Bulletin
OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS
EASTER PREVIEW
HOME COMPOSTING
T R A I D C R A F T S H O P. C O . U K
JANUARY 2020
Welcome
Introducing our new Graphic Designer, Liam! From 2020 onwards, all of the Traidcraft catalogues that you know and love, your weekly emails, packaging updates and, of course, your monthly bulletin (including this one!), will be designed by Liam.
Friends, I was reflecting over the Christmas break just how far we have come in the space of 12 months. 2019, while manic at times, was a year that brought hope to us all at Traidcraft. Building on that platform, we set our sights on one single New Year’s resolution. Looking at our founders for inspiration, we want Traidcraft to create some good trouble. We want to challenge the status quo of business and continue to fight trade injustice, challenge existing norms of fair trade when needed and deliver a message of ‘people and planet’ as we seek to address environmental issues. A full list of events and dates for the diary can be found on page 6. First up will be the spring roadshows: 14th March London - E3 4AR St. Paul’s Bow Common 10:00am - 4:30pm VIEW ON EVENTBRITE
21st March Birmingham - B73 5SW Wylde Green URC 10:00am - 4:30pm VIEW ON EVENTBRITE
We are changing things up this time round. The events will run on a Saturday and will have more of a conference theme. With seminars from PLC, Traidcraft Exchange and others. You will of course be able to order from the new spring range, but as a bonus we will be bringing some sale items for you to take away on the day. Refreshments will be provided (tea, coffee, biscuits etc.), but you will need to bring your own lunch if you plan to stay for the whole day. Registration will open in January. I hope we will see you at one of the events! Happy fair trading,
Matt 2
Welcome to Team Traidcraft!
Get ! Involved
Black Friday and Beyond Appeal If you cast your mind back to November, you may remember our Black Friday boycott, where we downed tools, closed our warehouse and addressed some of the injustices we saw in society. One team headed to Newcastle Cathedral, to distribute tea, coffee, biscuits and bags of donated toiletries to the less fortunate in our locality. The day was a massive success! We gave away over 100 jute bags of toiletries (many of which were donated by you!), and everything we had left over, we were able to give to Shelter, for them to distribute amongst our local community well into the New Year. The gratitude from the recipients was heart-warming. Whilst we were at the cathedral, we asked
if there was anything else they feel could benefit them in their day to day lives, in order to get through the North East’s bracing winter season. They suggested that they’re in desperate need of sleeping bags, foil blankets, backpacks, hats and gloves. Many of the Traidcraft team members have started to donate to the collection, but we thought we’d open it out to you, as you were so overwhelmingly generous and supportive last time! If you’d like to get involved, please send any donations to: Traidcraft: Black Friday and Beyond Kingsway North Gateshead NE11 0NE
Hot off the press! - We’re heading back to Newcastle Cathedral on February 1st for a repeat of our Black Friday refreshment station – this time, we’ll be armed with extra provisions for the less fortunate during this cold season. If you could kindly have any donations in to us by 30th January, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you!
We are trialling plastic-free packaging for your orders! We are increasingly concerned and worried about the killer effects that climate change is having on our partners, which is one of the reasons we are on a journey to become a 1.5°C company.
A helpful note from Traidcraft customer, Lydia Groenewald… Hi Traidcraft, I’ve been concerned by the amount of plastic packaging material I was having to recycle (although that’s much better than having to throw it away!). Previously, I found someone via Freegle (www.ilovefreegle.org/) who was grateful for the bubble wrap bags Traidcraft used to use, but no-one seemed to want the inflated bags.
Traidcraft's John testing plasticfree tape
It’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re taking steps every day to reduce our carbon footprint. This month, we’re trialling new, more sustainable packaging for your orders; this includes things like plastic-free tape, recyclable jiffy bags and degradable bags to package liquids.
However, a Freegler suggested contacting St. Gemma’s Hospice charity shops. Their e-commerce manager was very happy to take it off my hands to use in their delivery business. They wanted the inflated bags, bubble wrap, and basically anything that would protect the things they send out. I dropped the materials off in one of their shops, but they even said they would have picked it up from me at home. Wondering whether donations of packaging materials was something that was of use to other charities, not just our local hospice, I phoned our local Cancer Research branch and they also said they would be happy to receive packaging material, for stuffing their display handbags. I said I’d drop some off when I next had books/clothes to donate. You might like to let others who get regular Traidcraft deliveries know that this might be possible for them, too. Increasing our reuse before we have to recycle has got to be a good thing, and it helps a local charity! Keep up the great work!
Lydia Groenewald
Did you know…?
We've signed our Eat Your Hat chocolate up to Slave Free Chocolate - a coalition to bring an end to child slavery and the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa industry. 2.3 million children are considered to be at risk, with some of the most vulnerable, hidden away from view. Slave Free Chocolate are working to change this. They’ve asked ethical chocolatiers to join them in putting a stop to these brutal labour practices, including trafficking and slavery, by getting the word out there and exposing larger companies, forcing them to admit accountability and change their practices. Next up, our whole range of Traidcraft chocolate is to be signed up! For more information, see: www.slavefreechocolate.org
Dear Team, I thought you might enjoy seeing how my granddaughter converted your fruit cakes to a Christmas cake for all 19 of us!!
Deb Lee 3
our year in numbers From Black Friday boycotts to welcoming new babies, our 40th birthday year has been busy to say the least! Here’s our year in numbers…
BLACK FRIDAY
boycott
Dedicated Members of the Traidcraft Team
3
Injustices Fought Trade Social Environment
4
Great Taste Awards won
4
(in South Africa & Sumatra)
New Arrival
26.2
miles ran by our Great North Run finishers (raising over £1,500 for Traidcraft Exchange)
56,694 years of pioneering the future of fair trade
4
Producers Visited
orders full of your fair trade goodies safely dispatched
1,768
pieces of Helen in CSD’s delicious homemade cake eaten
205,448 best-selling Traidcraft toilet rolls sold
NEW YEAR’S resolutions from Traidcraft
As the festivities grind to a halt, we’ve turned our minds to our own eco-New Year’s resolutions here at Traidcraft HQ. Whether you’re looking for some inspiration when considering your own New Year’s resolutions, or you’re simply interested to see what some of the Traidcraft team are hoping to achieve, have a read below.
Sarah A This Christmas I tried to shop a lot more sustainably than previous years – a lot of the gifts I gave had been made from recycled or natural materials. Come 2020, I’m going to make it my mission to teach my seven-year-old daughter about single-use plastic and educate her about where her toys come from. Robin My resolution is somehow to plant some trees somewhere, even if I have to do it illegally. We have been speaking to the owners of the local trading estate and they said they have a few acres of semi-industrial land that they might let us look after. If we get the go-ahead, I would love to physically plant 100 trees this year with my own hands… Rio In 2020, I plan to use my bike a lot more for shorter journeys. I live nine miles away from Traidcraft HQ, so, once I get my
confidence up doing shorter journeys, I hope to cycle into work and back. Watch this space! Jo F I am aware that I shop too much and can be guilty of buying ‘stuff’ that I don’t need. Traidcraft’s Black Friday boycott really struck a chord with me. This sparked my New Year’s resolution for 2020: I aim to buy more sensibly, investing in the right sort of products, rather than being sucked in by offers or cheaper products. Sarah M In 2020 I’m going to try to home compost more. Ever since interviewing Guy Barter from RHS for Traidcraft’s article on home composting, I’ve felt compelled to turn my household waste into something useful. I’ve currently got my compost bins in situ in my garden and am going to make sure that I home compost throughout 2020. Matt I am determined to reduce my business mileage by half this year, but to see more Fairtraders than ever.
So, I will be holding regular webinars / video conferences rather than travelling and when I do travel, I will be taking public transport whenever possible. If I have to take a car, then I want to try to make sure I am not the only one in the vehicle. I also know I need to eat less meat, but can’t go fully veggie (sorry!). I pledge to try to only eat organic meat, local to the location I’m in, and go vegetarian when I cannot tell. Eve My New Year’s resolution is to reduce my meat intake, with the environment in mind. I’m going to start with meat-free Mondays and see how I get on, then hopefully continue to reduce my intake week by week. Whether your New Year’s resolution is to use less plastic, shop organic or simply to purchase with a little more conscience, Traidcraft is the everyday activist’s one stop shop, providing small changes which make a huge difference.
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YOUR QUARTER 1 CALENDAR 2020
JANUARY 1st Jan
Bank Holiday
Delivery 14th of Jan (3rd week of Jan)
Delivery of Easter range (Divine)
Delivery 6th of Jan (2nd week of Jan)
London Tea Company product launch
13th week commencing - 3rd week of Jan
Transparency Coffee Launch
End of Jan
First drop of spring range
FEBRUARY 12th Feb
SS20 catalogue drop - Our eagerly awaited spring catalogue hits door mats all around the UK, early Feb. Watch out for our Easter collection and all things spring like. Full of Traidcraft favourites as well as new ranges from Thought, Earth Squared and Shared Earth. We’re super excited about our new eco-toiletry range, too!
24th Feb – 8th March
Fairtrade Fortnight - The annual celebration of all things Fairtrade, two weeks dedicated to showcase the producers and co-operatives who see and live the real benefits of buying fair trade. This year’s focus is on female empowerment and the art and joy of story telling. Telling their stories to the world, in communities, to young and old. It’s also a perfect opportunity to have a cuppa and organise your Big Brew event and sit back listen and enjoy.
24th Feb – 8th March
Big Brew (Traidcraft Exchange)
29th Feb
Ludlow Conference with FTF, TC, Slow Movement
End of Feb
Second drop of spring range
MARCH 8th March
International Women’s Day
14th March
Roadshow - London - E3 4AR: St. Paul’s Bow Common -10:00am - 4:30pm
18th March
2020 Global Recycling Day
21st March
Roadshow - Birmingham - B73 5SW: Wylde Green URC - 10:00am - 4:30pm
21st March
International Day of Forests
End of March
Third drop of spring range
APRIL 10th April
Bank Holiday
11th - 12th April
Easter Weekend
13th April
Bank Holiday
Please note that although we aim to stick to the above calendar, all dates are subject to change. 6
Traidcraft Organic Easter Eggs PREVIEW
We promised we’d keep you updated about the exciting news that this year, we’re launching our very own Traidcraft branded Easter eggs. As we’re not ones to go back on our word, we thought the January Bulletin would be a great time to share a special preview with you!
TRAIDCRAFT FIRST
Organic
Organic
Traidcraft own brand Easter eggs are a brand new product for us!
By choosing Organic, Fairtrade and future-proof chocolate this Easter you are not only supporting farmers and workers around the world, but doing your bit for your planet and your future, too. Crack open your Traidcraft Easter egg to find an exciting, fair trade surprise inside. These surprises are supplied by artisans from all over the world, whose communities and economies are supported by on-going projects. The four handmade surprises include two bookmarks, a notebook and a pencil topper. Please note that the fair trade toys inside these delicious eggs are randomly assorted, and the pencil and books pictured are for illustration purposes only.
P.S. Along with our Traidcraft eggs, keep your eyes peeled for new Easter products coming very soon! 7
HOME COMPOSTING
You’ve heard us bang the drum about the importance of looking after the planet which sustains us, and one of the best ways to do that is to turn our waste into compost. The result? Happy soil. Whilst we may be pioneers of fair trade and the experts in sourcing ecofriendly, future proof, compostable packaging for our products, when it comes to the nitty gritty of actual home composting, we look to the specialists for advice. This is why we’ve teamed up with the Royal Horticultural Society and their Chief Horticulturalist, Guy Barter, for their expert guidance on home composting. 8
Compost Bin and Site: What Exactly Do You Need? Choosing where to house your compost is critical. We recommend positioning in shade or semi-shade. You need to make sure that the site is not subjected to extremes of temperature and moisture. This is because the micro-organisms that convert your waste into the rich, fertile compost work best when their conditions are stable and constant. Compost bins which retain some warmth and moisture make better compost, quicker. An earth base is best, as this allows drainage and access to soil organisms. If this is not possible in your garden, simply add a spadeful of soil to the compost bin before you
TOP TIPS! Don’t presume that you have to pay a fortune to get the very best compost bins, as any compost bin on the market should produce good compost, as long as they are able to: Retain some warmth Allow drainage Exclude rain Let air in
begin. Compost bins less than one cubic metre in size are much less effective than larger ones, so if you have room for it, the bigger, the better!
What Can You Compost at Home? Getting the balance right is key to producing great compost. Ideally, between 25-50% soft green materials (e.g. grass cuttings or vegetable/fruit kitchen waste) should be used on your compost heap. This will feed the micro-organisms and allow them to do their magic. Rhubarb leaves and citrus waste will compost well enough despite common contrary advice. The remainder should be woody, brown material (e.g. hedge trimmings – ideally shredded, wood chippings, paper/cardboard – ideally shredded or torn, straw, scrunched newspaper, compostable packaging or dead leaves). Lawn mowings set in a soggy mass won’t rot down unless mixed with a great deal of strawy material. Woody sticks and logs have to be shredded if they are to be composted, but can be cut up small and made into log and stick piles to support wildlife, rather than taken to the tip. Weed seeds won’t be destroyed in most garden compost bins, so mature weeds should be destroyed. The same goes for plant material infested with pests and diseases.
Turning Your Compost Heap To make compost, you need to add air – which is why it is essential to
turn your heap approximately once a month. Remember to keep the heap moist in dry weather – turning will give you an opportunity to assess the moisture level. Compost can take anywhere between six months to a year to be fully ready to use. You’ll know it’s matured enough when it’s dark brown with a crumbly, soil-like texture and a smell resembling damp woodland. Don’t worry if not all of your compost has matured at the same pace – this is normal. Any un-rotted material can be added to your next batch of composting materials, and so your self-sufficient home composting cycle continues!
summer or an insulated hotbox type composter, if the bin is filled in one go with the right mixture of ingredients and if it is turned. In dry summers, an occasional bucket of water may be required, as dry ingredients won’t rot well. Now that you’ve learnt all the tips and tricks from the experts, whether you have a small, large garden or non-existent outdoor space, why not start producing homemade compost and do your bit for the environment? Your healthy soil will thank you! It’s amazing what you can do with waste, isn’t it?
Can You Still Home Compost with a Small Garden, or No Garden at All? Small scale composting apparatus such as hot boxes, wormeries and Bokashi kits can be very effective in a small space and are largely free of odour and mess.
Can You Continue to Home Compost All Year Round?
Why not make g home compostin s your New Year’ resolution?
Composting is a year-round activity, but will be much slower in the colder seasons. Good compost in gardens typically takes six months to form. Three months is feasible in 9
Reflections
and looking forward... - Robin Roth
y Lead Transparenc d n a n o i s s i M in Roth, Traidcraft b o R om r f s t h ug Tho
A new year always brings the same question – what do I want to do differently this year? It’s a fun question to ask ourselves and even if we don’t get much beyond the end of January, there is no harm in trying. It’s particularly wonderful if we actually achieve some of what we set out to do, often to our own surprise.
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L
ast year at this point, I was contemplating a crazy year ahead with just seven permanent employees and a group of committed warehouse and customer services staff who were prepared to stick with us until we had managed to sell our building and move to a 3rd party warehouse. I had prepared a budget that was based on hours and hours of thinking and discussions but could just as well have been devised by choosing a set of random numbers. How could we plan for such an uncertain future? Would customers still find us relevant? Important? Worth supporting? Or would it all be over by the end of January, just like a lot of other good intentions? My specific resolution last January was not just to survive somehow, but to re-establish Traidcraft as the kind of company that you just couldn’t In one of our pirate meetings, live without. This always had we decided that we needed to two elements. On the one side You have a plan to build the encourage each other to learn I wanted the company to be more skills, whether these capacity of your workers… a leading voice in the trade specifically useful for justice movement again. On the according to their needs and your were the company or not. We have other, I wanted staff who work set aside a budget for each need as an organisation. at Traidcraft to be able to say employee to do something that in all honesty that this was the they have always wanted to most enlightened, amazing, truly the “fairest” company they do but never felt confident enough to get on with. The list could ever imagine working in. A company where everyone, ranges from learning Swedish, to taking a course on how to and I mean everyone, had an equal chance to shine and be a counsellor, to running three half marathons. For others where no one would get in the way of anybody else. the dream is less exotic, but just as relevant to them: better How did we do? You are probably a better judge than me, but I see Traidcraft regaining its voice in the trade justice movement. We were in the news for all the right reasons this year: we had excellent products showcasing producer organisations who have become strong through years of mutual trading; we developed beautiful catalogues and emails that were informative, clear and showed our purpose and our vision; we articulated a clear pivot towards our role in the battle to limit average global temperatures to no more than 1.5°C above pre industrial levels: we boycotted Black Friday which in turn inspired many individuals and communities to find their own voices and we are starting a conversation about transparency that will, we hope, strike through to consumers who are desperate for something to believe in in this “post-truth” age. And how did it go with staff? We spent time this year writing up what we call our “Pirate’s Charter.” Some may find the idea of being pirates somewhat troubling, but pirates were a tightly-knit bunch of people passionately committed to each other and to breaking as many laws as possible. If fair trade is not about buccaneering raids on corporate malfeasance, then I don’t know what it is. Thinking like pirates has given us the courage to be brave and to think big.
IT skills, getting back on the cycle they used to love in the past, playing a piece of music that had always eluded them. And I, of course, just want to plant 100 trees. And to make sure that we get beyond January, we are creating a “Wall of Fame” in our offices. Everyone signs up, everyone gets a budget, everyone is held to gentle account. And next January we will celebrate and enjoy our successes. As a member of the World Fair Trading Organisation (WFTO), we want to live the ten principles of Fair Trade. Number eight is all about Capacity Building, and it states, “You have a plan to build the capacity of your Workers… according to their needs and your need as an organisation.” and at Traidcraft, we have decided that we really want to be an outstanding employer. Fair Trade was never just about a fair price – it was about being different in every way possible - and that means starting right here at home, investing in our own staff. After all, if we want to make any difference at all, we need to be the difference ourselves. Good luck with your own plans for this year and thank you for helping us fulfil ours as we set out becoming the most ethical business in the UK all over again. 11
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Our Top Picks
from the Autumn / Winter SALE
Limited Stock!
Traidcraft 40th Birthday Range If you hadn’t already heard, where have you been? We turned the big 4-0 last year, and to celebrate, we brought out some limited edition anniversary merchandise for you to get your hands on while stocks last! We’ve limited numbers left, once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Limited Stock! Traidcraft 40th Anniversary Apron Fair trade. 56158 WAS £17.95 NOW £15.26
Limited Stock! Limited Stock!
Traidcraft 40th Anniversary E Coffee Cup Eco-friendly, navy, 12oz / 350ml. BPA, BPS and phthalate-free. Re-sealable ‘no-drip’ lid. Fully dishwasher safe. Not suitable for microwaves. 56626 WAS £12 NOW £11.40 12
Traidcraft 40th Anniversary T-Shirt Unisex, black with our 40th anniversary logo on the front and back in white. 100% Organic Fairtrade Indian Cotton. 56400 Small 56404 Medium 56444 Large 56502 XL WAS £17.95 NOW £11.67
Traidcraft 40th Anniversary Tote - Natural Ecofriendly and fair trade. 56242 WAS £9.95 NOW £8.00
Limited Stock!
Traidcraft 40th Anniversary Tea Towel Natural Eco-friendly and fair trade. 56522 WAS £6.95 NOW £5.21
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Thoughtful FASHION
Super soft wool and mohair blend Sierra Nevada Mohair Blend Women’s Sweater 31304 Small 33378 Medium 40734 Large WAS £69.95 NOW £48.97
Thought Volumnia 100% Organic Cotton Women’s Coat This gorgeous, floral printed and hooded coat is perfect to pop on for a day out or even simply a trip to the shops. It’s stylish, comfortable and has a waterproof coating, turning away those inevitable showers just as much as it’ll turn heads on the street. 50742 Size 10 51356 Size 14 51176 Size 12 53290 Size 16 WAS £140.00 NOW £112.00 Thought Nea Organic Cotton and Wool Women’s Cardigan Coat With a funnel style neckline and a generous wrap around, you’ll be toasty and warm when wearing this on your crisp, winter’s morning walk. Plus, as it’s made of 85% organic cotton and 15% wool, it’s the most sustainable kind of layer going! 59366 Size 10 60454 Size 16 60188 Size 12 60526 Size 18 60300 Size 14 WAS £150.00 NOW £120.00
Super soft wool and mohair blend Sierra Nevada Fleece Lined Socks 53196 WAS £24.95 NOW £17.47
Super soft wool and mohair blend Sierra Nevada Women’s Mohair Blend Snood Scarf 54466 WAS £26.95 NOW £18.87 13
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S Hand-knitted in Nepal, for our friends at fair trade cooperative, Pachamama.
Hand -knitted in Nepal Granada Navy Bobble Beanie 33618 WAS £17.95 NOW £12.57
Hand -knitted in Nepal Granada Navy Hand Warmers 33418 WAS £15.00 NOW £10.50
Hand -knitted in Nepal Granada Navy Long Socks 48080 WAS £19.95 NOW £13.97 14
Granada Zip Navy Jacket This zip-up jumper has been hand knitted by expert knitters in Nepal for a fair trade co-operative called Pachamama. The 100% wool outer layer is wonderfully touchable, with its rustic textured knit. The inside is lined with cosy fleece for extra warmth and comfort. As pullovers go, this one is easy to wear, handmade, ethical, and is part of the traditional Nepalese knitting story.
Socks
44432 Small 69686 Medium 64706 Large WAS £79.95 NOW £55.97
Our bamboo blend socks are super soft, naturally antibacterial, ridiculously comfortable… and even more appealing now they’ve got up to 40% off!
Thought Men's Cycler Bamboo & Organic Cotton Blend Socks
Thought Navy Hound Bamboo Mix Men's Socks
Thought Dinosaur Bamboo & Organic Blend Socks
66750 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
46480 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
39110 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
Thought Men's Billiard Game Bamboo & Organic Cotton Blend Socks
Thought Men's Robot Bamboo & Organic Cotton Blend Socks
Thought Women's Hedda Stripe Bamboo & Organic Cotton Blend Socks
69762 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
66472 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
64020 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
Thought Women's Squirrel Bamboo & Organic Cotton Blend Socks
Thought Floral Rosie Women's Sock Gift Box (comes with gift box!)
Thought Animal Grey Women's Socks
63028 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
43976 WAS £24.90 NOW £19.92
45574 WAS £5.95 NOW £4.76
Unisex Wash Bag
Jatani Wire Lampshade
If you’re planning to be doing a lot of travelling in 2020, make sure you’ve got a sturdy and hard-wearing travel bag for your toiletries or make up. Its neutral tones make it suitable for male or female use.
If you’re looking to change up any room in the New Year, a great way to do that, without costing the earth, is by switching up your lampshade! This glorious wire lampshade has been made in India and is sure to make a statement in whichever room you choose to house it.
Simply fill it with everything you need and pop it into your hand luggage or suitcase!
Please be aware that the shape and exact length of each lampshade may vary as each piece is completely unique. This distinctive piece requires a chandelier hook (not included) and needs to be fitted by a qualified electrician.
69504 WAS £11.95 NOW £8.39
64374 WAS £44.99 NOW £31.49
Christmas Cards
A
If you’re super organised, you could even start your Christmas 2020 prep early, with these wonderful, charity Christmas cards. A Pompom Pals Cards
63784 WAS £3.75 NOW £2.25
B Dove of Peace Cards
58854 WAS £3.95 NOW £2.37
C Adoration of the Baby Christmas Cards
63270 WAS £3.75 NOW £2.25
Sold out!
B
C
Sold out! Sold out!
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Spring / Summer '20
Your First Glimpse of Our New Arrivals…
l of find al You'll in items ! these on i t sect our gif
Damask Leaf Candles (available in two sizes) Either of these damask leaf candles are sure to turn heads in any room.
Hand-Painted Rainbow Range Add some colour to your table top with this full range of hand-painted rainbow crockery! 62618 62264 51580 51626 52340 52542 52730 52264 51626 51624
Rainbow Mug Rainbow Teapot Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow Hand-painted Rainbow
Milk Jug Cup & Saucer Plate Toast Rack Salt & Pepper Set Side Plate Cup & Saucer Sugar Bowl with Lid
£4.95 £14.99 £6.00 £12.95 £11.85 £12.95 £6.00 £6.95 £12.95 £6.95
54314 £19.99 54440 £30.00
Elephant Sand Painting Notebook Crafted in Bali, by a highly skilled artisan, using a ‘sand painting’ technique. 51282 £7.99
Six Bamboo Straws with Pouch and Brush Use less plastic with this ecoconscious bamboo straw set. 50668 £12.99
Rattan Over Shoulder Bag This bag is as kind to the environment as it is eye-catching! Simply fill with your spring / summer essentials, pop it on over your outfit and enjoy the sunshine! 51458 £34.99
Glitter Tealight Holders - Set of 16* Add sparkle to any room with these vibrant tealight holders, embellished with sequins and brightly coloured beads. *Please note that tealights are not included. Tealights have been photographed for illustration purposes only.
53800 £23.84
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Your spring / summer catalogue will be landing on doorsteps up and down the country, from February 12th
REQUEST YOUR CATALOGUE HERE
meet the people tours
inspiring
A R E YO U LO O K I N G FO R A N
S T A R T TO 2 0 2 0 ?
E x p l ore a m a z i n g p l ace s , m eet i n cre d i b l e p eo p l e a n d v i s i t i n s p i r i n g p r o j e c t s o n a h o l i d a y o f a l i fe t i m e .
With our first the people tours
t o u r s of t h e y ear
a l rea d y g u ara n t ee d a n d f i l l i n g u p ,
meet the
e x p l ore y o u r n e x t a d ve n t u re ! 18 Jan to 02 Feb
South India
Guaranteed
25 Jan to 06 Feb
Costa Rica
Guaranteed
06 Feb to 21 Feb
Sri Lanka
Guaranteed
15 Feb to 01 Mar
Western India
14 Mar to 25 Mar
Chile
15 Mar to 28 Mar
Nepal
21 Mar to 04 Apr
Cuba
08 Jun to 19 Jun
Eswatini
30 May to 11 Jun
Malawi
Visit meetthepeopletours.co.uk/availability for our full tour programme and more information on all our tours. You can also call Hannah or Lizzie on 0191 2651110 or email us at traidcraft@skedaddle.com to check availability and to chat through any questions you may have. 17
This year’s theme is... coffee!
NEW YEAR, NEW BIG BREW! As we ring in the new year, it’s not long to go until our next big celebration – and that’s Fairtrade Fortnight! Will you bring your friends and family together at a fun-filled Big Brew this year and raise vital funds to help vulnerable farmers, workers and artisans around the world?
Do you have your pack yet? If you don’t yet have your Big Brew pack, you can order one at: www.traidcraftexchange.org/bigbrew or call us on:
0191 491 0855 You can also add one to your basket when you next place an order at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk
Our FREE fundraising pack contains everything you need to make your Big Brew event the best yet – including a devilishly tricky trivia quiz, a brandnew Traidcraft Exchange poster, an online video, and a whole host of fun fundraising ideas to inspire you.
Product code: 61898
Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 will run from 24th February to 8th March – but don’t worry if you can’t have an event then. You can host a Big Brew at any time of year! Find out more at www.traidcraftexchange.org/bigbrew
The Great South Run
We’re delighted to have secured 10 places for the Great South Run on Sunday 18th October! To secure your place on this fantastic route around Portsmouth and Southsea, go to: www.traidcraftexchange.org/greatsouthrun 18
W0 NOE R 202 F
It's time to start putting your New Year's resolutions into action – so why not do it for a good cause, too?
Ready for a changing world?
Three and a half years on from the referendum of June 2016, it looks as though the UK will be leaving the EU at the end of January 2020 - so over the next few years, we're likely to see big changes in trade. Whatever the rights and wrongs of EU membership for the UK, Traidcraft Exchange has always believed that people in poorer countries shouldn’t lose out as we leave. We’ve spoken up for the needs and rights of people in developing countries and the businesses they depend on. We were successful in persuading the UK government to slash tariffs for businesses in the very poorest countries. We’ve said all along that there could be opportunities. The UK could support trade deals which prioritise regional integration. In Africa, for example, building trade between neighbouring countries could be a game changer. And there could be new opportunities for businesses to supply the UK with goods previously imported from the EU. But there are also big risks in this new world, and we will to continue to highlight these.
The UK might soon be negotiating a trade deal with the US for the first time. Remember those ‘red carpet courts’ we talked last summer? The UK could find itself forced to give US companies access to those courts, meaning they could sue our government for policies which might damage their profits, like reducing carbon emissions. That’s why we will continue to push for MPs to be able to scrutinise and vote on trade deals – so that they can consider all the impacts on people and the environment.
Whether it’s a run, trek, or something entirely off-the-wall, the beauty of the Challenge Exchange is that you can take on absolutely any challenge at your own pace – from knitting to sponsored silences to sacrificing something for Lent. Whatever you decide, in exchange for your efforts, you’ll be improving the lives of people around the world who deserve a much better deal from trade.
Find out more at: www.traidcraftexchange.org/ challenge-exchange
As we do that, we all need to ask ourselves: what kind of trade do we believe in? Do we want big businesses which squeeze as much profit out of their supply chains as possible, regardless of the cost to workers, farmers and the environment? And should some of the poorest countries in the world be pushed to open up their markets, whatever the cost?
Trek the Camino de Santiago
Or do we believe in businesses which put people and planet first – businesses which are smaller scale, more local, and share decision-making and profits along the supply chain?
Find out more at: www.traidcraftexchange.org/caminode-santiago
Change is coming for sure. The question is, are we ready to meet it and shape it for good? Mary Milne is Head of Campaigns and Communications at Traidcraft Exchange
There are still a few places available for our flagship Camino de Santiago trek, following the iconic pilgrimage route through beautiful Northern Spain.
To keep up-to-date with our latest news and campaigns, sign up to our mailing list at: www.traidcraftexchange.org 19
TRAIDCRAFT ARE THE ORIGINAL RULE BREAKERS
#breaktherules
When unfair trade was the accepted norm, we broke rules to challenge and change this. 40 years on, Fairtradecertified commodities line shelves of supermarkets up and down the country, but our work is far from done...
£0.15** £2.45** £1.03
£1.32
PROFIT COSTS
SHIPPING ROASTING PACKING
GROWERS
**based on typical RRP £4.95
The ridiculously low commodity coffee price is currently driving hundreds of thousands of coffee farmers and their families into financial ruin and migration. Coffee plants are being cleared on a massive scale and replaced by cocoa cultivation or other crops. The consequence: the loss of the livelihood of these families. The coffee industry has not yet found any effective answers to this catastrophic development. We signed the Coffee Transparency Pledge in 2019, making 100% of our coffee costs transparent and public. For more information about the Coffee Transparency Pledge and to see our FOB (Free on Board) prices, see traidcraftshop.co.uk/coffeetransparency-our-pledge. We also registered two of our single origin coffees to the Transparent Trade Coffee Platform, declaring the exact amount of money which goes back to origin. Not content with stopping here, we’re stripping back everything you thought you knew about fair trade and launching our very own Transparency Coffee. Here, we’re breaking all the rules and publishing publicly (on the front of the packet, for all to see!) exactly how much farmers are paid, how much goes into shipping, roasting and packing and how much profit we make. This makes our coffee, to
our knowledge, the first coffee in the world to do this. Yes, this could be seen as radical and revolutionary, however, it’s simply real fair trade in its purest form, as it was intended to be. We wonder, how many companies would treat you the same way? We are reclaiming fair trade. Did you know that the average price paid on the New York C coffee exchange for non-Organic coffee adds up to about 53p, for non-Organic, Fairtrade coffee, the agreed minimum price is 71p, and for Organic and Fairtrade coffee, the agreed minimum price is 84p. We are publicly declaring that we have paid £1.32 directly to the growers who harvested the beans in this coffee.* This Organic, fair trade and rulebreaking arabica coffee is a dark roast with a light, floral sweetness (strength 4), made using a blend of beans from Honduras and Sumatra. It’s also roasted in the UK – just down the road from our HQ, at Ringtons in Newcastle, in fact.
launching monday 13th jan
#followusifyoudare * All prices above are per 227g bag, and before any country premiums are added or subtracted.
Get to know us better... 20
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