What does Fairtrade really mean? Come & find out!
What is Fairtrade & how does it work?
Fairtrade cotton farmers get paid a fair price for the work they do. They have much more security than conventional farmers as they receive a guaranteed price for their cotton, even if the market price takes a dive. On top of this, they get paid extra money (called a premium) that is used to support their community. It might be used to build a school, or a well – it’s up to them – but little by little, Fairtrade farmers see an improvement in their daily lives. The Fairtrade Foundation supports small scale farmers, who often group together to increase their influence by forming co-operatives. They use a certification scheme (the Fairtrade Standards) which have minimum requirements including no child labor, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and they also provide direct and indirect support to deepen social and environmental sustainability.
What is Fairtrade Fortnight 2021?
Fairtrade Fortnight is a two week celebration of all the wonderful people who grow the products that make the food we eat, the drinks we drink and the cotton we wear, and promoting a living wage and fair trade for them. This year focuses on climate, Fairtrade and you and encourages everyone to ‘choose the world they want’. They’re hosting an online festival with lots of great events highlighting the growing challenges that climate change brings to farmers and workers in the communities that Fairtrade works with.
Get the kids involved with Fairtrade!
If you’re home schooling and looking for some ways to engage kids with Fairtrade and the concept of ‘fair’ and ‘unfair’, there's a handy guide from The Fairtrade Foundation aimed at primary school children with some fun ideas to get them involved. Here are just a few of them.
Create a Fairtrade farm in a shoe box!
What Fairtrade product is growing on your farm?
You will need:
- A shoe box
- Junk/recycled materials
- Drawing materials and paints
- Inspiration from Fairtrade farmers
Bake a difference.
Cook together, or create a yummy menu, using lots of delicious Fairtrade ingredients.
Travel around the world! Use online Maps or an atlas to find a country where cotton grows.
Check the temperature in that country today. What was the temperature in that country 50 years ago? Has it changed? ...
Where can I buy Fairtrade clothes?
For your little ones, all the cotton we use is 100% organic and Fairtrade (full collection this way) or If you’re looking for Fairtrade cotton clothing for yourself or your home, take a look at Dip & Doze (adult bedding), People Tree (beautiful range 100% Fairtrade cotton womenswear), Thought (lovely sustainable clothes for men and women) and White Stuff who have recently launched a Fairtrade collection.
Find out more about why we’ve been using Fairtrade cotton since the very beginning when we started out in 2005.
