What is fair trade?

"Fair trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers."
The International Fair Trade Association

Trade as One is proud to be a member of the Fair Trade Federation which demonstrates our commitment to creating a more socially and economically just global trading system. 

Our fair trade agenda

Strengthened communities

In poor industrializing countries, people who’ve farmed for generations are being pressured to abandon their way of life for low-paying factory jobs. Fair trade is an alternative that lets people stay involved with their families and communities. Mothers in particular tend to be among the first to take advantage of fair trade opportunities.

Business sustainability

Fair trade is built on micro-economic principles of long-term enterprise development. It stimulates and rewards entrepreneurial creativity. It drives producers to co-operate with each other and in doing so, improves the resilience of local businesses and communities.

More vibrant culture, less corporate blandness.

There's not much to discover in a world where everything looks the same. Fair trade creates interesting choices at a time when giant corporations are creating a generic landscape of chains and franchises that make one town look just like the next. Fair trade offers you the opportunity to buy highly individual products that preserve cultural diversity.

Environmental responsibility

A healthy environment is one of the last luxuries that human beings struggling for food and shelter can afford. By empowering people to make a fair living, it gives them the ability to also take care of their environment. Fair trade encourages the use of sustainable methods of production. For example, the majority of fair trade coffee farms are also certified organic.

Giving people the power to influence the world

If no one bought anything from sweatshops, no sweatshops would exist. Trade as One helps you create the world you want with the money you spend.

Think of Trade as One like a river linking small tributaries to the big delta.

• You and us, we're the delta - the ones who buy things (the Trade as One team use the site and chain-drink the coffee). By buying things and explaining where we got them or even just by sending an email, we are spreading the word, helping to change attitudes through our personal connections.
• Between us and the tributaries are the importers of our fair trade products. They provide design advice and advance payments to the micro-businesses of the producers. They arrange shipping and importing, all part of a long term commitment to the producers who they've gotten to know and respect.
• All the way upstream are the producers. People who've developed the skills and the resources to make the things we sell. The business model of fair trade gives them the hope of better futures, education for their children and healthcare for their families. It gives them the dignity and freedom we should all have.

The more people who get engaged downstream, the bigger the river will get.