People Tree

People in the Fair Trade movement have argued that environmental issues and meeting high environmental standards presents a barrier to international trade for Fair Trade organisations in the South. However People Tree have pioneered some of the best practice in environmentally friendly production methods - creating opportunities for more farmers and artisans to benefit. Fair Trade handicrafts are generally hand produced, labour intensive rather than oil intensive - making them carbon neutral.

Fair Trade handicrafts also maximise the 'value-added' - using small amounts of often locally and naturally sourced materials to generate the maximum number of livelihoods for people, favouring production by the masses over mass production. Simply speaking, this means the planet gives up less, to sustain more people.

Fair Trade is a force for protecting the environment while promoting sustainable development. Fair Trade favours the sustainable use of natural resources and production methods favouring hand production and organic agriculture. Because Fair Trade is committed to paying a living wage and works in long-term partnerships, it enables producer partners to invest in environmentally friendly production like organic cotton growing, handweaving, safe dyes and non polluting production methods. In this way Fair Trade is promoting environmental awareness and best practise locally and internationally.

In the developing world - Fair Trade supports producers to start a local market for their products, to build a sustainable way of producing products and a more responsible way of doing business that puts people and the environment first.

To find out more see World Fair Trade Day

Why?

Marginalised communities of the developing world have amongst the lightest environmental footprints.

However, they are also the very people whose food security, livelihoods and homes are most threatened by climate change and environmental destruction.

The present economic system that puts profit at any cost, undermines people and the environment.

How?

Through paying a fair price and building long term relationships we put people and the environment first.

Use of natural resources and biodegradable materials promotes sustainable production.

Fair Trade supports hand-production and production that is not capital and oil intensive.

Producer partners are enabled to invest in environmentally friendly production initiatives to minimize environmental impact.

Fair Trade promotes environmental awareness and consumer empowerment and pushes businesses to do the right thing.

Now?

We call on all consumers to change their lifestyle and shopping habits. Buy carefully and considerately - choose Fair Trade products.