Welcome – Guest Blogger, Carmen K. Iezzi, Executive Director, Fair Trade Federation.
The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) evaluates businesses for their full commitment to nine Principles, including Creating Opportunities for Marginalized Producers, Cultivating Environmental Stewardship, and Paying Promptly and Fairly. FTF members strive to only source items under these Principles – no fair-washing here!
Products from Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs) are usually made with recycled, sustainably harvested, organic, and/or chemical-free materials. Often working in remote areas off of the power grid, FTOs encourage environmentally sustainable practices throughout the entire trading chain.
FTF makes it easy to bring in Fair Trade to your home, school, workplace, town, faith community, and other places. You can fundraise with Fair Trade Organizations; bake with Fair Trade ingredients; travel to visit artisans and farmers; host a speaker; show a film; play Fair Trade games, and try many other ideas. On March 27, they will sponsor their annual conference on the business of Fair Trade, and on May 9, 2009, communities in 70+ countries will mark World Fair Trade Day and celebrate efforts to beat poverty and reduce our environmental footprint.
Fair Trade gives us the chance to change the environment and the lives of the poor. Learn more and find great FTOs in your area at www.FairTradeFederation.org.
Decanter (hand blown from recycled glass), ($38) @ SERVV.org
Recycled paper flowers ($29.95) available @ giftswithhumanity.com
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As a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), one of the oldest and largest nonprofit fair trade retailers, and one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, Ten Thousand Villages strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries by establishing a sustainable market for handmade products in North America.
As a nonprofit, we achieve this mission by building long term buying relationships in places where skilled artisan partners lack opportunities for stable income. Product sales help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.
Our commitment to support artisans around the globe is strengthened through fair trade compensation practices including cash advances and prompt payments. More than 60 years later, and as the company continues to grow, Ten Thousand Villages has become increasingly conscious of the need to marry the concept of fair trade with healthy and environmentally sustainable business practices.
Today, Ten Thousand Villages continues to carry out a conscious approach toward minimizing an environmental impact. From store operations to product selection to marketing practices, Ten Thousand Villages strives to meet the “triple bottom line” of economic, environmental and social sustainability.
Learn more about a rewarding shopping experience at tenthousandvillages.com or locate a store near you.