With 2024 marking three decades of the Fairtrade Mark, the organisation behind it in the UK is planning to celebrate the achievements of the movement.
There are now more than 6,000 Fairtrade products in the UK, and the number is growing all the time. Globally, millions of farmers and workers in 70 countries are part of 1,930 Fairtrade certified producer organisations, benefitting from stable prices, community facilities such as education, healthcare and clean water which Fairtrade has funded, access to training and a platform for their voices to be heard.
And now, with 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of the Fairtrade Mark, the Fairtrade Foundation is planning a range of initiatives, including moving Fairtrade Fortnight from its usual February date to September, when the anniversary takes place.
Fairtrade Foundation CEO, Mike Gidney, commented: “We are incredibly excited to be able to mark this very important milestone. Fairtrade is all about building a fairer future for people in low-income countries who grow and make the things we rely on every day: our food, our clothes. Thirty years on, we estimate that 10m people, including farmers, workers and their families across Africa, Latin America, and Asia benefit from sales of their products on Fairtrade terms.
“That’s an amazing achievement and is thanks to the increasing dedication of companies in changing the way they trade, driven by huge, unstinting support from the British public. Of course, there is still so much to be done. Even while we celebrate the achievements of the Fairtrade movement, and the inspirational commitments of campaigners, communities and companies alike, we are as ambitious as we were on day one to bring the benefits of Fairtrade to more people.
“There will be many opportunities to celebrate this year, many stories of the inspiring people who have worked hard to build the Fairtrade movement over the years, bringing lasting change not only to farmers, but also to companies in the UK and to public attitudes too. We know from research that consumers want to be part of the change. That’s a wonderful mandate for companies to join in, so that together we really can make trade fair for everyone.”
