Fairtrade

As a Fairtrade City and District, Derry City and Strabane District Council is committed to promoting and using products with the Fairtrade Mark. Many activities take place throughout the year. Why not help up by organising your own activity or become part of the district’s Fairtrade Steering Group?

Email: [email protected]

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is a partnership between some of the most disadvantaged farmers and workers in the developing world and businesses and consumers here. The international Fairtrade system - made up of Fairtrade International and its member organisations - represents the world's largest and most recognised fair trade system.  It ensures a better deal to small producers and their communities in a global market. 

It’s FAIRTRADE Mark is a guarantee of standards worked out internationally with these producers that add the element of justice and equality to our consumer choices.  While the FAIRTRADE Mark indicates that the specific product has been certified to give a better deal to the producers involved – it does not as an endorsement of an entire company’s business practices.

What does Fairtrade mean for the producers involved?

Social Development & Environmental Protection: Fairtrade Standards require producers to organise in a democratic and transparent structure in bringing their produce to market.  They also require adherence to environmentally sound agricultural practices and safe working conditions for workers. 

Sustainable Economic Development: The price they get in return is made up of two elements: 

• The Fairtrade Minimum Price, which gives a guaranteed minimum return for their produce in a fluctuating global market.
• The Fairtrade Premium which enables them to improve the lives of their communities.

This international partnership has delivered health care, education, clean water and many other benefits enabling producer communities to gain control over their lives.

We are a Fairtrade City…  and District!

In 2014 Derry City Council was awarded Fairtrade City Status.  This meant that there was sufficient awareness of Fairtrade across in the city, that an initial threshold percentage of schools, retailers, churches and businesses were supporting it and that council had committed to serving Fairtrade products in their meetings, offices and canteens. 

A key aspect of maintaining Fairtrade status is an ongoing commitment to promote Fairtrade as it’s only a great idea when people buy the products it certifies.  So in 2015 when the new council areas came into being the Fairtrade Steering Group extended its promotional work across it and got the new council to pass a resolution declaring its support. Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC) was awarded Fairtrade District Status in 2018, the first Council in Northern Ireland to achieve this accolade.  

What’s the benefit of achieving Fairtrade District Status?

Fairtrade is a way for us as citizens to make consumer choices that positively influencing global justice.  This is powerful even when we act as individuals but more powerful still when we act as a family, a group, a workplace, a school, a place of leaning, a faith community, or a city and district.  In so doing we demonstrate practical solidarity with the majority world, and help others to become conscious of the effects of our consumption as we become more “trade literate”.  DCSDC now serve Fairtrade tea and coffee in all our meetings, offices and canteens. 

Fairtrade Foundation & Fairtrade Ireland

Derry City and Strabane District Council’s certification is affiliated to both the Fairtrade Foundation and Fairtrade Ireland.  These are independent non-profit organisations that license use of the Fairtrade Mark on products in the UK and Ireland respectively in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.  They envisage establishing a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices so that everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full potential.

Fairtrade Products

There are now over 3,000 Fairtrade products sold in the UK and Ireland. These include: tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, apples, citrus fruits, juices, biscuits, cakes, honey, jam, rice, herbs & spices, wines, yoghurt, ice cream, flowers, sports balls and cotton products.

Fairtrade Fortnight & Fairtrade Campaigns

Many promotional activities take place throughout the year with Fairtrade Fortnight being the highlight. It is usually held at the end of February into March each year and widely celebrated in the area.

Please support Fairtrade Fortnight by encouraging your friends, family, community and workplaces to attend its promotional events and buy Fairtrade products.  You can organise your own event or join in with one already taking place.