About World Fair Trade Day

The World Fair Trade Day is an initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) that takes place on the second Saturday of May each year. So mark your calendar: 12 May 2018 is the #FairTradeDay.

It is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to sustainable development, especially the economic empowerment of small producers, gender equality in workplaces and responsible production practices.

WFTO and its members believe that trade must benefit the most vulnerable and deliver sustainable livelihoods by developing opportunities for small and disadvantaged producers.

The 2018 theme ‘Live Fair, one product at a time’

More and more people are becoming fair and ethical consumers. That’s right. There is a growing number of consumers who are willing to pay for a product that helps people and the environment.[1]

To keep this trend going up, we adopted the theme ‘Live fair, one Fair Trade product at a time’ for this year’s celebration.

The list below are insights to help Fair Trade enterprises, supporters, advocates and campaigners make the World Fair Trade Day a success.

5 ways you can make a difference:

  1. Promote economic empowerment – through Fair Payment workers and producers can enjoy the fruits of their hard work and labour.
  2. Uphold gender equality – Fair Trade is an enabling concept that encourages women empowerment and enjoyment of women’s rights, two important pre-conditions of gender equality. A recent survey from an ongoing study revealed that Fair Trade enterprises have more women leaders compared to conventional businesses.[2]
  3. Spread fair practices in the supply chains – inequalities in the supply chains are rife.[3] You can end this through Fair Trade.
  4. Advocate responsible production and management of natural resources – amassing of corporate profits has led to exploitation of the environment and depletion of natural resources. Fair consumption is the anti-thesis of unsustainable practices. Every Fair Trade purchase supports responsible production.
  5. Boost fair and ethical economy – supporting Fair Trade products encourages bottom-up social entrepreneurships.
Credit: BaSE for handicraft producers in Bangladesh

Be a fair consumer one product at a time. Join the movement! #livefair

Encouraging fair consumption promotes conscientious purchasing of products based on functionality, necessity and usefulness. Fair consumers can help promote responsible production and save the planet from exploitation and further degradation. The balance between economic and ecological sustainability is the guiding motto of living fairly.

How to take Action?

1. Join the #LiveFair social media action!
2. Organise your own #FairTradeDay and #livefair campaigns. See list of recommended activities.

Resources

Download the #livefair materials for social media and #FairTradeDay events.

Briefing paper for campaigners.