Fair Trade

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Now that gift shopping is around the corner, let’s talk about alternatives to mass consumerism when shopping for loved ones.

Just as a while ago I spoke about greener holidays (as in environmentally friendlier), and

The global Fair Trade seal.

soon there will be a second edition about greener presents and strategies for being nicer to the planet during the holidays, today I want to speak about ethical consuming and, specifically, about Fair Trade.

Chances are, if you shop at a grocery store, you have run across the Fair Trade designation on food stuffs. Many know that this is something good but aren’t sure what it is. Let me explain.

Trading fairly, as an idea, exists since the 1940s, when church parishes and some NGOs created a movement that wanted corporations and large companies to pay fair prices to farmers and other commodity producers so that they did not need government subsidies to make ends meet, and could pay fair wages. The motto was Trade, Not Aid. It was a nice movement, but it fizzled out.

But then the 60s came, and with them the hippies who, if there’s one thing they know how to do is how to get people motivated behind an ideal. They discovered solidarity trade, changed its name, and that’s when Fair Trade was born.

The idea was to pay producers of commodities (raw materials, that is) the proper price for

I.m.o. this is the world's best lip balm.
and it's Fair Trade!

their work, without abuse. With proper pay, farmers and producers could then pay decent wages and provide proper working conditions for their employees, thus maintaining the standard of living.

For corporations and a consuming society that was just beginning to enjoy the idea of having the latest everything, Fair Trade wasn’t an easy concept to swallow. So, for many years after Fair Trade was born it was largely ignored as indiscriminate consumption continued.

However, Fair Trade continued and over time, awareness of these products has grown worldwide. In the last 20 years the Fair Trade brand (which is not really a brand but an ideal with specific standards all over the planet) has become a central concept of ethical consumerism. Ethical consumerism and commerce is a social movement that promotes consumption while being aware of exactly how that purchased item was created: understanding the implicit abuse of natural resources that some purchases carry, awareness that the maker might treat employees unfairly or even under forced slavery for

Patagonia is another Fair
Trade company.

commercial purposes, and promotes the trade of commodities and products created in a way that promote sustainability, responsibility towards out planet, and the protection of human dignity.

That is why nowadays there are merchants to can obtain the Fair Trade certification,because it is granted to those who purchase their materials from Fair Trade producers or pay specifically fair trade prices for them (thus leading to sustainable use of natural resources) and offer fair wages and a dignified, ethic working environment for their employees.

A while back I spoke of the Global Mamas, a group of Ghana women who started their own fabric and handmade crafts store in order to promote the education of women in their country. .html They have the Fair Trade certification because they obtain their raw materials paying fair, ethical prices for them. And don’t hesitate to check out their shop, they have very original, quality merchandise.

So, this is why, if you want to be more ethical when shopping for presents, the Fair Trade

Fair Trade jewelry
made by Aeravida. 

seal indicates just that, products that have been made to have a better planet and a better society. These gifts are easy to find, especially if you shop online because you can search for whatever you want plus the word ‘fairtrade’.Personally, I’ve tried on Amazon and just by typing ‘fair trade’ a whole bunch of categories for gift ideas come up, not just food. Give it a try.

Speaking of Amazon, I end this post by reminding you about Amazon Smile. That’s the program with which Amazon donates a percentage of your purchases to a non-profit of your choice, with no cost to you. Remember to pick a non-profit and after that, to always, always, start your shopping not via the normal Amazon portal but via the Smile one.