What does Fairtrade mean?

We are all accustomed to buying our bananas, our jars of coffee, and increasingly our bottles of wine, with the distinctive Fairtrade logo on them. But what does it actually stand for?

In the main, Fairtrade stands for exactly what it sounds like. A trade between a buyer and a seller that is genuinely fair to both sides.

But that is only half the story. The FAIRTRADE Mark was first launched in 2002 by Fairtrade International (FLO) to ensure farmers, growers and their workers in developing countries were able to receive not only a fair price for their products, but decent working conditions and practices.  

This was particularly relevant in areas where the scale of production or the cost of getting goods to market from remote parts of the world would make them uncompetitive on the open market.

By buying Fairtrade products, consumers can also be reassured that their actions, in the words of the UK’s organising body, the Fairtrade Foundation, are helping those farmers and growers “make their own decisions, control their futures and lead the dignified life everyone deserves”.