When is World Fair Trade Day?
The second Saturday in May is World Fair Trade Day.
What is World Fair Trade Day?
Fair trade meets at the intersection of bananas and sneakers. The commodities we love often reach the developed world through inhumane methods. World Fair Trade Day sheds light on marginalized workers and pushes for equity in global trading partnerships.
This may come as a surprise, but the developing world doesn’t always consider the dignity of its laborers. The result is poor wages, long hours, and terrible working conditions. With a focus on commodities—like cocoa, coffee, gold, and sugar—the fair trade movement promotes better trading conditions for vulnerable populations.
A fair trade purchase makes a subtle but important statement: humans deserve evenhanded treatment. World Fair Trade Day supports the fair trade movement and promotes the inherent dignity of all humankind.
Fun facts about World Fair Trade Day!
More than 1.6 million farmers and workers benefit from the fair trade system.
Small-scale farmers make up over 80% of fair trade producers.
While fair trade organizations promote equitable payment for goods, they also push for better working conditions, sustainable development, and the elimination of child labor.
How to celebrate World Fair Trade Day:
Be mindful of where you spend your money. Purchase goods with fair trade labels, and avoid purchasing from companies with exploitative labor practices.
Research the companies you typically give your business. Find out if they have been investigated for fair trade practices, and see how they match up with their competitors.
What’s the hashtag for World Fair Trade Day?
Use #WorldFairTradeDay on social media to support equitable commerce.