Fairtrade

Fairtrade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. It has arisen out of the disadvantages of the free market for producers in developing countries, who often lose out on selling the rest of us cheap goods. The Fairtrade certification guarantees that what you are buying has been subject to a minimum price and extra premium. This means producers are guaranteed a decent price even if the market fluctuates, and they receive extra money to go directly into community based development projects. There are also products available that are fairly traded but do not have Fairtrade certification, particularly jewellery. Look for information on where your products come from and how the workers are treated. It also often helps producers to increase their environmental performance. Fairtrade goods are often only a few pence more and make a big difference to people’s lives.

You can buy bananas, chocolate, tea, coffee, sugar and much more in Sainsbury’s, the co-operative on Chesterton road, Oxfam and Arjuna (12, Mill Lane) also have a great range of Fairtrade products. Look out for the mark on your favourite treats- Dairy Milk and Starbucks coffee have recently switched to Fairtrade.

We have been a Fairtrade College since 2010 and you can also buy lots of Fairtrade things in Ramsay (such as bananas, chocolate, coke, Geobars, coffee) and Fairtrade wine in the bar (by the glass and bottle) and buttery (by the bottle). The coffee in formal hall is also Fairtrade.