Fair Trade Organizations

Fair Trade Organizations: Advocating for Ethical and Sustainable Commerce

Fair Trade organizations are dedicated to creating a more just and equitable global trade system by ensuring fair wages, ethical working conditions, and sustainable practices for producers, particularly in developing countries. These organizations promote transparency, environmental responsibility, and social justice, empowering communities and fostering economic independence.

There are 2 main international Fair Trade bodies:

World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)

The WFTO is a global authority on Fair Trade.
Membership of the WFTO is limited to organizations that demonstrate a 100% Fair Trade commitment and apply its 10 Principles of Fair Trade. WFTO members who are monitored against these Principles are listed in the FT100 index of world-leading Fair Trade brands, businesses and organisations. Not just the pioneers of the movement but the innovators of the market. The WFTO represents Fair Traders from grassroots through to the G8 and is the authentic voice of Fair Trade, having driven the movement for 20 years. It is the only global network whose members represent the Fair Trade chain from production to sale.
> wfto.com

Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO)

FLO is the worldwide Fairtrade Standard setting and Certification organisation. It permits more than 800,000 producers, workers and their dependants in 50 countries to benefit from labelled Fairtrade. FLO guarantees that products sold anywhere in the world with a Fairtrade label marketed by a National Initiative conforms to Fairtrade Standards and contributes to the development of disadvantaged producers and workers.
> fairtrade.net

In alphabetical order

Fair Trade Organizations and Campaigns on Trade Justice Issues

OneWorld
The OneWorld network and portal brings you the latest news, action, campaigns and organisations in human rights and global issues across five continents and in 11 different languages, published across its international site, regional editions, and thematic channels. Many of these are produced from the South to widen the participation of the world’s poorest and marginalised peoples in the global debate.
> oneworld.net

Oxfam International
Oxfam International is a confederation of 12 organizations working together with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice.
With many of the causes of poverty global in nature, the 12 affiliate members of Oxfam International believe they can achieve greater impact through their collective efforts. Oxfam International seeks increased worldwide public understanding that economic and social justice are crucial to sustainable development. We strive to be a global campaigning force promoting the awareness and motivation that comes with global citizenship whilst seeking to shift public opinion in order to make equity the same priority as economic growth.
> oxfam.org

Third World Network (TWN)
The Third World Network is an independent non-profit international network of organizations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the Third World and North- South issues. Its objectives are to conduct research on economic, social and environmental issues pertaining to the South; to publish books and magazines; to organize and participate in seminars; and to provide a platform representing broadly Southern interests and perspectives at international fora such as the UN conferences and processes.
> twnside.org.sg

Trade Justice Movement (TJM)
The Trade Justice Movement is a fast growing group of organisations including trade unions, aid agencies, environment and human rights campaigns, fairtrade organisations, faith and consumer groups.
The movement is supported by more than 60 member organisations that have over 9 million members, and new organisations are joining every month. Together, we are campaigning for trade justice – not free trade – with the rules weighted to benefit poor people and the environment. We believe that everyone has the right to feed their families, make a decent living and protect their environment. But the rich and powerful are pursuing trade policies that put profits before the needs of people and the planet. To end poverty and protect the environment we need Trade Justice not free trade.
> tjm.org.uk

World Fair Trade Day
World Fair Trade Day falls every second Saturday in May.
It is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to sustainable development, especially the economic empowerment of small producers, gender equality in workplaces and responsible production practices.
Our member Fair Trade Enterprises across the globe lead the celebration.
> wfto.com

Europe / Fair Trade Organizations

European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) – Europe
The European Fair Trade Association is a network of 11 Fair Trade organisations in nine European countries which import Fair Trade products from over 400 economically disadvantaged producer groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America. EFTA’s members are based in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. EFTA publishes a variety of materials on Fair Trade issuses in general such as ‘The yearbook’; ‘Facts and Figures on the Fair Trade sector in 18 European Countries’; EFTA Advocacy Newsletter and a variety of product specific newsletters, studies and positions.
> eftafairtrade.org

NEWS – the Network of European Worldshops
NEWS is the umbrella network of 15 national Worldshop associations in 13 different countries all over Europe. Through them we represent the Worldshops – shops that offer fairly traded products and campaign for a fairer world trade system. Through its members – National Associations – NEWS represents approximately 2,500 Worldshops and 100,000 volunteers working in these shops.
> worldshops.org

UK

Fair Trade Foundation
The Fairtrade Foundation is the independent non-profit organisation that licenses use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products in the UK in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards. The Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement, later joined by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. Member organisations now also include Banana Link, Methodist Relief and Development Fund, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, People & Planet, SCIAF, Shared Interest Foundation, Soroptimist International , Tearfund and the United Reformed Church.
The Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), which unites 21 labelling initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand as well as networks of producer organisations from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
> fairtrade.org.uk

Traidcraft
Our mission is to fight poverty through trade, practising and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives.
Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty, we combine a trading company and a development charity.
We build lasting relationships with producers, support people to trade out of poverty and work to bring about trade justice.
> traidcraft.co.uk

North America / Fair Trade Organizations

Fair Trade Federation (FTF) – North America
The mission of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is to foster an equitable and sustainable global system of production and trade. As a trade organization, FTF supports an economically just and socially responsible model of partnership between producers and marketers, assuring living wages and safe, healthy working conditions. FTF builds market preference for fairly traded goods, empowering low-income artisans and farmers worldwide to better their lives.
The Fair Trade Federation is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide. FTF directly links low-income producers with consumer markets and educates consumers about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products which support living wages and safe and healthy conditions for workers in the developing world. FTF also acts as a clearinghouse for information on fair trade and provides resources and networking opportunities for its members. Some of the products that FTF members provide include: accessories, baskets, clothing, coffee, crafts as art, food products, housewares, jewelry, kitchenware, musical instruments, paper products, pottery, textiles, toys, traditional crafts and folk art from all over the world.
> ftrn.org

Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN)
Education and Discussion to Make Trade Fair
Founded in 1999, the Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) seeks to build a more just and sustainable world by gathering, developing, and disseminating educational resources about Fair Trade. FTRN is the only non-profit organization in the world focused exclusively on Fair Trade education, helping people to better understand the impact of their buying decisions.
FTRN also works to create a space for dialogue and exchange within the Fair Trade movement. Whether through in-person meetings or online exchanges, FTRN propels the Fair Trade movement in the US through critical discourse and information sharing.
> ftrn.org

Global Exchange
As an education and action resource center, we advance our vision by working to ensure our members and constituents are empowered locally and connected globally to create a just and sustainable world.
Global Exchange® takes a holistic approach to creating change. With 20 years working for international human rights, we realize that in order to advance social, environmental and economic justice we must transform the global economy from profit centered to people centered, from currency to community.
> globalexchange.org

Ten Thousand Villages
The global fair trade movement began with the founding of Ten Thousand Villages more than 60 years ago through the visionary work of Edna Ruth Byler, a pioneering businesswoman. Byler was struck by the overwhelming poverty she witnessed during a trip to Puerto Rico in 1946, where she was moved to take action. The seminal contribution of Byler ignited a global movement to eradicate poverty through market-based solutions.
One of the world’s largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.
> tenthousandvillages.com

TransFair USA
TransFair USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is one of twenty members of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), and the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.
We audit transactions between US companies offering Fair Trade Certified™ products and the international suppliers from whom they source, in order to guarantee that the farmers and farm workers behind Fair Trade Certified goods were paid a fair, above-market price. In addition, annual inspections conducted by FLO ensure that strict socioeconomic development criteria are being met using increased Fair Trade revenues.
> transfairusa.org

Africa / Fair Trade Organizations

Conservation Cotton Initiative (CCI)
In 2007, Wildlife Conservation Society and Edun, an apparel company founded by Ali Hewson and U2 frontman Bono, established the Conservation Cotton Initiative. This collaboration aims to improve the livelihoods of communities in Africa by investing in sustainably harvested “conservation cotton.” The program promotes development of eco-friendly cotton farming around high biodiversity areas to enhance incomes and economic development, improve resource management, and protect wildlife.
> wcs.org/conservation-cotton

Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA)
The Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa – COFTA is a network of Fair Trade producer organisations in Africa involved and working with disadvantaged grass root producers to eliminate poverty through Fair Trade.
COFTA is the Africa Regional Chapter for the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and as such the network of all registered WFTO members and registered Fair Trade Organizations in Africa, as well as those seeking or working towards WFTO registration.
> cofta.org