ENVIRONMENT

Fair Trade makes small-scale agriculture more profitable. This discourages deforestation, and preserves traditional intercropped farms that prevent erosion and protect wildlife. Fair Trade also requires dramatic reductions in agrochemical use, forbids the use of the most dangerous chemicals, and requires implementation of Integrated Crop Management (ICM) systems and other environmental stewardship practices. Fair Trade also provides farmers and workers with financial incentives and technical assistance to convert to organic production. As a result, many Fair Trade Certified products sold on the U.S. market are also certified organic. A guaranteed premium for Fair Trade Certified organic products can put organic agriculture within financial reach. In addition, programs implemented by farmers together with TransFair USA's Global Producer Services team are promoting organic conversion in farming communities from Brazil to Côte d'Ivoire. This unique combination of high environmental standards and financial rewards for sustainable farming means that Fair Trade Certified products are not only better for the men and women who grow them, they're better for the planet as well.

"We have stopped using herbicides, and the groundcover between plants is attracting back the wildlife."

"Our workers got pressure cookers from Fair Trade. It is a common problem for the tea garden management to provide firewood (thus damaging local ecosystems and human health). Hence, providing these cookers will help the workers save their time, and they are indirectly encouraged to save ecology too, so that they can live a better life."

"The activities that have been taken on under the Fair Trade banner have given many opportunities to us all. For example the gas connection, pressure cookers, childrens' education, cow loans, floriculture loan, etc. By this we have been able to keep our environment safe, and the atmospheres in our homes and villages have improved."