Fairtrade Fortnight 2023
Fairtrade Fortnight is taking place Monday, 27th February, to Sunday, 12th March 2023. This year’s campaign will concentrate on the climate crisis’s effect on everyday foods and the farmers who grow them.
What Is Fairtrade?
Established in 1992, Fairtrade is a globally recognised charity created to tackle the income inequality farmers face with global trade. The foundation was created by many of the UK’s leading charities, including the Catholic International Development Agency (CAFOD), Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft, the World Development Movement and the National Federation for Women’s Institutes.
The charity focuses on three key areas: Social, Economic and Environmental. Let’s take a look at each of these and find out why they are so important.
Social
Fairtrade takes social matters very seriously. From working conditions and gender equality to forced labour and human rights. Fairtrade organisations undergo a stringent process to ensure they meet the required ethical standards.
They also invest in community projects such as developing educational and medical facilities. Enhancing quality of life is a top priority.
Economic
Many farmers experience poverty, with only 3% of cocoa farmers in West Africa (where most of the UK’s cocoa supply comes from) receiving a liveable income. The foundation works with small-scale farmers to ensure they receive a wage that will prevent them from falling into poverty.
The charity also supports farmers with the development of their practices, which helps strengthen their position in the supply chain.
Environmental
The Fairtrade Standards promote training for farmers, which supports the development of sustainable practices. The standards in place encompass all aspects of environmental concern for farmers, including chemical use, soil fertility, deforestation, biodiversity and waste.
They also provide access to finance to support the long-term sustainability of the farms.
Unethical and unsustainable practices are in more of the products we buy than we realise. Although it’s difficult to know how ethical our products’ supply chains are, we can look to Fairtrade to provide transparency on the products they advocate.
When a company’s product has met Fairtrade’s social, economic and environmental standards, it will receive a license to use the approved logo. This drives awareness among consumers, so when they are shopping, they know what options are ethically sourced.
What is Fairtrade Fortnight?
Fairtrade Fortnight is a two-week-long campaign focused on driving the message of why it is so important that we opt for ethically-sourced products. The climate crisis and how this affects our access to certain foods is the key issue for 2023.
As part of the campaign, Fairtrade will launch the Endangered Aisle. This pop-up experience (in Shoreditch, East London) will highlight products most at risk of becoming endangered. This includes many of our everyday items, such as bananas, coffee and chocolate!
What You Can Do for Fairtrade Fortnight
There are a number of things you can do to show your dedication to supporting Fairtrade.
Fairtrade Get Together
Free events are taking place throughout the fortnight; and you can sign-up to learn more about joining or creating your own event here.
Spread the Word
Another way you can support Fairtrade Fortnight is by spreading the word. To do this, you can share your plans to join in with the events across social media – the more people who see your posts the better! You can access Fairtrade’s official resources to use here.
Buy Fairtrade
There’s no better way to show your support than buying Fairtrade products. Make the swap from your usual non-Fairtrade brand today!
Sign Up for the Newsletter
You can be the first to hear about all the latest news and events by signing up for their newsletter.
The Sustain Chain
Creating a sustainable future requires us all to take action, accept responsibility and work together to ensure a brighter future for us all. In addition to supporting fantastic events such as Fairtrade Fortnight, there is much we can do, both as individuals at home and in the business environment to establish a greener world with better opportunities for us all to thrive.
Making sustainability a top priority is vital in ensuring the longevity of much more than just the supply chain. The actions we take now will create a solid foundation for future generations to build on.
Kimberley Jayne, Head of Education, Quality and Learning, IoSCM
Across the globe, much is already being done to create a sustainable environment. In 2019, IoSCM established The Sustain Chain, our initiative to help people and the planet.
With many of our members now committed to playing their part to use sustainable procurement practises, eradicate slave labour, and ensure responsible sourcing for their organisations, The Sustain Chain provides a vast array of resources, tools, and expert insights to help both at home and work. Visit The Sustain Chain for FREE today to find out more.