Fair Trade and the Environment

The New Internationalist is a registered Fair Trade Organization. Fair Trade is a system that ensures that people and the environment are the central concerns of trade. Here are some of the ways in which Fair Trade promotes social and environmental justice, and so helps to create a more sustainable global community.

Sustainable use of natural resources

Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs) are required to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and to use production methods that are not capital and oil intensive. Sustainable production is a high priority for Fair Trade Organizations; care for the local environment is just one of ten standards that FTOs have to comply with.

Pay a living wage

As a registered FTO we ensure that the producers of our goods are paid a living wage. Because FTOs work in long-term partnerships it enables our producer partners to invest in environmentally friendly production. Sustainable practices such as organic farming bring a broad range of benefits including protection of biodiversity and improved health for the farmers.

Consumer campaigns

Fair Trade has helped millions of people escape from poverty and the Fair Trade movement is calling on consumers world-wide to think seriously about their shopping habits, to minimise the negative impacts their choices have on the environment in which we all live. In this section of our shop we focus particularly on goods that help us move towards sustainable living.