Sideways News

It’s more than 15 years since the first Fairtrade labelled products appeared on UK shelves. Back then, a fair trade Christmas would have proved challenging – unless everyone on your gift list happened to want a nice box of tea. Today, with more than 4,500 products available, everything from your satsumas to Dad’s cotton socks could carry the familiar Fairtrade mark. But do you know what it actually means?

The clue, of course, is in the name. If this is fair trade then the conventional trade system must be, well, unfair. Oxfam pulls no punches in supporting that assumption, stating on its website: "World trade rules have been developed by the rich and powerful on the basis of their narrow commercial interests. Rich countries and powerful corporations have captured a disproportionate share of the benefits of trade, leaving developing countries and poor people worse off."

Real help - no sticking plasters
It is international development organisations such as Oxfam and Christian Aid that have really helped to bring trade injustice to the world’s attention. But instead of a sticking plaster approach, these organisations and others like them have long championed a fairer system of trade – one that gives some of the world’s poorest workers and farmers more control over their own lives.

Put simply, Fairtrade is a tool to help these producers work their own way out of poverty. It builds fair and long-term trading partnerships between the workers and consumers like us. Producers get a fair price for their goods, improved working conditions, more security and support to develop their businesses. The Fairtrade Foundation estimates that over seven million people in Africa, Asia and Latin America now benefit.

So if you want to use your purchasing power to tip the balance, albeit slightly, in favour of poor producers this Christmas, how do you go about it?

What's available
Looking out for the Fairtrade mark is one way. More retailers than ever are stocking Fairtrade labelled goods as demand grows. You can start with a Fairtrade chocolate advent calendar, put Fairtrade fruit, nuts and spices in your pud and even party with some Fairtrade Chilean wine.

You’ll also find the label on an array of beauty products, handcrafted clothes and even, strangely, footballs. But the Fairtrade mark can only be applied to products containing commodities for which there are internationally agreed Fairtrade standards and certified producers. In the early days, the focus was on traditional agricultural products, such as coffee and tea. Extending the range of products available is an ongoing, if slow, process.

Looking beyond the brand
There are, however, plenty of products without the Fairtrade label that can also ensure a better deal for producers. If retailers buy directly from workers, pay fairly, and ensure that fair trade standards are met, the product can be classed as fairly traded. Check out traidcraftshop.co.uk for the biggest range of Fairtrade and fairly traded products, including beautifully made gifts and Christmas decorations.

Almost half of the world’s population survives on less than $1 a day – the internationally recognised definition of poverty. It’s clear that fair trade alone can’t solve this problem, but it is a start. And at a time of year when consumerism reaches fever-pitch, it’s great to know that the festive treats you buy could be making someone happy on the other side of the world too.

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