Sounds Like a Fair Trade to Me

SDG # 1 is “No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.”

The first goal listed in the United Sustainable Development Goals is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. As the first of the bunch, it clearly sets the tone. And its role in our creation of a better world is obvious.

End poverty is a lofty goal that might seem unattainable to individual investors, consumers, global citizens. But I can think of one simple way that each of us can begin to attack global poverty in our own lives.

Look for and buy FairTrade products whenever you can.

Eliminate Poverty through FairTrade

An effective way of reducing worldwide poverty is by helping small-scale food producers receive a fair price for the crops they grow. That is the goal of FairTrade, an organization with individual national chapters around the world.

After all, 780 million people live below the poverty line of $1.90 US a day (less than $2.50 CAD) and 80% of them live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

FairTrade International tells us that “Small-scale farmers and workers are among the most marginalized by the global trade system”.

So, improving the income rural agriculture workers receive makes a real difference for our poorest and most vulnerable.

By looking for the FairTrade mark when you go shopping you can help these small-scale producers get a fair, economically sustainable price for their products.

FairTrade is partnering with B Corps – Of Course, they have – to support SDGs

In an article from Food Navigator Europe I found out that these two amazing organizations, Fairtrade International and B Labs, the organizing entity behind B Corp certification, began work back in 2021 to collaborate and share knowledge with the goal of supporting the SDG deadline in 2030. This makes so much sense, because all three of these organizations/initiatives are aimed at making a more economically equitable and environmentally friendly world.

I wish them all the best of luck and will be looking for more information on these initiatives in the days and weeks to come.

Include FairTrade in your shopping cart

While buying FairTrade may not feel important to your investment portfolio as a socially responsible investor, being a socially responsible consumer is a significant part of being a socially responsible global citizen. Together they play a role in how you interact with the world and do your part to make it a better place.

And if you can’t fully control the stocks in your investment portfolio, you can be more responsible about the items on your grocery list and the contents of your grocery cart.

But it is also important to remind you that only you can decide on the choices you make. Only you can determine your personal situation and how you are going to address it.

As individuals, our commitment to socially responsible investing and to supporting the UN SDG framework is a personal journey, determined by both means and opportunity. Fair-trade products can often appear to be more expensive. Our personal and household budgets play a role in our decision-making and how and what we buy.

Be gentle to yourself. Be gentle to those around you. And remember that we are all each other’s neighbours. “People around you” can live across the street or halfway around the world. It shouldn’t matter.

You can look for available fair trade options in many product categories on your respective national fair-trade websites – such as the United States or Canada. Although bananas and coffee are probably the most visible fair-trade products, they are not the only ones. Happy shopping.

FairTrade International: 30 years of working to alleviate poverty

I know “that’s a lot of big talk, but who are these FairTrade folk anyway?”

The FairTrade Foundation was established in 1992 in Great Britain. It has grown into an international entity that is considered to be the most recognized and trusted sustainability labels in the world. In fact, it is one of the most recognized trademarks anywhere.

Identifying products for you to support

In 1994 the FairTrade Alliance certified the first products to meet their standards.

Since then, FairTrade has become a recognizable and reliable mark that conscientious consumers can count on all over the world.

FairTrade is on board with SDGs

The FairTrade International website highlights eight SDG they want to concentrate on. SDG # 1 – No Poverty is one of them.

The Sustainable Development Goals identified by FairTrade International are:

• SDG # 1: End Poverty in all its forms everywhere
• SDG # 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• SDG # 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• SDG # 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• SDG # 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• SDG # 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• SDG # 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• SDG # 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development