What is fair trade and what is the difference between fair trade and fairly traded?

 

Many products are certified by the Fair Trade Foundation and when their mark appears on a product you can rest assured that the producers have received a fair deal. The Fair Trade Foundation is a registered charity that works with the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO), an international organisation.

 

However many small companies have not received certification but still follow the fair trade principles and are transparent in the manufacture of their products and so could be described as fairly traded. It is time consuming and expensive to assess whether products should receive the Fair Trade mark, therefore products do not necessarily need to be overlooked purely because they are not fair trade certified.

 

What is organic?

 

Organic produce is grown under strict standards including severe restriction of artificial chemicals, fertilisers and pesticides. Instead organic farmers rely on developing a healthy fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops. Animals are reared without the routine use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers commonly used in livestock farming. Organic farming is friendlier to the environment and organic standards ban the use of GM technology.

 

 

What is the Soil Association Standard Mark?

 

• Ensuring harmful chemicals are not used.
• Crops are rotated.
• No GM technology is used.
• Quality control.
• Dying techniques. 

Why choose organic cotton?

 

Organic cotton farming uses natural pesticides and is better for the environment – keeping pests away without destroying natural predators. It also provides a better income for farmers who fertilise their fields by rotating their crops and providing nutrients to the soil. Organic cotton is less likely to trigger allergies due to the absence of chemicals and is therefore better for sensitive skins.

 

Why choose jute or hessian?

 

Jute or hessian is a natural fibre and is 100% biodegradable and recyclable. It is environmentally friendly with little need for pesticides and is very hardwearing.

 

 

UK households produced 30.5 million tones of waste in 2003/04 of which 17% was collected for recycling (source: defra.co.uk).

 

Recycling is a great way of saving energy and conserving the environment e.g. 70% less energy is needed to recycle paper that is required to make it from raw materials.

 

Why choose bamboo products?

 

Bamboo is a grass and so once cut it will regenerate in the same way as a garden lawn and is grown without pesticides or fertilizers. As a fabric it has some great properties being 60% more absorbent than cotton, thermo-regulating and antibacterial. Bamboo fabric is also hypoallergenic and extremely soft so perfect for sensitive and allergy prone skins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

·        Paraffinum Liquidum – a chemical derived from petroleum which may cause irritation and clog pores causing breakouts. Other names include mineral oil, liquid paraffin.

·        Propylene Glycol (propan – 1,2-diol) – can be found in anti-freeze and has been linked with skin irritations such as dermatitis. PEG (polyethylene) or PPG (polypropylene glycol) are related synthetics.