FAIR TRADE

By Hand was founded with the aim of proving that business can be ethical and that exploitation has no place in the modern world. Fair trade is, therefore, a central part of everything that By Hand does.

As a company, By Hand operates in line with fair trade principles and works to promote fair trade both amongst consumers in the UK and Europe, and amongst producers themselves in Indonesia. By Hand is a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops.

According to the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), fair trade is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect, which seeks greater equity in international trade. Fair trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalised producers and workers, especially those in the southern hemisphere.

The Fairtrade Mark is used to show that products are fair trade, but it can only be applied to certain types of product (e.g. food, drink, cotton). At present, this logo cannot be applied to handicrafts.

But handicrafts and other products that cannot bear the Fairtrade Mark can still be fair trade. For example, if they are produced or sold by a member of the WFTO or if they are produced and traded in line with the WFTO’s 10 principles of fair trade.

Here are those all-important fair trade principles:

1) Creating opportunities for disadvantaged producers
2) Transparency and accountability
3) Capacity building
4) Promoting fair trade
5) Paying a fair price
6) Gender equity
7) Safe and healthy working conditions
8) No child labour
9) Encouraging better environmental practices
10) Trade relations based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect