World Fair Trade Day
World Fair Trade Day takes place every second Saturday in May to raise awareness about Fair Trade projects and the need for a fairer global economy. It is endorsed by the World Fair Trade Association (WFTA).
The WFTA started in 1988, after Fair Trade initiatives began in 1940’s and larger scale projects developing in the late 60’s. Fairtrade International (the most recognisable Fair Trade mark) started from 2002.
Fair Trade aims to provide products for which everyone involved is paid a fair wage and enjoys a good standard of living. All these projects have aimed to counteract the unequal and predatory trading practices of the modern global market where rich countries and large corporations pay low prices and encourage exploitation in poorer countries.
Today, the WFTA boasts over one million small scale producers and over three thousand grassroots organisations in over 75 countries.
What is Fair Trade Premium?
When the issue of fair trade comes up, it is often said that a higher price is paid to the producers of the raw materials, which enables them to have a higher standard of living. The system is also characterised by the possibility of receiving an advance payment for specific purchases. In addition, it also means that those involved in fair trade receive a so-called fair trade premium. This is a special payment, the amount of which is precisely defined in Fairtrade International’s guidelines. At our partner for natural rubber – the Fair Rubber e.V. – the amount of the premium is also precisely defined. Fair Rubber certified sources in India and Sri Lanka to create our best-selling condoms.
The members of a cooperative or an elected committee made up of workers from a plantation, which also includes representatives of the management, decide for themselves how this premium is to be used. For example, the equipment for the plantation’s own day care centres or a private pension insurance for the rubber tappers can be financed with it. An annual on-site audit ensures that the premium funds are used in accordance with the guidelines. All in all, the fair trade premium is a wonderful opportunity to improve the living and working conditions in the growing regions for the partners involved.
The fair trade concept naturally plays an overriding role in our soaps. It is only logical for us as a manufacturer of cosmetics and care products made from Fairtrade oils to also use fair trade ingredients and long-term trade relationships when making soap. We all benefit if fair wages are paid to the producers in the regions where our raw materials are grown. Fortunately, we know many of our cultivation partners personally through our work over the past few years and can, for example, use valuable fair trade olive oil produced from our partners in Palestine and Lebanon for our soaps. Shop our best-selling Shea Hair Soap, made with Fairtrade coconut oil from India and Fairtrade certified shea butter from Ghana.
All Fair Squared products are certified fair trade. The Fairtrade green tea from our top selling Green Tea Lube and Massage Gel is mainly received from the region of Darjeeling, India. We derive our Fairtrade Almond Oil for our Almond Lip Balm from the Hunza Valley in Pakistan. Our summer favourite Lime Lip Balm contains fairly traded lime extract from Brazil.