Dorota Giżyńska How Can Trade Be Fair?

A fair tradefair tradefair trade arrangement is one that aims to facilitatefacilitatefacilitate equal and sustainablesustainablesustainable economic tiesties [tie]ties for producers in developing nationsdeveloping nations [developing nation]developing nations . In the fair trade movement, greater export prices are combined with higher social and environmental standards. The movement is particularly focused on commoditiescommodities [commodity]commodities that are frequently exported from developing countries to developed countries, such as handicraftshandicrafts [handicraft]handicrafts, cocoa, coffee, wine, sugar, fruit, flowers, and gold.

In a fair supply chainsupply chainsupply chain, small‑scalesmall‑scalesmall‑scale farmers, producers, and craftsmencraftsmen [craftsman]craftsmen are treated with dignitydignitydignity, respect, equalityequalityequality, and justice. In order to improve trade conditions for producers manufacturers in developing nations, commodities must be sourcedsourced [source]sourced through the creation of trading alliancestrading alliances [trading alliance]trading alliances. Fair trade occurs when the price we pay for goods like food, drink, clothing, and craftscrafts [craft] (noun)crafts is not only enough to cover the costs of production, but also provides producers with some extra money to invest in their companies or farms. In other words, fair trade is not only about getting by; it's also about becoming better every year and developing economic resilienceresilienceresilience. What is more, fair trade producers also receive a “social bonusbonusbonus” that may be used on healthcare and education. Fair trade is built on collaborationcollaborationcollaboration where farmers' and employees' interests are just as essentialessentialessential as other economic factorseconomic factors [economic factor]economic factors. It serves as a model for development and a response to povertypovertypoverty. Fair trade provides opportunities for producers who are economically disadvantageddisadvantageddisadvantaged and reduces poverty by empoweringempowering [empower]empowering them. It also makes it possible to involve producers in key decision‑making processes. The main idea of fair trade is to pay producers a fixedfixed (adjective)fixed price agreed upon by both parties.parties [party]parties. What’s more, no person is discriminated against in terms of their gender, religion, or race while forming a trading relationship. Fair trade also provides a safe and healthy working environment for producers and workers, and it develops their abilities to enable them to grow and succeedsucceedsucceed. One of the important features of fair trade is that no child labourchild labourchild labour or forcedforced (adjective)forced labour is allowed. Lastly, it aims to protect the environment by maximising the use of sustainable energy sources and raw materialsraw materials [raw material]raw materials.

One of the most notable achievements of fair trade is the so‑called ethical consumerethical consumerethical consumer movement. You can be an ethical consumer by purchasingpurchasing [purchase]purchasing ethically produced goods to assistassistassist small‑scale manufacturers or regional craftspeople, as well as products that support local artisansartisans [artisan]artisans and safeguard animals and the environment. What does it take to be an ethical consumer? You’ll find out in the next section.

1 Źródło: Dorota Giżyńska, dostępny w internecie: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/how-to-shop-ethically [dostęp 1.08.2022], https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade [dostęp 1.08.2022], https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/what-is-fair-trade [dostęp 1.08.2022], licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.