropshire, including Telford & Wrekin, gained Fairtrade County status from the Fairtrade Foundation in 2007, and this was renewed in 2008 and again in 2011. Shropshire's Fairtrade County status will be reviewed every two years.

 

Who Benefits from Fairtrade?

Small-scale farmers and workers - worldwide consumers spent over £1.6 billion on Fairtrade certified products in 2007 representing a 47% increase on the previous year and means that over 1.5 million producers and workers in 58 developing countries now benefit from Fairtrade sales.

Consumers - The Fairtrade system benefits consumers by giving them the option of purchasing according to their principles and values, empowering them to be a player in the solution to global trade inequities, providing them with high quality products and assuring them of the ethical source of their purchases

The Environment - Fairtrade rewards and encourages farming and production practices that are environmentally sustainable, such as integrated farm management systems which minimize pollutants, pesticides and herbicides , organic agriculture techniques and the banning the use of most dangerous pesticides.

 

To find out more about Fairtrade, visit the coalition's website http://shropshire-fairtrade.org.uk
or email them at enquiries@shropshire-fairtrade.org.uk.