Fair trade

Fairtrade

"By setting Fairtrade as the standard for many foods at the Olympics, the organisers of the London 2012 Games will help bring the vision of a sustainable Olympics alive. By asking the catering industry to source Fairtrade products, LOCOG have set new standards for the catering industry for not just this iconic event but future major events – quite a legacy!"
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

Buying Fairtrade products is about improving the well-being and livelihoods of agricultural producers and labourers in poorer countries, by improving trading relationships and so ensuring better working conditions, greater access to healthcare and a higher standard of living. Buying Fairtrade products, which guarantees a minimum price for the food crop, is one way to help people out of the cycle of poverty and illness.

Since the FAIRTRADE Mark was first introduced to the UK in 1994, the UK market for Fairtrade products has gone from strength to strength. Sales of Fairtrade products in the UK exceeded £1 billion in 2010. According to consumer research, over three-quarters of adults in the UK now recognise the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Help to promote food produced to Fairtrade standards

  • The London 2012 Food Vision commits the London 2012 organisers to serve only Fairtrade certified bananas, tea, coffee and sugar, and ethically sourced chocolate. You can too!  Make a Food Legacy pledge.

  • Buy more certified Fairtrade food (and even Fairtrade cotton products and flowers). You can find suppliers via some of the existing sustainable food directories and in regional guides (which also contain details of many national suppliers): northeast guide [5mb pdf] southwest guide [5mb pdf].

And trade fair yourself...

  • Trade fair yourself, by committing to prompt payment for all food suppliers. You may like to consider becoming a signatory to the Prompt Payment Code and paying the Living Wage to your employees.
In 2012, a new Fairtrade London Guide lists places and food outlets that sell Fairtrade products.

What is healthy and sustainable food?

Follow the links below, to find out about support or advice to help turn good food ideas into action:

Join up Assured Food Standards Local and seasonal food Animal welfare Good food for good health
Food waste Sustainable fish Environmental farming Fairtrade Reducing energy
Reducing water use Safe food Public sector food Good food training Living Wage

 

Please note that the Food Legacy 2012 programme is not involved with the catering contracts or food supply for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games themselves.
This is the responsibility of the London 2012 organisers. Our work is inspired by, but independent of London 2012.