About Fairtrade
Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for Third World producers.
It does this by guaranteeing a stable price, which covers production costs along with a premium, set aside for farmers and workers to spend on social and environmental projects to strengthen their organisations.
This ensures communities have the power and resources to invest in long-term improvements.
The Fairtrade Mark
The Fairtrade Foundation awards the independent certification label – the Fairtrade mark – to products as a guarantee that producers in developing countries have received a better deal.
Fairtrade products are monitored to ensure the producer receives a fair price, that producer co-operatives have democratic, participative structures and that employees receive fair wages, have the right to join trade unions and that minimum health and safety conditions are observed.
No Fairtrade process can use child or forced labour.
What is the council doing to help?
The council has agreed to be a Fairtrade council and is offering Fairtrade tea and coffee in council meetings, canteens and leisure centres.
A Fairtrade steering group has been set up to look at a number of further actions we can take.