By Ashley V.
Do you want to support more ethical and sustainable business practices? An easy way to do this is to look for the Fair Trade International and Fair Trade USA logo next time you go shopping. These labels help ensure that producers follow labor laws, supply chains are inspected, a minimum price is paid at a fair trade premium, and the end products are correctly labeled. These labels enable us to be confident in our purchases that they are better for the earth and for those who made them.
Fair Trade – verb
A movement whose goal is to help producers in developing countries to get a fair price for their products to reduce poverty, provide for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promote environmentally sustainable practices
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Fair Trade International
Fair Trade International has over 30,000 products and over 2 million farmers and workers that have been certified through their program to have met the internationally agreed social, environmental, and economic Fair Trade Standards. You will find this label on fully traceable products (kept separate from non-certified products) from farm to shelf, such as single-ingredient products like bananas and coffee. Fair Trade International supports and strives to connect disadvantaged producers and consumers, promote fairer trading conditions and empower producers to combat poverty, strengthen their position and take more control over their lives.1
Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade USA focuses on building an innovative model of responsible business, conscious consumerism, and shared value to eliminate poverty and promote sustainable development for farmers and communities worldwide. Fair Trade USA is in 45 countries, and since 1998, purchases with this logo have sent $740 million to farmers and workers. They have over 975,000 farmers who have joined their movement and over 1,250 businesses who support these products.2
Actionable Tip: Look for either of these Fair Trade Logos next time you go grocery shopping. Support farmers and businesses who pay their employees a fair wage and make good decisions for the planet.
Sources:
Sustainable Saplings 