Err

| Account | Contact |  01904 670321

Fair Trade, Eco and Ethical Gifts for the Trade

WHY FAIR TRADE?


"Fair trade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), fair trade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives." (Fairtrade Foundation)

As a FAIR TRADING COMPANY we believe in ensuring that the artisans who make our products get a fair wage and they work in a safe and healthy environment. We try to make sure that the community as well as the individual benefits from our trade, and we visit as many suppliers as possible to check that fair standards are being applied, for instance adequate lighting and ventilation in the workplace, and no child or forced labour. We comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and The Modern Slavery Act 2015. We also aim to minimise harm to the environment by using sustainable or recycled materials in production, and shipping goods by sea instead of by air.

Shared Earth UK is a Guaranteed Fair Trade member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and regularly monitor our performance against the ethical standards set by WFTO.

The majority of our products are bought direct from abroad, from suppliers who are members of WFTO, or who have been recommended by other WFTO members. Many of these suppliers have been set up as non-profit organisations to enable small-scale producer groups to export effectively, and to help them develop their products for larger markets like the UK. Most producers are organised in family groups or co-operatives, often in rural areas or small towns, and are highly skilled in their craft but have little experience of selling beyond a local market.

By buying from us, you are helping to provide much-needed jobs in countries like India, Nepal, Thailand, Bali, Kenya and Guatemala - for people who are often on the margins of society with little or no other source of income.