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Fair Trade Organizations

 
Example of a Fair Trade shop in Austria 
© EZA Fairer Handel GmbH

Fair Trade Organizations are engaged actively in the trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade promoted by Fair Trade. These organizations have a 100% commitment to Fair Trade and support the most vulnerable producers, backed by the consumers. They contribute by committing to Fair Trade to the sustainable development of marginalized producers and workers by offering better and fair conditions, especially in the South.

WFTO has more than 350 members all over the world. Besides its global office, WFTO has five regional networks, four of them are legally constituted: COFTA in Africa, WFTO Asia, IFAT-LA in Latin America and WFTO Europe. North America and the Pacific Rim are informally organized as a region.

In Europe, WFTO has 95 member organizations as of December 2008. Among them are Fair Trade Organizations, Fair Trade networks and other support organizations. The majority of revenue generated by Fair Trade sales in Europe is attributed to food sales, which encompasses Fair Trade shops, supermarkets and other outlets. Less than 10% of the figure is attributed to handicrafts, whose main outlets are the nearly 3000 Fair Trade shops that exist in Europe.

The real challenge for the European Fair Trade movement is not the outside pressure. This pressure forces the organizations within Fair Trade to answer the negative press, the loss of credibility and the growing competition with other initiatives. The challenge over the coming years will be to make the differential elements and added value of Fair Trade Organizations visible (100% Fair Trade, Fair Trade plus...)

Go to Fair Trade by country or to WFTO Europe members to see the complete list of organizations members of WFTO Europe.