The Fairtrade Mark
Your guarantee of standards
The Fairtrade Mark is your guarantee that products which are bought from producers in the developing world meet internationally recognized standards of trade.
The Mark works by informing the consumer about those products that meet the Fairtrade criteria.
The Fairtrade criteria
To be awarded the Fairtrade Mark, traders have to:
- pay a price to producers that covers the cost of sustainable production and living.
- pay a premium that producers can invest in development.
- partially pay in advance, when producers ask for it.
- sign contracts that allow for long term planning and sustainable production practices.
The effect of the Fairtrade Mark is to put profits directly into the hands of those who produce crops such as coffee and orange juice, rather than of large companies acting as middlemen.
This strengthens the economic position of disadvantaged producers and enables them to invest in social, environmental and long term development.
Fairtrade really only works if you, the consumer, endorse it. By buying Fairtrade products you are making a real difference to the lives of people in the developing world.
Beyond the Fairtrade Mark
Fairtrade or fair trade
There are other fairly-traded products such as paper, crafts and textiles which don't carry the Fairtrade Mark but have been produced and sold for a fair price. For more information on other fairly-traded products visit the BAFTS and IFAT websites.
Trade Justice
Fairtrade is one way to challenge trade inequalities but many organisations believe we need to do more. The Trade Justice Movement campaigns for fundamental changes to the unjust rules and institutions governing international trade, so that trade is made to work for all. This is a fast-expanding coalition of organisations.
Make Poverty History
The Make Poverty History campaign was launched on 1 January 2005. It calls on governments to:
- change the rules and practices of unjust trade
- cancel poor countries' debts
- and deliver more and better aid.
