About Fairtrade Foundation
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.
With Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day. With simple shopping choices you can get farmers a better deal. And that means they can make their own decisions, control their future and lead the dignified life everyone deserves.
Our Story So Far
The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation that focuses on four key areas of work in the UK:
We license the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK
We help to grow demand for Fairtrade products and empower producers to sell to traders and retailers
We find new ways of working with our partners to support producer organisations and their networks
We raise public awareness of the need for Fairtrade and the significant role of Fairtrade in making trade fair
Our hundreds of Fairtrade Towns, Schools and Universities, Faith Groups and committed supporters are vital in helping us realise our vision of fair trade.
Our organisational strategy for 2016-2020, FAIRTRADE CAN, I CAN, sets out our ambition to deliver greater impact for producers and engage even more of the UK public in shopping and campaigning for a better deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.
The Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft, Global Justice Now, and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. Member organisations now also include Banana Link, All We Can, National Campaigner Committee, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, People & Planet, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, Shared Interest Foundation, Soroptimist International , Tearfund and Commitment to Life / United Reformed Church.
The Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade International which unites over 20 labelling initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand as well as networks of producer organisations from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.