What is Fair Trade?

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Not all trade is fair! Farmers and workers at the beginning of the chain don’t always get a fair share of the benefits of trade. Fair Trade enables consumers to put this right.

The term Fair Trade defines 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 – especially in developing countries.

Fair Trade is more than just trading: it proves that greater justice in world trade is possible. Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional trade and is based on a partnership between producers and consumers. Fairtrade offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade. This allows them the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for their future. Fairtrade offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their every day shopping.

In order to distinguish Fair Trade products from conventional ones, different Fair Trade Labels was developed. Also there are several Fair Trade organizations worldwide. Fairtrade International grants licences for the FAIRTRADE certification mark. This mark is on most of Fair Trade products offered in the Baltic countries.

FAIRTRADE mark is used to mark Fair Trade products worldwide since 2002. The FAIRTRADE Mark certifies that products meet the social, economic and environmental standards set by Fairtrade. The Standards are designed to address the imbalance of power in trading relationships, unstable markets and the injustices of conventional trade.

What does it guarantee?

The key objectives of the standards are to:

• ensure that producers receive prices that cover their average costs of sustainable production;

• provide an additional Fairtrade Premium which can be invested in projects that enhance social, economic and environmental development;

Benefits of Fair Trade

With Fair Trade – everyone wins! Consumer support enables Fair Trade Organizations to be advocates and campaigners for wider reform of international trading rules, to achieve the ultimate goal of a just and equitable global trading system.

Fair Trade for business

National Fairtrade organizations promote Fairtrade in their country and license companies to use the FAIRTRADE Mark on products. Fairtrade Finland is responsible for licensing in Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and is therefore primary contact for Lithuanian companies.

How to recognize?

The graphic symbol inside the FAIRTRADE Mark is of a person with a raised arm representing the optimism of producers and linking the everyday determination of people in developing countries with the aspiration of consumers around the world.

Fair Trade over the world

Today Fair Trade is indeed became a global movement. There are several Fair Trade organizations worldwide. World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) grants the FTO certification mark.