Think global, act local – Fair Trade at Christmas
As the festive season approaches, many of us are thinking about buying gifts. For Scotland’s Fair Trade shops, co-ops and social enterprises, this time of year is vital. Every purchase helps keep ethical businesses thriving here at home, while supporting workers, producers and artisans around the world who rely on Fair Trade for fairer income and working conditions.
Fair Trade is one of the simplest ways to “think global, act local”. When you pick up a handwoven ASIGE basket, a toy from Gogo Olive or a bar of traditional Nablus soap from Hadeel, you’re supporting the livelihoods of the people who made them. In a Christmas period dominated by large corporations, Scotland’s Fair Trade retailers are holding themselves to high ethical standards- fair pay for producers, transparent supply chains based on trust and mutual respect, all with respect for the environment. Supporting these enterprises matters. They’re rooted in their communities, while simultaneously connected to global producers who benefit from sales.
Fair Trade gifts tend to be made to last, from organic cotton clothing to responsibly sourced foods and handcrafted homeware. These gifts offer a more sustainable choice at a time when the climate crisis makes it clear that how we shop truly matters. Choosing Fair Trade this festive season is a small act of solidarity, and one that supports fair work for producers worldwide.
We’d like to invite you to explore this year’s Christmas Gift Guide that we’ve put together to help you discover something unique, while supporting the local shops and global communities that make Fair Trade possible.
