01/10/2024
Since 2008, we have been committed to always producing high-quality, sustainable, and ethically sourced cotton bags. We hold our passion for protecting the environment in very high regard, and supporting fair labour practises across our entire supply chain is a key thread you will find across our entire business. As part of BIDBI’s ongoing 16-year mission to promote eco-friendly products and services, we’re proud to be a participant in the efforts of Fairtrade, not just for a fortnight – but all year round. There are many advantages of Fairtrade for businesses, and consumers and this Fairtrade Fortnight is an incredible movement that is dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of Fairtrade farmers, their surrounding communities, and of course their environment.
Fairtrade Fortnight is an opportunity for any organisation, big or small, to reflect on their values and reinforce their commitment to ethical sourcing and production. A big topic we’re going to cover in this blog is the advantages of Fairtrade as a global movement, why Fairtrade is important, and how businesses can benefit from supporting this movement. If you haven't found at least one advantage of Fairtrade by the end of this blog, give it another read and put these actions into practise!
What is Fairtrade? Fairtrade is more than just the label you see on food products and other commodities. Fairtrade is a very real lifeline for millions of farmers around the world. For the UK market, where 77% of consumers say that they specifically choose Fairtrade products over other alternatives, this market shows overwhelming support for Fairtrade as an organisation. For UK consumers, we hope that they actively choose Fairtrade products because of the support given to Fairtrade farmers, supporting them with fair paid and safe, stable working conditions. This is a necessity for the cotton industry in particular, where many workers in developing countries are often exploited due to unsafe working conditions and unfair wages.
At BIDBI, supporting an organisation such as Fairtrade aligns with our mission to promote ethical and sustainable business practises. Although we have our own history of promoting sustainable practises that are 16 years in the making, we understand that true change comes when everyone contributes together, and that's why we support Fairtrade and other social and environmental organisations. Even the smallest changes in actions can have a big impact, and partnering with Fairtrade is one way that we contribute to positive global change.
The advantage of Fairtrade extends wider than the farmers of course, it provides significant benefits for businesses and consumers. While you may not run your business or work for one, you will be a consumer of products. You can contact your local Fairtrade organisation and businesses to find out which businesses local to you sells Fairtrade products, like we do here at BIDBI with our Fairtrade-certified cotton bags. The companies on the list of Fairtrade approved organisations, like BIDBI, have demonstrated a deep commitment to social responsibility, and cultivating a sustainable environment.
This is all good for consumers who can feel confident in their purchasing choices they make. More than 37,000 Fairtrade products are available for UK shoppers to buy, and we understand that more and more shoppers are conscious of where they spend their money, and if their money and purchasing choices are promoting unethical businesses and practises. With the Fairtrade logo, consumers can have a direct impact from the money they spend and know that they are making a difference to the lives of millions of Fairtrade farmers from around the world.
We have a strong partnership with our Fairtrade-certified suppliers, who guarantee that the materials we use in our products, like our Fairtrade Cotton Tote bags, are ethically and sustainably sourced. As we’ve mentioned, one of the advantages of Fairtrade is knowing that the cotton grown and farmed by workers we partner with receive fair wages in safe, working conditions. However, the advantages of Fairtrade don’t stop there!
Those farmers are in a position to negotiate better terms when it comes to the crops they farm, which enables them to have more control of their finances and their ability to save more of their income that they make. Fairtrade farmers also receive a Fairtrade Premium, which is a sum of money they can use to invest in community projects. This enables great initiatives to develop in local communities for education, healthcare, infrastructure, which supports long-term community stability and development and enables entire communities to get some financial stability as they work to get themselves out of poverty.
Another key advantage of Fairtrade is to protect and positively contribute to the environment. Fairtrade hold high standards for sustainable farming practises and protecting the environment. Reducing the harm of pesticides used and promoting biodiversity all contribute to protecting the environment and supporting it with initiatives that will promote positive ecological life. These are practises that align with BIDBI and the eco-choices we make every day.
From our core company values to the BIDBI products created for the tens of thousands of clients we’ve worked with over the years – every action is taken and every choice is made with sustainability in mind. A major advantage of Fairtrade cotton being used in our products is we can ensure that our products are ethically made, of high-quality material, and have minimal environmental impact on the environment.
A main pillar of our company values is we believe sustainability is the key to a better future for people and the planet. That’s why we’re committed to producing eco-friendly products like our BIDBI cotton tote bags which have been designed with the clear goal to reduce the environmental impact and need for single-use plastics in our local community, and across the world. BIDBI has always been more than an eco-friendly bag printing company, it has been a movement 16 years in progress and we encourage every business we can to join in.
By actively choosing Fairtrade-certified products, you can ensure that the products you have printed with your logo or design are ethically sourced, and produced in a way that minimises harm on the environment, invests in sustainable farming practises, and protects cotton farmer’s wages livelihood.
Of course it is!
2024’s Fairtrade Fortnight has been a time to reflect on how far we have come as a collective force to promote ethical trade, safe working practises, and caring for the environment – which a clear indication of the work that still needs to be done. Businesses and of course consumers can support long-term, sustainable trade that can truly change the lives of farmers and developing nations across the world.
As we said at the beginning, Fairtrade is more than just a logo you’ll see on food and other products, it is a very real pathway for economic stability and unlocking a better quality of life for hard-working farmers.
For us here at BIDBI, we’ve incredibly proud to be a part of this movement and we’ve been in support of Fairtrade and Fairtrade Fortnight for many years. It has been 30 years since Fairtrade Fortnight was first celebrated in the UK. That’s 30 years of our nation contributing to a more sustainable future for everyone across the world.
Just because Fairtrade Fortnight has ended, doesn’t mean supporting Fairtrade has to stop until next year. This 365-day commitment needs our support – but how can you contribute to this Fairtrade future through your business?
Using sustainable practises and making Fairtrade purchases is a direct way to supporting the movement. Our Fairtrade & GOTS Organic textile products are eco-certified. We’ve worked with brands from all over the world who love our Fairtrade & GOTS Organic products; at first glance because of the high quality and how well their design looks printed on their bag, and because they are contributing to an eco-friendly future!
For any and all promotional product needs, trust BIDBI to put sustainability first. You can reach us by emailing us at info@bidbi.co.uk, by telephone on +44 (0)114 272 1201, or by visiting our Quote Request Form and we’ll get back to you based on your requirements as soon as we can.
