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From the 1960s until the late 80s, the global coffee market was kept in balance thanks largely to the 1962 International Coffee Agreement (ICA). Due to abuses of the quota system, however, the economic clauses of the ICA were suspended in 1989, and global coffee prices immediately spiralled. The first Fairtrade label, ‘Max Havelaar’, was launched by Dutch development agency Solidaridad, in a bid to help Mexican coffee farmers who were particularly affected by the crash. Max Havelaar was a fictional Dutch character who opposed the exploitation of coffee pickers in Dutch colonies.

1. The Fairtrade concept was started to help struggling Mexican coffee farmers

The first product to bear official Fairtrade certification was Green & Black’s ‘Maya Gold’ chocolate bar, made with cocoa from Belize and launched in 1994. Cafedirect coffee, Percol coffee and Clipper tea followed shortly afterwards.

2. The first Fairtrade certified product was a bar of chocolate

The humble banana is something of a poster child for Fairtrade – one in three bananas bought in the UK is Fairtrade certified, which adds up to around 231,000 metric tonnes every year. Bananas are the backbone of many lower-income countries’ economies, so Fairtrade is playing a significant role in improving workers’ lives. In 2020, Fairtrade banana farmers earned £31.8 million in Fairtrade premiums. Meanwhile, 96% of small-scale banana farmers in Colombia say that their economic situation had improved since joining Fairtrade.

3. Bananas are Fairtrade’s leading influence

Most smartphones contain a small amount of gold alongside other precious metals and minerals. When you consider how many smartphones there are in the world, that small amount of gold adds up to a lot of gold that needs to be mined and processed. This often involves treacherous working conditions, dire pay and harmful exposure to toxic chemicals.

Since 2011, Fairtrade has also included gold and precious metals within its remit, ensuring safe working conditions for miners and high standards for environmental protection. This certification obviously covers things like jewellery, but more forward-thinking tech companies are now including Fairtrade gold in their gadgets, too. 

, for example, uses Fairtrade gold in its smartphones, alongside other sustainably-sourced materials such as recycled plastics.

4. You can even buy a Fairtrade smartphone

It’s no secret that fast fashion is having a devastating impact on the planet, but Fairtrade is helping to drive positive change within the apparel industry. For a start, the environmental footprint of Fairtrade cotton is five times lower than conventional cotton. Additionally, Fairtrade’s textile standards are the first set of standards to require living wages be paid to garment workers, helping to mitigate the global issue of sweatshops and child labour exploitation.

5. Fairtrade is tackling the problem of fast fashion

Fairtrade is probably best known for its coffee, chocolate and, obviously, bananas, but it actually encompasses a huge range of everyday items, including wine, cosmetics, clothing, jewellery… you name it! Here are some of our favourite fair trade businesses.

6. There are more than 6,000 Fairtrade products on sale in the UK

Since the late 1980s, Fairtrade has been working to ensure a fair deal for farmers and workers around the world. Under the system, producers of everything from coffee and flowers to makeup and clothing are guaranteed workers’ rights, safer working conditions and fairer pay. This in turn leads to wider positive change, such as developing women in leadership and investing in climate-friendly farming techniques.

Today, there are more than 1.9 million farmers and workers in Fairtrade certified producer organisations across 71 countries, making products for small businesses and massive brands alike. Obtaining certification to display the Fairtrade logo on products is a rigorous process, with companies having to meet a strict set of criteria that proves their products are up to Fairtrade’s high standards. So every time you purchase a Fairtrade product you can be sure you’re having a positive impact on the world.

, which runs from 21 February to 6 March, we’ve unearthed a few lesser-known facts about Fairtrade, guaranteed to get you thinking about your purchasing power.

Six things you didn’t know about Fairtrade

Gambian activist Isatou Ceesay – known as the ‘Queen of Recycling’ – spearheaded the life-changing One Plastic Bag project in her native village of N’Jau in the late 1990s. Her initial plan was to educate her fellow villagers on the importance of reclaiming waste, but the project soon grew into a women-led enterprise turning plastic bags into attractive, durable coin purses that are now sold the world over. Cessay has since been awarded with The International Alliance for Women ‘Difference Maker’ award, and now works with more than 1,000 people in communities across Gambia on recycling and waste reclamation projects.

Isatou Ceesay

CEO of The Climate Group, Helen Clarkson has an eye-wateringly impressive list of sustainability leadership credentials. After working with Médecins Sans Frontières on humanitarian missions around the world, she joined Forum for the Future, helping major corporations such as Nike, Gap and Walmart tackle their own complex sustainability challenges. Now, as well as heading up The Climate Group – which works with businesses and government leaders around the world to address climate change – Clarkson also sits on the board of the We Mean Business Coalition and chairs the Finance & Audit Committee for the Sustainable Development Capital Energy Efficiency Income Trust.

Helen Clarkson

Environmental scientist and development economist Janice Lao has been a major force in advancing sustainability in Asia. From lobbying for a ban on shark fin products and launching one of Asia’s first (and hugely oversubscribed) green bonds, to steering luxury hotel chains away from single-use plastics and developing the mathematical model for aviation’s carbon neutral growth strategy, Lao’s tireless leadership rightfully earned her a spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s most influential sustainability leaders in 2018.

Janice Lao

Winona LaDuke is an American economist, environmentalist and writer, known for her pioneering work on tribal land claims, preservation and sustainable development – her environmental advocacy organisation Honor the Earth played a major role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. As a member of the Green Party of the United States, LaDuke ran for vice-president in 1996 and 2000, and in 2016 she made history as the first Green Party member to receive an electoral vote. Her resolute sustainability work has been recognised with numerous awards, including the Reebok Human Rights Award and 

Winona LaDuke

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Arden captured the hearts of people around the world for her strong and steady leadership during the COVID pandemic, but her forward-thinking climate ambition has long been a hit with her Kiwi constituents. After declaring a climate emergency last year and pledging a carbon-neutral government by 2025, Arden’s latest manifesto includes zero-emissions public transport, removing barriers to renewable energy and the phase out of coal-fired boilers, among other policies designed to tackle what she recognises as “one of the greatest challenges of our time”. She’s now undertaking a second term as New Zealand’s leader following a landslide majority win in October 2020.

Jacinda Arden

Christiana Figueres is a major political figure on the climate change landscape. As executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) between 2010 and 2016, she was responsible for directing global climate conferences in Cancun 2010, Durban 2011, Doha 2012, Warsaw 2013 and Lima 2014, culminating her efforts in the historical and game-changing Paris Agreement of 2015. Figueres been recognised with a seemingly-endless list of awards and accolades, and continues to push for change through talks, writing and her organisation Global Optimism, which aims to change the negative narrative around about climate change to one of hope and opportunity.

Christiana Figueres

British fashion designer Stella McCartney has always been open about her environmentalism – as a firm supporter of animal rights she was one of the first major designers to champion vegetarian and animal-free products in her clothing lines. But as it becomes increasingly clear that the fashion industry is having a damaging impact on the environment, McCartney has become progressively more outspoken about her stance, criticising other designers for their lack of environmental responsibility and passionately working to ensure fashion and the environment can peacefully co-exist through innovations that include everything from ‘mushroom leather’ to bioengineered spider silk.

Stella McCartney

The world has been hammered by crises over the past 18 months – chief among them, of course, the global pandemic. But while nations around the globe have been united in the shared challenges of COVID-19 some countries have fared better than others, and they have something in common: women leaders.

 by the Centre for Economic Policy and World Economic Forum shows, countries led by women had “systemically and significantly better” outcomes relating to the pandemic. This success highlights what women have known for a long time: gender diversity is absolutely vital in the global leadership mix.

And it’s absolutely vital in the face of our biggest and ongoing global emergency: climate change – especially as 

 consistently show that women are more impacted by the climate crisis than men. Women’s voices are vital in the fight against global warming because they are uniquely placed to be changemakers, expanding the possibilities of a sustainable future through foresight, strength and wisdom. And this is more important than ever as the world now looks to ‘build back better’.

So to celebrate the launch of our brand new ‘Female-Led’ ethyBadge, we’re championing seven pioneering women making waves in sustainability – from activists and environmentalists to CEOs and politicians – and who are making the world a better place for all of us.

Celebrating Female Leaders in Sustainability

These online clothing businesses are changing the world for the better. You can wear their clothing with pride knowing that your money went towards a worthwhile cause. 👕

Dress to do good

The personal care and beauty industry contributes almost £30 billion to the UK economy each year. Wouldn't it be great if some of this money went towards positive social and environmental purposes? These socially conscious health & beauty brands are here to do just that. 💅🌎

Health & beauty for a good cause

Are you on the lookout for some new eco-friendly household items that also help drive positive social & environmental change? Well you're in the right place! These social enterprises create and sell products for the home & garden in the interest of people and planet. 🏠

Household items with a story

The food industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the country, generating around £121 billion annually.🍕 These social enterprises are trying to divert some of this money towards tackling some of the most pressing social & environmental issues.

Food & drink with purpose

Social enterprises are businesses that use profit earned to help tackle social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training, or help the environment. When you buy from a social enterprise you can be sure that your money is going towards a positive social or environmental cause. 💵

Thriving Communities

Six things you didn’t know about Fairtrade

Celebrating Female Leaders in Sustainability

Support social enterprises from home

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