Fair Trade
On 6 June 2008 Wales made history and became the first ever Fair Trade Nation. Powys followed by gaining Fair Trade status as a county. Brecon achieved Fair Trade Town status on 4 November 2008.
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is important. A child dies of poverty every 3 seconds and many of those living in poverty produce the food and clothes that we take for granted. Fair Trade can help to change that.
Fair Trade is a partnership between consumers in the west and producers in developing countries.
Many of the products that we buy in supermarkets are grown by people who are not paid properly for their work and as a result have to live in poverty. Furthermore many items are produced in terrible working conditions, with children working over 80 hours a week with dangerous chemicals.
Fairly traded products are different.
Fair Trade guarantees:
- A fair price to producers in developing countries
- A 'living wage' for these producers
- Safe working conditions
- Protection for the environment
- Rights for women
- A social premium
The Fair Trade Mark is displayed on products that meet these guarantees, as all products that display the mark are independently audited to ensure they are genuinely providing a fair deal for producers.
More information can be found at: www.fairtradewales.com