What Is Fairtrade and How Does It Work?

Fair trade is an arrangement intended to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions. Companies are able to provide workers with a fair, stable income as well as safe working conditions and worker’s rights which improves their lives and facilitates reaching their potential. Members of the fair trade movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards. 

From poverty to climate change to struggles with health and safety, people all over the world face incredible challenges simply trying to earn a living. A living wage allows a worker to cover the essential needs of their family, with some provision for unknown circumstances. However the legal minimum wage often falls short of this and in order to compete in with the low prices in today’s market, employers struggle to increase wages, leaving workers around the world in poverty. Fairtrade, along with five other leading sustainability standards agencies, are working together to improve wage levels in certified supply chains and have agreed on a shared approach for measuring living wage.

At TORRAIN, we provide employment to marginalized communities in Cambodia and ensure that their working environment is safe and that they are receiving a living wage. Our makers have quality onsite housing with proper health and safety equipment. In addition to a fair wage, we also give proceeds; $1 per bag back to the community. We continue to go to Cambodia every 2-3 years for quality control as well as to visit and interact with our makers and to ensure that they are comfortable and well.

Shopping fairtrade means taking a stand for a system that treats everyone with respect.