Easy Ways to Support Fair Trade

You’re ready to change the world and shop Fair Trade, but you don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Since we’ve been there too, we can share some simple choices to just get started. Here are some easy ways to support Fair Trade.

First of all, start with what is manageable. If you commit to buying every purchase Fair Trade, and it costs you too much time and money, you may give up. So choose what works for you and your lifestyle.

Let’s begin with what you CAN do.

Can you find a Fair Trade store in your town? Can you order the Fair Trade blend at your local coffee shop? Can you follow Fair Trade companies online and share their work with your friends?

As you consider your ongoing shopping, what about choosing a segment of life to make as fair as you possibly can? We have some ideas in several categories.

Buy Fair Trade Drinks and Food

As you probably know, the Fair Trade coffee movement has broadened its reach in the past 10 years, and many grocery stores now include fair coffees in their inventory. Especially at health food stores, you can find these options because they are often also certified Organic. (But check for an independent certifier’s label – stores that create their own “fair” brand are not accountable to a certifier.)

In addition to coffee, chocolate is a popular Fair Trade item. This is really important. The global chocolate industry has many labor problems, which the big, established candy companies refuse to solve – including child labor in the Ivory Coast of Africa. Choosing Fair Trade chocolate is a big deal! We consumers can demand a better world by voting with our dollars.

Less recognized, there are several other foods you may be able to find with a Fair Trade certification, again most often in natural food stores – bananas, avocados, rice, coconut oil, sugar, spices, and olive oil are a few.

If you would like to read an inspiring story about olive oil and the positive impacts of Fair Trade, please visit Sindyanna of Galilee. These incredible Arab and Jewish women have started a cooperative of women farmers in their region, who partner in business in order to create understanding and peace between their groups.

Buy Fair Trade Gifts

Giving gifts with purpose may be the easiest way to support Fair Trade. When you purchase a Fair Trade gift, you also have the opportunity to tell your recipient about Fair Trade, explaining that the gift also helped empower a woman across the world to provide for her family.

Once you start looking, the gift options in Fair Trade products are limitless. If you don’t have a store locally, look online in our Fair Trade store. We have theme gifts based on animals, yoga, instruments, and home décor. You will have so much fun giving these away and sharing the mission of Fair Trade!

Weddings can be a fabulous time to give Fair Trade gifts – home goods, serving pieces, or decorative heirlooms. Fair Trade artisans have incredible talent to show off.

Buy Fair Trade Home Goods

Your kitchen and home are also an easy place to start as you support Fair Trade. You can find kitchen linens (tablecloths, napkins, dish towels) made in beautiful block print patterns or using upcycled sari fabric. Ceramic dishes and wooden serving boards are also readily available.

Organic cotton linens can be Fair Trade, so check for that next time you buy sheets and towels. Wool blankets and some smaller furniture pieces can add great accents.

In your living spaces, you might add in some Fair Trade pillows, art work, photo frames, or wind chimes. The possibilities keep going!

Once you discover the beauty and uniqueness of handmade gifts from around the world, you may just want to buy them all.

Buy Fair Clothing & Jewelry

Jewelry is easy. You do not need any jewelry that isn’t Fair Trade. Because there are SO MANY options and beautiful pieces, we are sure you can find what you want in a Fair Trade selection.

Clothing has had its challenges, but the Fair Trade choices are improving each year. You don’t have to switch your whole wardrobe right now! But could you start with one piece that is Fair Trade, and then keep adding over time?

You can support the fair clothing industry by following ethical brands online, wearing them, and sharing them with your friends.

Challenge Your Friends

To expand the Fair Trade movement, we need everyone’s help. We need you telling your friends and building excitement in your circles of influence. We need you challenging your friends to a contest to purchase fair or learn together. Your shopping matters in the global system, and when you influence the shopping of others, you expand your impact even more. Spreading the mission is an easy way to support Fair Trade.

Just Get Started

The best way to support Fair Trade is to purchase the products. And to cultivate this habit, you might start asking every time you make a purchase: is there a Fair Trade option for this?

Don’t wait until you can do all of this list. Maybe someday you will! But today you can pick one. Just get started, and use some easy ways to support Fair Trade. You can do it! We are here to help.

Join our journey in living life fair! You can start by exploring our online Easy Ways to Support Fair Trade

You’re ready to change the world and shop Fair Trade, but you don’t know where to begin? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Since we’ve been there too, we can share some simple choices to just get started. Here are some easy ways to support Fair Trade.

First of all, start with what is manageable. If you commit to buying every purchase Fair Trade, and it costs you too much time and money, you may give up. So choose what works for you and your lifestyle.

Let’s begin with what you CAN do.

Can you find a Fair Trade store in your town? Can you order the Fair Trade blend at your local coffee shop? Can you follow Fair Trade companies online and share their work with your friends?

As you consider your ongoing shopping, what about choosing a segment of life to make as fair as you possibly can? We have some ideas in several categories.

Buy Fair Trade Drinks and Food

As you probably know, the Fair Trade coffee movement has broadened its reach in the past 10 years, and many grocery stores now include fair coffees in their inventory. Especially at health food stores, you can find these options because they are often also certified Organic. (But check for an independent certifier’s label – stores that create their own “fair” brand are not accountable to a certifier.)

In addition to coffee, chocolate is a popular Fair Trade item. This is really important. The global chocolate industry has many labor problems, which the big, established candy companies refuse to solve – including child labor in the Ivory Coast of Africa. Choosing Fair Trade chocolate is a big deal! We consumers can demand a better world by voting with our dollars.

Less recognized, there are several other foods you may be able to find with a Fair Trade certification, again most often in natural food stores – bananas, avocados, rice, coconut oil, sugar, spices, and olive oil are a few.

If you would like to read an inspiring story about olive oil and the positive impacts of Fair Trade, please visit Sindyanna of Galilee. These incredible Arab and Jewish women have started a cooperative of women farmers in their region, who partner in business in order to create understanding and peace between their groups.

Buy Fair Trade Gifts

Giving gifts with purpose may be the easiest way to support Fair Trade. When you purchase a Fair Trade gift, you also have the opportunity to tell your recipient about Fair Trade, explaining that the gift also helped empower a woman across the world to provide for her family.

Once you start looking, the gift options in Fair Trade products are limitless. If you don’t have a store locally, look online in our Fair Trade store [link to store]. We have theme gifts based on animals, yoga, instruments, and home décor. You will have so much fun giving these away and sharing the mission of Fair Trade!

Weddings can be a fabulous time to give Fair Trade gifts – home goods, serving pieces, or decorative heirlooms. Fair Trade artisans have incredible talent to show off.

Buy Fair Trade Home Goods

Your kitchen and home are also an easy place to start as you support Fair Trade. You can find kitchen linens (tablecloths, napkins, dish towels) made in beautiful block print patterns or using upcycled sari fabric. Ceramic dishes and wooden serving boards are also readily available.

Organic cotton linens can be Fair Trade, so check for that next time you buy sheets and towels. Wool blankets and some smaller furniture pieces can add great accents.

In your living spaces, you might add in some Fair Trade pillows, art work, photo frames, or wind chimes. The possibilities keep going!

Once you discover the beauty and uniqueness of handmade gifts from around the world, you may just want to buy them all.

Buy Fair Clothing & Jewelry

Jewelry is easy. You do not need any jewelry that isn’t Fair Trade. Because there are SO MANY options and beautiful pieces, we are sure you can find what you want in a Fair Trade selection.

Clothing has had its challenges, but the Fair Trade choices are improving each year. You don’t have to switch your whole wardrobe right now! But could you start with one piece that is Fair Trade, and then keep adding over time?

You can support the fair clothing industry by following ethical brands online, wearing them, and sharing them with your friends.

Challenge Your Friends

To expand the Fair Trade movement, we need everyone’s help. We need you telling your friends and building excitement in your circles of influence. We need you challenging your friends to a contest to purchase fair or learn together. Your shopping matters in the global system, and when you influence the shopping of others, you expand your impact even more. Spreading the mission is an easy way to support Fair Trade.

Just Get Started

The best way to support Fair Trade is to purchase the products. And to cultivate this habit, you might start asking every time you make a purchase: is there a Fair Trade option for this?

Don’t wait until you can do all of this list. Maybe someday you will! But today you can pick one. Just get started, and use some easy ways to support Fair Trade. You can do it! We are here to help.