A producer’s voice

Fairtrade is faced with the paradox of witnessing the real effects of climate change while governments are failing to establish concrete mechanisms to deal with the issue. To ensure their voices are heard in the global climate change debate, Fairtrade is actively raising awareness on the plight of its farmers and workers. Producers are empowered to contribute to the discussions and influence decisions that will...

Sustainable agricultural practices

Fairtrade promotes sustainable agricultural practices in the growing of Fairtrade products. All workers and farmers have to comply with strict environmental standards as part of producer certification. The standard requires producers to work to protect the natural environment and make environmental protection a part of farm management. Producers are encouraged to minimize the use of energy, especially energy from...

Environmental premium projects

By purchasing Fairtrade products, shoppers are ensuring that producers receive a Fairtrade Premium for investment in projects of their own choice. Increasingly producers invest their Fairtrade Premiums in environmental projects. Over USD 1.5 million is annually being spent setting up communal projects which protect the environment. KDCU for example has undertaken a reforestation programme called the Kibimba tree...

Training

Fairtrade is supporting adaptation measures via climate change workshops or the funding of specific training. Through the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF), Fairtrade supports producer organisations across the continent. TAF finances capacity building training sessions, including in the area of environmental management. Through its extensive grassroots network, Fairtrade also organises workshops on climate change...

Fairtrade’s position on environmental issues

Please find below Fairtrade position papers on environmental issues: Food miles Food miles’ refers to the distance that food travels from producer to consumer, from ‘farm to fork’. The original coinage of the term ‘food miles’ by the SAFE Alliance (now Sustain) in 1994 encapsulated both social and environmental issues.1 The alliance emphasized connectivity between consumers, their food and the people who...