About fair trade
Fair trade - two words that strongly relate in the consumers’ minds to an alternative way of consuming that helps fight poverty and inequality. In economic terms fair trade is still small, but its supporter base across the world is huge and growing.
Some figures[i]
- Five million people in Africa, Asia and Latin America benefit from fair trade.
- 3,000 world shops and 55,000 supermarkets add up to more than 79,000 outlets for fair trade products in Europe.
- More than 1,000 staff and 100,000 volunteers are involved in fair trade organizations in Europe.
- A combined sales turnover of more than one billion euros a year (2005) and growth rates of between 20 and 30% per year since the beginning of the 21st century.
[i] Krier, Jean-Marie: Fair Trade in Europe 2005. Facts and Figures on Fair Trade in 25 European countries, Fair Trade Advocacy Office, December 2005.
Latest News
Oikocredit marks 30 years of Fair Trade: World Fair Trade Day 2009, May 9
Three decades have passed since Oikocredit approved its first fair trade investment, and today the motivation to keep expanding the sector is as strong as ever.
For Oikocredit and its investors, it is clear that credit alone cannot bring true development: production and trade are essential. It is vital Oikocredit continues to challenge the imbalance of conventional trade, and support fair finance from the producer to the consumer.
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