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Fair trade

Fair trade is a way to ensure that farmers and producers get fair prices for their products and raw materials, so they can invest in their communities and also improve workers’ rights and working conditions. The Fairtrade Foundation works with farming co-operatives, businesses and governments to make trade fairer.

Fairtrade Communities

Fairtrade Community status is awarded to an area which makes a commitment to support and use products with the Fairtrade mark. This includes communities being ambassadors, influencers and changemakers for a world with fairer trade. 

The council passed a resolution back in November 2013 to support Fair Trade, and Aberdeenshire successfully renewed its Fairtrade Community status in September 2023. This is co-ordinated in Aberdeenshire by a steering group made up of fair trade activists from across the area, and chaired by an officer from the Sustainability team at the council. The group is there to:

  • Support local groups
  • Schools and retailers
  • Tackle common issues on fair trade
  • Continue to gain support from the council

Fairtrade Community Groups are made up of local people who are passionate about supporting farmers and workers in fairer trading standards. A number of towns and villages across Aberdeenshire have achieved and renewed their Fairtrade Community status including:

  • Alford
  • Buchan
  • Ellon
  • Huntly
  • Inverurie
  • Mid Formartine
  • Peterhead
  • Stonehaven

How you can support Fairtrade

Fairtrade products present the Fairtrade Mark on them. The Fairtrade mark independently certifies that products meet economic, social and environmental standards.

To support Fairtrade you can:

  • Try out some of the range of Fairtrade products at home which can include Fairtrade fruit, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, rice, honey and fruit juice
  • Encourage your local shop or cafĂ© to consider selling Fairtrade in the future
  • Convert your community, workplace or school to Fairtrade

Find out more information about the Fairtrade Mark and contact Fairtrade to find out how to apply for Fairtrade status.