We hear a lot about the importance of voting with your dollar, but how much does each purchase actually matter? A lot! Every purchase has the potential to help create a more socially, economically, environmentally just planet. That’s why certifications like Fair Trade are so important, giving consumers a way to align with their values. But what does Fair Trade actually mean? It’s more than just fair payments for farmers; it’s a revolutionary economic system that cares about consumers, workers, and the planet.  

 A product on the shelf offers little information in terms of origin of ingredients, processes required to extract resources or overall impact of production. Whether at a physical or digital store, have you ever stopped to think about how a product was made, who made it, and under what conditions? If all of those stories were presented at point of purchase, we would better understand origins, impact, cause and effect and thus be better equipped to make informed choices. The mission of today’s partner, Fair World Project, is to educate and advocate for a just global economy where people are treated fairly and with dignity, the environment is respected and nourished, and commerce fosters sustainable livelihoods and communities in a global society based on cooperation and solidarity. 

 Behind many conventionally made products are harsh conditions and exploited workers, one reason why a serious shift in demand for ethical products is vital for a just future and why fair trade certifications are critically important. As Fair Trade Campaigns explains, “When you choose to purchase Fair Trade products, you are endorsing an economic system that provides opportunities for international farmers, artisans, and workers to lift themselves out of poverty.”

Rather than view production as a piecemeal operation, Fair Trade looks at systems holistically and asks how an item can be made and sold to benefit everyone involved. While the world was seemingly put on hold due to Covid, a great burden fell upon people working in production globally. Many lost their jobs or were denied rightful wages, while others weren’t provided health care or personal protective equipment to shield against both harmful pesticide exposure and the virus, compounding risk for workers and families around the world. Devastation exacerbated by the pandemic has only underscored the injustices behind an overwhelming number of the products we buy, and made it abundantly clear that now is the time for a new, more fair way of making the goods we rely on every day. At its core, Fair Trade supports fair prices paid to farmers, workers’ rights, economic and community development, and environmentally-friendly production methods. 

Some Fair Trade labels also enforce a Fair Trade Minimum Price to ensure prices never dip too low. This is important, as the prices of many crops like coffee and cocoa are completely divorced from what it costs a farmer to grow them. The Fair Trade Premium is an additional sum of money paid on top of the minimum price that goes into a communal fund. Workers and farmers democratically decide how to use those funds to invest in their communities. In addition to supporting livelihoods of farmers and their communities, Fair trade standards steward the environment, by encouraging farmers to improve soil and water quality, avoid harmful chemicals, manage waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect biodiversity. Fair Trade focuses on working in harmony with nature to create a system that benefits both people and planet. 

Because you often can’t meet the people who make the products you buy, third-party certifications and Fair Trade membership labels ensure your purchases match your values. Labels such as Fair for Life, Fairtrade America, Fair Trade USA, World Fair Trade Organization, and Fair Trade Federation verify that a product was made following certain standards. While the specifics vary, all include some provisions for fair and transparent prices for farmers, livable wages for workers, and premiums to support sustainable production and community development.

Some companies follow these standards for just a few products, while others embody the principles across all practices. The latter may be part of membership organizations like the Fair Trade Federation or the World Fair Trade Organization. Companies like today’s partner, Dr. Bronner’s, have made powerful, proactive, public and private commitments, supporting the organizing efforts of smallholder farmers around the world and working to build and expand fair supply chains.

Together, we can grow the Fair Trade market and spread sustainable practices to support humanity and our shared environment.

Each Greener Winner will receive:

• A collection of Dr. Bronner’s products. Dr. Bronner’s is committed to socially and environmentally responsible practices using the purest organic and fair trade ingredients.  
• An organic cotton fairtrade zip pouch from Terra Thread, a B Corporation.
• The Numi Organic Tea Collection to discover the transformative, healing power of tea.

Each Greenest Winner will receive:

• A collection of Dr. Bronner’s products. Dr. Bronner’s is committed to socially and environmentally responsible practices using the purest organic and fair trade ingredients.  
• A reusable cup from Ecoffee Cup, made from upcycled and non-GMO  plant based materials.
• A bag of coffee organic, fair trade coffee from Conscious Coffee, a B Corporation.