Tag: fairtrade

CO-OP Extends Fairtrade Roses Commitment In Retail First

Stuart Mitchell

Co-op has become the first UK retailer to move its entire range of fresh cut roses to be 100% Fairtrade, in a major milestone marking the 30th year anniversary of the Fairtrade mark.   The leading convenience retailer is the largest seller of Fairtrade flowers in the UK, selling more than 71 million Fairtrade stems in 2023.  The roses, which are sourced from Fairtrade farms from Kenya and Ecuador reaffirm Co-op’s commitment to Fairtrade, alongside an ongoing dedication to high quality, premium flowers.  In celebration of Fairtrade’s 30th anniversary, a new…

Read More

Fairtrade award granted to largest ever number of UK universities

Stuart Mitchell

Twenty-two UK universities have gained Fairtrade status in recognition of their commitment to promoting ethical consumerism and pushing for fairer wages for farmers and workers. The Fairtrade University and College Award has been awarded to UK universities and colleges championing Fairtrade since 2003, and this year’s cohort is the biggest yet. The programme supports institutions to embed ethical and sustainable practices through their curriculums, procurement, research and campaigns and the Fairtrade University and College Award is jointly delivered by the Fairtrade Foundation and SOS-UK. Sarah Brazier, Head of Campaigns at…

Read More

Fairtrade: Child labour can be tackled one step, one programme, at a time

Stuart Mitchell

About 1.5 million children work on cocoa plantations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana where two-thirds of the world’s cocoa is produced, according to study by NORC at the University of Chicago. Fairtrade understands that poverty is one of the root causes of child labour, and while we cannot solve this endemic problem we are taking steps to make a difference, including supporting initiatives that strengthen children’s rights and end harmful practices such as our Child Labour and Forced Labour Prevention and Remediation Programme. The programme, launched in 2023, is beginning…

Read More

Fairtrade Foundation marks 30 Year Anniversary with an urgent call for action

Stuart Mitchell

The Fairtrade Foundation has recently published its 30th Anniversary Report, celebrating decades of transformative impact in ensuring that fair prices are paid to producers and farmers in lower income countries Read the report: Growing Our Movement For Change   The report also issues a call to action for businesses, campaigners and whichever party or parties forms the next UK government, following the general election, to address extreme climate challenges and promote fair trade practices. Continuing commitments from businesses have played a crucial role in helping farmers to invest Premium funds…

Read More

More cocoa farmers benefit from Fairtrade training, according to new report

Stuart Mitchell

Fairtrade International has released the fourth edition of its West Africa Cocoa Programme (WACP) Monitoring Report that continued to show a significant growth in training in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. In 2023, a total of 48,876 participants, of which 11,812 were female, 24 percent, participated in training. This represents a 22 percent increase when compared to data gathered in 2022. The increase reflects the success of a “cascading” approach in which Fairtrade Africa trains a set of cooperative managers and farmers, who then bring the information back to…

Read More