Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know a bit more about fair trade? Here are some frequently asked questions that might help.
Q. What is fair trade, and what is the difference between a fair trade product and one that's not?
A. Fair trade gives better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers, employees and workers in developing countries. Products that aren't fair trade discriminate against the poorest and weakest producers and workers. If a product is fair trade, it meets criteria set by the Fairtrade Foundation, and the employment the that the production of the product gives improves the lifestyle of thrid-world countries.
Q. What do I look for when I want to purchase a fair trade product?
A. A fair trade product will usually display the FAIRTRADE mark, which is shown on our home page. Optionally, you can also check on the Fairtrade Foundation website, or on a fair trade directory. There are some useful links and resources on our Links page.
Q. Why do some companies, like Cadbury, have FAIRTRADE symbols on some of their products and not on others?
A. This is because not all of their products are produced using FAIRTRADE certified standards. This can be slightly deceiving and seems a bit unfair, but this means that we have to make sure that they continue making the rest of their products ethically.
Q. Do FAIRTRADE certified products cost more than normal products?
A. Not necessarily. Although FAIRTRADE standards require a minimum amount of money to be given to the producer, the retail price (or the price you see when you buy it) is up to the retailer, and it isn't influenced by these standards. The price will depend on the quality of the product, the scale of the economy and on supply and demand.
If you want to know more, just let us know via email or post your query on our news page.
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