Making global trade fairer
We live in a globalised world and many of the goods we consume are produced overseas, where labour is often cheaper to secure. When undertaken fairly, trade has an unparalleled capacity to lift people out of poverty and enhance the quality of lives across the world. However, the day-to-day pressures of business and competition, coupled with political, cultural and economic factors, make decent labour standards difficult to guarantee.
To reflect the concerns of our customers, we refuse to invest in businesses with operations in developing countries, which breach our Ethical Policy standards on global trade.
Instead we seek to invest in Fairtrade businesses
So your money may be helping small-scale Fairtrade farmers to thrive.
All this is aimed at making global trade fairer, so that more people can work their way out of poverty and become self-sufficient
We also seek to support businesses that can demonstrate a commitment to decent labour rights in their operations and supply chains.
On the flip side of the coin, we won't support those who market products, such as health products or baby formula, irresponsibly in the developing world.
Our policy on global trade
We advocate support for the Fundamental International Labour Organisation Conventions. In line with these, we will seek to support businesses which take a responsible position with regard to:
- fair trade
- labour rights in their own operations and through their supply chains in developing countries.
We will not support:
- irresponsible marketing practices in developing countries
- tobacco product manufacture
- currency speculation
Want to know more?
What do the Fundamental ILO Conventions cover? What is currency speculation? What do we mean by irresponsible marketing practices? What is our approach to investing in fair trade?
Our policy on global trade (open as PDF - 691Kb)
