It’s Fairtrade Fortnight and we’re celebrating 30 years of the FAIRTRADE Mark. This means 30 years of farmers using the power of Fairtrade to earn a fair wage and to drive positive change in their communities.
With plenty of tips and inspiration, here are 30 ways you can celebrate Fairtrade and the work the Fairtrade Foundation are doing to help them to celebrate their milestone year.
1. Sign Up to get emails from the Fairtrade Foundation
If you don’t already get their email updates, sign up for all the latest Fairtrade News so you’ll never miss an opportunity to get involved in their work to build a fairer future. You can do so here: Join the Fairtrade Foundation
2. Sign your local Community Declaration on Climate Justice
Over 17,000 people and over 1,000 groups have already signed a Community Declarations on Climate Justice, demanding fair funding for communities living with the worst effects of the climate crisis. Your signature shows local politicians there’s real grassroots support for global action on climate justice. You can sign as an individual, a school, a Fairtrade group, or any other organisation here. Once you’ve signed, remember to share to get your friends and family to join you.
3. Say it with flowers
We all love to give and receive flowers to celebrate a special occasion. To mark 30 years, you could send a friend a special thank you and, at the same time, introduce them to the benefits of Fairtrade flowers. We sell them in select Co-op Food stores or visit the first online florist to achieve fairtrade accreditation: Lavender Green Flowers. They deliver a fairer deal for thousands of farm workers in East Africa and Central America.
4. Write a letter
Thirty years in, people still need to find out why choosing Fairtrade is so important. This excellent guide on writing a persuasive letter includes great tips for everyone, whether you’re writing to your local MP, school, church or your boss. Visit here for more information.
5. Start a petition
Supporting Fairtrade isn’t just about signing petitions – you can start one too, which is what the children at St. Peter’s Catholic Primary School did. They started a petition urging the UK government to start including Fairtrade bananas in their Free Fruit and Vegetables scheme. Perhaps some of the pupils can give you some inspiration for yours? See their video here.
6. Quiz night? Try one of ours!
Everyone loves a quiz. We’ve created one for you to try here, or you can use the following resources to help make your own:
What Fairtrade product am I? – What Fairtrade product am I? Climate edition – Fairtrade Schools
General Fairtrade product quiz – Fairtrade Quiz for Primary Schools – Fairtrade Schools
7. Make a smoothie
There is no better way to get your ‘5 a day’ than a nice smoothie. There are so many Fairtrade ingredients that are just perfect for smoothies: bananas, mangoes, orange juice, peanut butter, honey, nuts and spices. Make your smoothie, then ‘smoothly’ start a conversation about how each of those ingredients means a fairer deal for so many farmers and workers all around the world!
8. Get creative in the kitchen
It’s been 30 years since the FAIRTRADE Mark hit UK shelves, and you can now cook up all sorts of tasty treats using over 6,000 Fairtrade products available across the country. Whether it’s banana brownies or pasta bakes, classy cocktails or coffee-flavoured cookies, the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach – so build your friends and family’s love for Fairtrade with some delicious dishes. Check out the Fairtrade Foundation’s library of recipes for some inspiration.
9. Make an exhibition of yourself – and us!
Whether it’s poetry, painting, music, or crafting, getting creative is a great way to spread the word about the difference choosing Fairtrade makes. For example, in 2020, thousands of young people took part in Fairtrade Foundation’s Choose the World you Want exhibition to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. Try running your own exhibition or competition in your community, school or university.
10. Get social – online!
Social media lets us connect with other Fairtrade fans from all over the country and beyond. It also tells people about the power of Fairtrade. As we mark 30 years, you can take inspiration from the Felixstowe Fairtrade Forum’s excellent recent efforts in upping their social media game. They used Fairtrade to up their social media presence.
11. Have a break – have a coffee morning
A classic with our campaigners, old and new, nothing gets people listening to the benefits of Fairtrade better than a break and a few top-quality coffees, teas and snacks. We hold fortnightly coffee mornings in Chelmsford (every other Monday) and Braintree (every other Thursday) at 10am, but on the 16th and 19th of September they will be distinctly Fairtrade themed!
12. Be a star of screen – host a film night
There’s lots of films that showcase why choosing Fairtrade is always the best choice for people and the planet. Here’s a quick guide in running a film night: Fairtrade Film Night Films and discussion points.
13. Take the taste test – run a tasting session of treats
Thirty years after releasing their first products, some people still don’t realise Fairtrade goodies don’t just power positive change, they taste great too! Hold your own Fairtrade tasting event, or come along to ours in Chelmsford on 26th September. While they are tasting, take the time to explain the positive effect these palate-pleasers have in communities worldwide. That’s what we’ll be doing!
Did you know that lighter chocolate pairs well with lighter wines? Try out Co-op food stores for good value options for wine and chocs.
14. Deck the halls with (recycled) bunting
Using recycled cotton, Linlithgow Fairtrade Partnership made beautiful bunting with local youth groups. But you can use any materials to make some Fairtrade-themed bunting – it’s a great conversation starter, brightens up any space, and crafting is a great way to bring people together.
15. Come to our Fairtrade Wine tasting
Not that we’re biased, but we think it is a great event. Six wines plus six chocolates, plus nibbles, for £10 (or less for members)? Sign yourself up quick whilst we still have a few tickets left or buy your ticket here.
16. Hold a Fairtrade fashion show
Joanna Pollard celebrated Great Big Green Week by inviting groups of activists to upcycle some old Fairtrade Foundation t-shirts made (of course) from Fairtrade cotton. Joanna also live-streamed the event on social media so people from all over could get involved. You can read about her ‘How Green Is Your T-shirt’ fashion show here.
17. Make the flowers bloom in your area
Did you know it’s easier than ever for your local florist to start stocking Fairtrade? Let them know by ordering flower postcards from the link below and sharing them with independent florists in your area. More beautiful Fairtrade blossoms in the UK means more flower farm workers with greater rights, higher incomes, and more security all over the world, and that’s a blooming good deal! Request your flower postcards here.
18. Make your area a Fairtrade Community
Fairtrade Community groups work to put fairness at the heart of everything happening in their area. You only need two like-minded people to start a group and the enthusiasm to bring our message to local people. You can find out more about Fairtrade Communities and sign up here. Already a Fairtrade Community? You can go even further by Campaigning and earning a special ‘Action Area’ badge.
19. Link up with a local sports team
Wolverhampton Fairtrade scored a Premier League partnership when they teamed up with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The local football group supported them in running an event that enabled lots of local children to learn about Fairtrade. You can find out more about Wolverhampton Fairtrade’s work here.
20. Hit the trail
Campaigners in Solihull created a Fairtrade Trail that delights old and young alike, introducing people to new places they can buy Fairtrade and the difference doing so can make. Find out more about how they created their special treasure hunt in this local news article
21. Get crafty with your campaigning
Rather than printing lots of leaflets and wasting paper, many campaigners have turned to making their own engaging campaign materials in recent years. Lots of campaigners share top tips on everything from creating FAIRTRADE Marks with old potatoes to promoting collaborative crafting sessions in their local communities. Watch the special Crafty Campaigning video here for inspiration.
22. Make a Fairtrade display
Whether it’s a student union, a school notice board, your local community centre or just on your fridge, make a daily reminder about the power of FAIRTRADE. Get some inspiration on what a top-notch notice board looks like from this Pinterest board.
23. Teach them a lesson – about Fairtrade
Calling all parents, teachers and students! Did you know your school can become a Fairtrade School? We have lots of things to help you get started. Find out more about lesson plans, learning resources and fun games here.
24. Have a little faith, as a Fairtrade Place of Worship
Hundreds of faith groups of all types and beliefs have signed up as a Fairtrade Place of Worship. All you need to do is commit to stocking essential goodies and spreading the word about the FAIRTRADE Mark among your faith community. You can find out more and sign up in minutes here.
25. Have a chat about Fairtrade with your local businesses
Speak to shops and businesses in and around your community, university, school or anywhere else about backing Fairtrade. With over 6,000 products in the UK, it’s not just the usual suspects. Schools could switch to Fairtrade cotton uniforms. Jewellers could start stocking Fairtrade gold. Even cafes aren’t limited to just Fairtrade tea and coffee – they could also start stocking fruit juices, lemonade and snacks made with Fairtrade cocoa or sugar. Check out all the Fairtrade products and when to buy them.
26. Make a Fairtrade Pledge
Ask people in your community, school or university to pledge to do one thing differently that will make the world fairer. Schools that have done this previously have got creative – asking people to draw or illustrate their ideas on paper leaves to create a ‘forest of ethical pledges.’ Would something similar work for your group?
27. Celebrate World Fair Trade Day
On the second Saturday of every May, World Fair Trade Day is a great opportunity to listen to the voices of the people behind the products we use every day. The next World Fair Trade Day is 10th May 2025, so mark it in your diary as a major moment to celebrate fairer trade, and sign up for our emails to ensure you get all the tools you need to mark this special moment.
28. Try a new Fairtrade product every day or week
With over 6,000 Fairtrade products available, you could try a new Fairtrade product every day for over 16 years! We don’t suggest you do it for that long, but perhaps try sniffing out a new treat every week for a year. Don’t forget to share the results on social media! Check out the range of Fairtrade products and where to buy them
29. Have a bake-off
Get colleagues, classmates, or the whole community to come together and cook up some baked goodies. The Oxford Student Union gave this a go in 2020, inviting students and staff to send their best Fairtrade efforts to a panel of hungry volunteer judges.
30. And lastly, but definitely not least – Fundraise
As a charity, the Fairtrade Foundation is hugely grateful for any donations – large or small. Anything you can give helps them to strengthen Fairtrade all around the world and here in the UK – which means a better deal for farmers. Their fundraising page has some ideas to get you started, and you may have been inspired by one of the earlier points, but any individual or group is completely free to fundraise in whatever way they like – the more creative, the better. Tips for Fundraising for the Fairtrade Foundation.