Top tips for fairer trade
There's a lot you can do to show you want a fairer trade system, support
your local community and make the best environmental choices.
Support local producers
Buying locally produced food means more of your money stays
in the local economy and less
climate
changing fossil fuels are used in transportation.
Farmers
Markets and vegetable box schemes are good sources.
Choose fair trade products
Supporting fair trade schemes challenges the system and helps
producers get a fair price. Look for Fair Trade products which ensure coffee farmers, plantation workers etc aren't exploited.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reducing your consumption and impact helps take pressure off the world's natural resources.
Recycle paper, cardboard, wood, glass, cans, tins, and plastic bottles. Compost food waste if you can.
Check before you buy
Choosing products carefully can send powerful messages to governments
and industry and make your money work for people and the planet.
Friends of the Earth has produced some useful guides and league
tables to help you:
Invest ethically
Ethical
investment is a way of using your money to put pressure on
companies that harm the environment or people. By investing your
money ethically, you can also support progressive firms like renewable
energy suppliers.
For further information:
Fair Trade
Fairtrade Foundation
tel: 020 7405 5943
www.fairtrade.org.uk
Local Produce
National Association of Farmers Markets
www.farmersmarkets.net
Soil Association, for vegetable delivery box schemes
tel: 0117 929 0661
www.soilassociation.org.uk
Recycling
Wastewatch
tel: 08702 430 136
www.wastewatch.org.uk
Community Recycling Network
www.crn.org.uk
Gifts
Natural Collection, for gifts with less environmental impact
www.naturalcollection.com
