Sadly, the fact is that when we want something, we simply go to a shop and buy it. I’m not talking about special or exotic items, but about chocolate, coffee, tea, rice and other everyday items that can very quickly become uncommon. We can successfully grow bell peppers or tomatoes on a balcony, but it would be very difficult to grow coffee beans to a point where we could satisfy our average need for this intoxicating substance that is worth its weight in gold for many. But let’s put a bag of coffee from a shop aside and turn our minds back to the soil that makes plants grow, and then move further to each chain link, namely the processors, gatherers and all the way to the final product that ends up on our shelves nicely packed. Unfortunately, the payment the producers receive when it comes to these so commonly used raw materials is very low.
We can, however, make our own contribution by trying, whenever possible, to buy products that guarantee all links in the production chain received a proper and fair payment. Such products come with a distinctive Fairtrade label. Sadly, these products are mostly available in cities and towns, while little places with small shops with small stocks usually don’t offer them yet.
But a lot can be done regardless. There are a few shops where you can buy or order “fair” products and they’ve also started popping up in large chainstores. If there’s a chance you can buy unpackaged products, then that’s another great way to contribute in a different form, namely to help the environment.
This new habit that you can add to your routine can become a constant while spending your time holidaying or travelling. It’s true that these products might seem a bit more expensive at first, which is due to the reasons I’ve mentioned above, but if you buy responsibly and think about what and how much you truly need, you realise it turns out you don’t really have to spend more for a good cause and the costs might actually even be the same.
There’s often been much talk about buying local products and produce, and this is especially relevant now. This should, in my opinion, definitely be a priority at home and wherever you happen to be. Some products, however, can’t be bought locally. In such cases, you should buy ones that have been fairly produced. Besides the fact that every chain link gets a fair payment for their work, standards for obtaining the Fairtrade label are also high when it comes to ecological criteria. That’s because products must be made in an environmentally-friendly way.
In addition to the most generic items, that is food products, one can also find lots of household utensils, dishware, decorative items, cosmetics, jewellery, fashion accessories and clothes. The latter present a particular area of concern because fashion consumerism is enormous and the amount of textile, which has been used only once or is even brand new, is inordinate. This textile is mostly produced by a cheap labour force that doesn’t even get a proper payment. If we absorb some of these principles and put them to use, we can contribute to sustainable development and a better future.
Small shops that sell Fairtrade products aren’t always included in travel guides, but why not make your holidays more interesting by taking on a challenge to search for other such shops, and maybe also buy a souvenir, dessert or pasta, which you’d otherwise buy in a shop nearby. Perhaps you’ll discover the part of the city or town you otherwise wouldn’t get to see, learn something new in the process and subsequently do something good.
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