4 Things You May Not Know About Fair Trade

There are some facts, that you probably didn't know about Fair Trade Production:

1.Fair Trade delivers more money to the people who produce your clothing.

Fair Trade aims to help individuals, specifically at the most labor intensive points in the supply chain, retain more value and improve their lives. In addition to regional wage and price requirements, as covered in the Fair Trade standards, farmers and workers earn an additional Fair Trade financial premium to invest in their communities. This is typically around 5 percent of the manufactured price of a garment.

2. Empowerment and equal rights are at the heart of Fair Trade, with an emphasis on supporting women.

Another aim of Fair Trade is to put farmers and workers in the driver’s seat, and help them achieve a voice and position of power in the workplace. One way this happens is through the formation of a Fair Trade committee, which is democratically elected and is responsible for the management of the Fair Trade premium. Individuals also receive a series of trainings, are informed about grievance procedures and about their right to organize.

Protecting and creating new opportunities for women is also critical. With equal pay and equal rights at the forefront, Fair Trade mandates specific standards covering maternity leave, healthcare and freedom from harassment (sexual and otherwise). We’ve also seen women use additional premiums to invest in new business opportunities, like starting a small store, to further support their families.

3. You’re not just improving lives, you’re protecting the environment.

At a farm level, Fair Trade environmental standards address things like proper waste disposal, water runoff, chemical use and GMOs. Similarly, to earn Fair Trade certification, a factory must develop a robust environmental management plan. This specifically means they must set targets and track progress in reducing water, waste and energy usage.

4. In Fair Trade certified factories, worker satisfaction is high and turnover is low.

Everyone wants to feel supported, empowered and be fairly compensated in the workplace. In Fair Trade factories across the globe, retention rates are higher than average. During the manufacturing process when employees proudly affix the Fair Trade label to each product, they know which brands are committed to Fair Trade and to delivering direct financial benefits to their families via Fair Trade premiums.