Celebrating world fair trade day - 11th May 2013
11 May 2013 – Today the FairWild Foundation joins in a worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to the fight against poverty, climate change and the economic crisis that has the greatest impact on the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The World Fair Trade Day is organised by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the global network of Fair Trade Organizations around the planet. As part of this celebration, various events are organized in more than 70 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Pacific Rim.
This day focuses attention on the need for trade to benefit the most vulnerable and deliver sustainable livelihoods by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers.
The World Fair Trade Day is a worldwide appeal to consumers to include Fair Trade in their shopping bags, businesses to incorporate Fair Trade in their supply and offices, and local authorities and national governments to include Fair Trade in public procurement.
In North America, events are coordinated through the Fair Trade Resource Network. Traditional Medicinals Inc., the first company to use the FairWild mark in product labeling, is one of the sponsors.
In celebrating this day, we’re happy that you can now find the FairWild mark on product packs in USA, Canada, Japan, UK, Germany and beyond – letting consumers know that wild plant ingredients have been sustainably produced and traded in accordance with fair trade principles. The last year saw the launch of the first FairWild product on the UK market by Pukka Herbs Ltd., and new producers certified – including a world first for wild cocoa in Bolivia.
The FairWild Standard and associated certification system provides an opportunity to apply fair trade principles to sustainable use and trade in wild-harvested plant resources – a niche that is not comprehensively covered by other Standards and organisations. You can find more details in our guidance manual to social and fair trade aspects of the FairWild Standard.
For more information and suggestions on how to celebrate the World Fair Trade Day, see the WFTO website.