Fairtrade - thinking globally, acting locally

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust supports the Wiltshire Fairtrade Coalition, which promotes the purchase of Fairtrade products and spreads understanding of the principles behind Fairtrade. Choosing Fairtrade products guarantees better profits for farmers in developing countries enabling them to reinvest in their businesses or in social and environmental schemes that will help local people work their way out of poverty.

The Fairtrade certification system includes environmental standards, requiring producers to protect the natural environment and make this an integral part of their farm management practices. Producers are also encouraged to minimise the use of energy, especially if from non-renewable sources.

From just three products at the start of the Fairtrade movement in 1994, there are now over 3,000 certified products, ranging from chocolates to clothing, flowers to footballs, juices to jewellery, tea to trainers, amongst an ever-growing selection of goods.

There are a number of Fairtrade directories available for the county, put together by various groups, containing an extensive list of where all these products can be found, including cafes, restaurants, shops, as well as schools, organisations and businesses that support Fairtrade. Copies can be found in libraries, information points and selected shops.

Find out more about the Fairtrade Foundation by visiting their website.

In Wiltshire support for Fairtrade is booming with more of our towns every year achieving Fairtrade Town Status and a number of others working towards this goal.

The Wiltshire Fairtrade Coalition meets on a quarterly basis to support Fairtrade groups throughout the county; one of its main tasks is to co-ordinate activities during Fairtrade Fortnight each year, which normally takes place at the end of February. The coalition is also working towards achieving Fairtrade County status for Wiltshire.

If you would like any further information on Fairtrade, are interested in becoming a Fairtrade volunteer or are a member of a group, which would like to join the coalition, please contact the Trust.

Fairtrade towns and cities in Wiltshire

Box
Bradford on Avon
Cricklade
Devizes
Malmesbury
Melksham
Salisbury
Swindon
Trowbridge
Warminster

Groups working towards achieving Fairtrade Status

Chippenham
Marlborough
Westbury