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Question: Fair trade companies

Answer: The range of fair trade products is increasing all the time, and you can now buy everything from fair trade clothing and ice cream to coffee, wine, and shoes. There are some brilliant companies and businesses out there sourcing and selling fair trade items and making a positive difference to the planet. Here are some case studies:

1. Ben and Jerry’s
Ice cream lovers will be well aware of the Ben and Jerry’s brand. Known for its quirky, witty branding and delicious flavors, Ben and Jerry’s is the most famous ice cream business in the world. The company first started exploring fair trade coffee in 2005, and it now produces tubs of ice cream laden with fair trade delights, including vanilla beans, nuts, chocolate, sugar, and bananas. In 2015, Ben and Jerry’s announced that all its tubs and mini cups of ice cream and frozen yogurt were made using fair trade ingredients.

2. Rishi Tea
Rishi tea is grown in a remote mountainous community in China. Harvested organically, this tea comes from one of the world’s oldest plantations. Fair trade initiatives have helped to improve community services here, including the establishment of new health clinics. The most notable achievement is the development of a scholarship program, which runs from middle school to university.

3. People Tree
A leading name in sustainable clothing, People Tree was one of the first brands to make a splash in the world of fair trade fashion. People Tree set out ambitious targets to adopt ethical practices and standards throughout the entire supply chain, and the brand has become synonymous with a shift away from fast fashion, a trend that has become increasingly popular.

4. Rapanui Clothing and Teemill
Rapanui Clothing was established on the Isle of Wight in the UK. Producing men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, Rapanui’s ethos is founded on using sustainable materials and ethical production techniques. The brand also runs Teemill, a website that enables you to design and order custom-made tees. Like its parent company, Teemill also employs ethical practices.

5. Fairhills Wine
Initially based in South Africa, Fairhills’ fair trade wine project has since expanded to Argentina and Chile. The growers and wine producers are paid a minimum fee and additional revenue is invested in community projects. Fairhills Wine initiatives have helped to fund a new daycare center, a village hall and a library, for example.

6. Theo Chocolate
Theo Chocolate works with an extensive network of farmers and cooperatives, with contacts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Theo Chocolate prides itself on assuring customers that every single chocolate bar is made using organic cocoa beans that have been grown and nurtured by fair trade farmers. The company actively promotes environmental schemes, including protecting biodiversity, and initiatives designed to enhance the quality of life.

7. Annie Greenabelle
One of the most recognizable and high-profile names in the fair trade fashion industry, Annie Greenabelle is known for producing beautiful women’s clothing. Most pieces are made from organic cotton, and the brand focuses on using ethical manufacturing and processing techniques to provide eye-catching, affordable garments.

8. Nomads
Born out of a love of traveling and an appreciation of Indian fashion, Nomads was established by a team that wanted to bring the colors and textiles synonymous with Indian flair to a wider audience. Having traveled extensively in India, the team set about creating a fair trade business, which specializes in light, comfortable, Bohemian-style pieces

9. Green Mountain Coffee
Green Mountain Coffee is something of a pioneer in the world of fair trade coffee. Based in Vermont, this well-known brand sells fair trade coffee bags, as well as single-use K-cups. Green Mountain supports farmers and growers abroad, as well as the local Vermont community, with an emphasis on recycling, sustainability, and working conditions.

(Source: Sell Merch, 16 Apr 2021)

Source Link: https://sellmerch.org/how-does-fair-trade-work-the-pros-and-cons-of-fair-trade/#Fair_trade_companies