Beyond Price: Why Fair Trade is So Important
Fair Trade is everywhere. You’ve no doubt seen Fair Trade chocolate, coffee, bananas, and more in your local grocery store. The term sounds nice, who doesn’t want to be fair when dealing with other people? But, since we see that term everywhere without any context, it begs the question, what does Fair Trade really mean?
What Is Fair Trade?
According to the World Fair Trade Organization, Fair Trade “...is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.” In other words, Fair Trade is the pursuit of equity, justice, and transparency in the buying and selling of goods from around the world, but especially in those countries whose economies may need additional help in working to curtail unfair and unjust buying practices.
How Does Fair Trade Affect You?
When you think about Fair Trade, you may usually only think about the price of an item, but the truth is that it’s much more complex. Engaging in Fair Trade buying and selling means genuinely caring about other people and this gorgeous planet that we all need to live on. It equates to respect, transparency, and equity in the supply chain management process. It means that the food you eat and the clothes you wear are made by fairly paid people operating in good working conditions using sustainable practices to grow and manufacture your goods.
Why Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is good for the planet, for the people who create and harvest products, and it’s good for us as consumers. This is true not only because when we purchase Fair Trade items, we’ve participated in making the world a better, fairer place, but also because we as consumers get to enjoy lovely, organic and non-GMO goods. What's more, these types of purchases are better for both the planet and for our health since they’re part of a supply chain that fights back against the forces of poverty, climate change, and economic crisis in our world.
We love being a part of the Fair Trade supply line because we believe in transparency, treating everyone with dignity, and that making the world a better place has to do with so much more than price. What have your experiences with Fair Trade goods been? Tell us about it on Instagram.
