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WHAT IS FAIR TRADE?
Fair trade is a system of exchange that seeks to create greater equity and partnership in international trading system by
• Paying fair wages in local context;
• Supporting participatory workplaces;
• Ensuring environmental sustainability;
• Supplying financial and technical support;
• Offering public accountability.
• Respecting cultural identity;
• Building direct and long-term relationships
• Educating consumers.
By approaching development as a whole process (rather than just a fair price), fair trade organizations cultivate partnerships with their suppliers and contribute to the development of communities. Fair trade is not about charity; it uses a fairer system of exchange to empower producers and to create sustainable, positive change.
WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?
First and foremost, fair trade is about offering great products to the public. Consumers can choose fairly traded clothing, coffee, food, furniture, home décor, house wares, jewelry, tea, toys, personal accessories, and many other products.
Second, fair trade is about keeping prices affordable for consumers while returning a higher amount of the producers. This relationship is made by possible, because fair traders typically work directly with artisans and farmers, cutting out the middle men who increase the price at each level – enabling retail products to remain competitively priced in respect to their conventional counterparts, while more fairly compensating producers.
Finally, fair trade makes a tremendous impact on communities. Children’s school fees are paid; nutritional needs met; health care costs are covered; the poor, especially women, are empowered; the environmental impact of production, sourcing, and transport is mitigated to the fullest extent possible. Such an impact is created, because fair trade approaches development as a holistic process.
WHAT KIND OF GOODS ARE AVAILABLE?
Consumers can choose fairly traded clothing, coffee, food, furniture, home décor, house wares, tea, toys, personal accessories, and many other products. |
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