Tomorrow, one day before Mother’s Day, it is World Fair Trade Day. This year, the theme is Build Back Fairer. The COVID pandemic has challenged us all – the world has a chance not just to build back better, but build back fairer.
So what is Fair Trade, and why does it matter?
According to the World Fair Trade Organisation, Fair Trade is “a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade”.
It is a vision of business and trade that put people and planet before profit
It fights poverty, climate change, gender inequality and injustice
It showcases the enterprise models of the new economy – a new way of doing business.
There is an international Fair Trade Charter that outlines its vision and is a central reference point for Fair Trade. It also has 10 Fair Trade Principles that outline how Fair Trade enterprises should be set up and behave.
It sounds great, right? Of course, all of these principles are noble and should be encouraged throughout the world.
What does that mean for you?
Let’s consider a few facts:
The fashion industry is now one of the biggest polluters in the world, only outdone by the oil industry, thanks to fast fashion. And in Australia, we’re the second largest consumer of new clothing after the US, with our discarded textiles ending up in landfill
2.2 million tonnes of online returns end up in landfill in the US alone
In Australia, about 30% of all online sales are returned and of that another 30% end up in landfill.
Nearly one in 10 children worldwide are forced into child labour, some doing dangerous work through trafficking
Gold and diamond mining, a major source of the jewellery being sold around the world, take advantage of child labour, displace indigenous peoples and pollute the environment
Plastic toys make up 90% of the children’s toy market worldwide – a $20.36 billion dollar industry – and they bring with them several issues:
Very few are recyclable
Cheap plastic toys quickly make their way to the rubbish bin
Some contain dangerous chemicals like phthalates, which are linked to birth defects, cancer and diabetes. And our kids put these toys in their mouths!
Making a difference
When you shop for a gift, a new item of clothing, toys or jewellery, do you ever wonder who made it, under what circumstances, and with what impact to the environment?
Your individual purchase makes a difference. Our collective choices can drive change in these and other industries. Buying handmade and fair trade is one way to ensure that your purchase leaves the least impact on the environment and improves the lives of the people who produced it.
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