All of our products carry the FAIRTRADE mark. This is part of our commitment to running an ethical business. Most people know that Fairtrade certified products mean higher price is paid to the third world producers. But the Fairtrade system has more benefits that lift it above other "ethical" certification schemes.

The Fairtrade Minimum Price

The Fairtrade minimum price is a safety net that ensures producers are covered for the costs of sustainable production of their product. On the rare occasions that the market price rises above the Fairtrade minimum price, the minimum price paid to the producers rises to the greater of the two. Buyers and producers are of course welcome to negotiate prices higher than the minimum, and often do.

The Fairtrade Premium

An additional premium, over and above the price paid for the product, is paid to the producers community for investment in social, environmental or economic development projects. These projects are decided upon democratically by producers within the farmers' organisation or by workers on a plantation. The projects include schools, hospitals, transport infrastructure, processing facilities and more.

Sustainable Development, Higher social standards

The Fairtrade standards help to improve the lives of the farmers and their communities, and prevent environmental damage. This needs to be backed by sustainable economic development. These goals are achieved in several ways, including :
- enable pre-financing for producers who require it
- emphasize the idea of partnership between trade partners
- facilitate mutually beneficial long-term trading relationships
- set clear minimum and progressive criteria to ensure that the conditions for the production and trade of a product are socially and economically fair and environmentally responsible.
- setting standards on eliminating toxic agrochemicals
- setting standards for democratic structure and transparent administration
- standards for protection of natural resources
- standards on Hired Labour, such as freedom of association & fair wages
- promotion of long term contracts
as well as other measures.

Independent Certification

All parts of the supply chain from the producers up to companies such as ours that package and label Fairtrade products are audited and certified by a member of the Fairtrade Licensing Organisation (FLO), which in the UK is the Fairtrade Foundation. This means that unlike multinational companies and supermarkets that have their own "ethical purchasing" schemes, Fairtrade products are truly independently verified.

This page is just a brief overview of Fairtrade. For much more information, visit the Fairtrade Foundation website.