Day 22

Fair Trade

 

How do fair trade practices impact people and planet?

Introduction: The Impact of Fair Trade

How often do you think about the ethics behind the food you eat? Cacao, a globally beloved ingredient, is used in everything from drinks to desserts. While it brings joy to many, it also comes with environmental and labor concerns. By becoming aware of these issues, we can choose to support businesses that protect both the planet and its people. Fair Trade certification helps identify companies making a positive impact.

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Demand quality, not just in the products you buy, but in the life of the person who made it.
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Orsola di Castro, Italian fashion designer, co-founder of Fashion Revolution
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The Power of Consumer Choices

As consumers, we have the power to create a more just world through our purchases. Certifications like Fair Trade allow us to align our spending with our values. But what does it really mean when a product is labeled Fair Trade?

How Fair Trade Supports People and Communities

Fair Trade prioritizes fair wages, safe working conditions, and long-term partnerships with workers at every stage of production. Supporting Fair Trade may seem like a small action, but it can create lasting change. If we were more aware of the stories behind the products we buy, we could make better-informed and more ethical choices.

However, it’s not only up to consumers to drive change. Companies must also be held accountable. Many businesses committed to better practices carry the Fair Trade label. For example:

  • Fair Trade Minimum Price ensures fair wages and protects workers from fluctuating prices.
  • Fair Trade Premium provides additional funds for workers to invest in their communities.

Environmental Impact of Fair Trade

Fair Trade standards don’t just support workers—they also protect the environment. These standards encourage farmers to:

  • Improve soil and water quality
  • Avoid harmful chemicals
  • Manage waste responsibly
  • Reduce emissions
  • Protect biodiversity

By supporting small-scale farmers and promoting sustainable practices, Fair Trade has a positive impact on our planet. Organizations like Fair Trade Campaigns work to expand awareness and availability of Fair Trade products, making it easier for consumers to make ethical choices.

Dr. Bronner’s, today’s corporate partner, exemplifies the power of Fair Trade. They work with smallholder farmers worldwide to build fair and sustainable supply chains. Dr. Bronner’s views production holistically, ensuring that every product benefits everyone involved—from farm to shelf.

Take Action

Next time you reach for chocolate, coffee, or bananas, look for a Fair Trade certification. Together, we can promote sustainable practices and support humanity and our shared Earth through our choices.

PARTNERS

The Story of Stuff Project
The Story of Stuff Project

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Fair Trade Resources

Dive deeper into the world of Fair Trade with these resources. Explore tools, guides, and information to help you make informed choices, support ethical companies, and advocate for fair practices that protect people and the planet.

CHALLENGES

Green

20 POINTS

THINK

Chocolate is just one example of a product that has shaped the Fair Trade movement. Many other items, including food, beverages, clothing, home goods, and art, can also receive Fair Trade certification. Fair Trade handicrafts, for instance, help artisans earn fair wages and improve their livelihoods. Unfortunately, exploitation remains common, especially for artisans in tourism-dependent countries.


CHALLENGE

Choose one product to explore the differences between Fair Trade and conventional processes. For inspiration, start here.

  1. Consequences of Buying Conventional Products
    Describe three negative effects of purchasing products that are not Fair Trade certified.
  2. Benefits of Fair Trade Products
    Identify three positive impacts of buying products with Fair Trade certification.
  3. Define Fair Trade
    In your own words, explain what Fair Trade means and its importance.
  4. Reflect on Your Research
    Share what you learned about Fair Trade through your exploration. What new insights did you gain?
  5. Raise Awareness on Social Media
    Share a clear and concise definition of Fair Trade and its benefits on Instagram. Use a graphic or a photo for your post, and tag @TurningGreenOrg, @DrBronner, and @FTCampaigns. Don’t forget to include #PGC2024 and #FairTrade.

SUBMIT YOUR WORK:

  1. Create a PDF: Combine your deliverables and a screenshot of your social media post into a single PDF. Ensure your name (or team name), username, and school are included.
  2. File Naming: Save your PDF as firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf
    eg: kasie_jones_day22_green_2024.pdf
    Avoid using symbols (including #) or spaces in the file name.
  3. File Size: Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
  4. Submit: Upload your PDF. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
  5. Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
  6. Score: Points can be checked by going to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar. Your score is at the top of the page
  7. Questions: Direct any inquiries to info@turninggreen.org.
  8. Social Media: Share your challenge activities on social media, tagging us on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg, Facebook @Turning Green, and using #PGC2024.
The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greener

40 POINTS

THINK

The goods you use, the food you eat, and the clothes you wear are often grown, produced, packaged, and transported by people you’ve never met in places you may not even know exist. You might have a great relationship with your favorite coffee shop, but what about the farmers who harvest the beans?

It’s time to evaluate your lifestyle and purchasing habits. Individual actions can lead to significant collective impact, so let’s explore how you can personally support the Fair Trade movement in meaningful ways.


CHALLENGE

  1. Watch a Video
    Watch this video highlighting the importance of supporting Fair Trade and mission-driven businesses. Then, explore Fair Trade Campaigns’ What is Fair Trade? Myths and FAQs to deepen your understanding.
  2. Share Your Insights
    Share two insights that stood out to you from the video and resources.
  3. Learn About Fair Trade Labels
    Familiarize yourself with the various Fair Trade labels and their rankings so you know what to look for when shopping.
  4. Research Fair Trade Alternatives
    Choose three items you buy regularly (e.g., food, skincare, home goods) and research their Fair Trade equivalents. Compare each conventional product with its Fair Trade counterpart, noting attributes such as price differences, production locations, and the producers involved.
  5. Create and Share a Visual Comparison
    Design a visual comparison of your findings and post it on Instagram. In your caption, explain what you learned and tag @TurningGreenOrg, @FTCampaigns, and any Fair Trade brands featured. Use the hashtags #PGC2024 and #FairTrade.


SUBMIT YOUR WORK

  1. Create a PDF: Combine your deliverables and a screenshot of your social media post into a single PDF. Ensure your name (or team name), username, and school are included.
  2. File Naming: Save your PDF as firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf
    eg: kasie_jones_day22_greener_2024.pdf
    Avoid using symbols (including #) or spaces in the file name.
  3. File Size: Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
  4. Submit: Upload your PDF. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
  5. Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
  6. Score: Points can be checked by going to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar. Your score is at the top of the page.
  7. Questions: Direct any inquiries to info@turninggreen.org.
  8. Social Media: Share your challenge activities on social media, tagging us on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg, Facebook @Turning Green, and using #PGC2024.
The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

Greenest

60 POINTS

THINK

Behind every product is the story of a real person—sometimes even a child. According to UNICEF, 160 million children worldwide are involved in child labor, with nearly half working in hazardous conditions that put their health and development at risk. The Fair Trade movement seeks to reveal how our purchasing decisions impact others. This is your chance to connect with the people who grow and produce the items you buy and make more informed, ethical choices.


CHALLENGE

  1. Research Fair Trade Stories
    Explore online Fair Trade resources to discover how Fair Trade practices have impacted the lives of workers worldwide. Choose one individual’s story to focus on and create a profile that highlights their experience.
  2. Write a 300-Word Profile
    Share their story in 300 words, addressing the following questions:
    • Where are they from?
    • What do they produce?
    • How have Fair Trade practices affected their life?
    • What aspect of their story resonated with you?
  3. Share on Instagram
    Upload a photo or video of this individual to Instagram and caption it with their story. Make sure to tag @TurningGreenOrg, @FTCampaigns, and use the hashtags #PGC2024 and #FairTrade.


SUBMIT YOUR WORK

  1. Create a PDF: Combine your deliverables and a screenshot of your social media post into a single PDF. Ensure your name (or team name), username, and school are included.
  2. File Naming: Save your PDF as firstname_lastname_challengeday_challengelevel_year.pdf
    eg: kasie_jones_day22_greenest_2024.pdf
    Avoid using symbols (including #) or spaces in the file name.
  3. File Size: Ensure the file size does not exceed 5 MB.
  4. Submit: Upload your PDF. A green confirmation message will appear if your submission is successful. If you don’t see this, please try again.
  5. Points: If your total points don’t update, your submission may not have uploaded correctly—please retry.
  6. Score: Points can be checked by going to Edit Profile on the bottom navigation bar. Your score is at the top of the page
  7. Questions: Direct any inquiries to info@turninggreen.org.
  8. Social Media: Share your challenge activities on social media, tagging us on Instagram @TurningGreenOrg, Facebook @Turning Green, and using #PGC2024.
The deadline for entering this challenge has past.

PRIZES

Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest outstanding submissions will be selected as winners.

Each Greener Winner will receive: 

  • A selection of products from Dr. Bronner’s, a family-owned Certified B Corp committed to socially and environmentally responsible practices using the purest organic and fair trade ingredients. Sustainable practices include regenerative organic farming projects—soil enrichment and tree-planting programs—100% post-consumer recycled packaging—aggressive waste and water-use reduction.  

Copy of Honor Thy Label: Dr. Bronner’s Unconventional Journey to a Clean, Green, and Ethical Supply Chain by Gero Leson, foreword by David Bronner. For Dr. Bronner’s, it’s an ethical commitment to fairness and sustainable growth. It is a compelling story about the kind of good, clean decisions that businesses can make while still making a profit.

Each Greenest Winner will receive: 

  • A selection of products from Dr. Bronner’s, a family-owned Certified B Corp committed to socially and environmentally responsible practices using the purest organic and fair trade ingredients. Sustainable practices include regenerative organic farming projects—soil enrichment and tree-planting programs—100% post-consumer recycled packaging—aggressive waste and water-use reduction.
  • A Fair Trade, certified organic cotton Toiletry Bag from Terra Thread, who puts people and the planet first, from organic farms to you. Their goal is to redesign fashion so that it empowers farmers, rebuilds soils, pays workers fairly, and reduces plastic waste in the world.
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