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Fairtrade

The benefits of buying Fairtrade products and how you can help support Fairtrade.

Fairtrade is about:

  • better prices
  • decent working conditions
  • local sustainability
  • fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world

It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

Support Fairtrade

To support Fairtrade, you can:

  • buy Fairtrade products in local shops
  • raise awareness of Fairtrade amongst family and friends
  • support your local school to become a Fairtrade school
  • ask your workplace to support Fairtrade products and become a Fairtrade workplace
  • ask local businesses and organisations to support Fairtrade
  • join or follow a Fairtrade group

Buying products with the Fairtrade Mark

Products that are certified in accordance with Fairtrade standards are marked with the Fairtrade Mark. 

By choosing products with the Fairtrade Mark you can be sure that:

  • a fair price has been given to the producer
  • a little extra has been paid to the producer groups to invest in their communities, environments or strengthening their business
  • workers rights and environmental standards are being met

Fairtrade focuses mainly on products that cannot be grown in sufficient quantities in and around Europe. Therefore, Fairtrade has little impact on products produced by our farmers and it is supported by The National Farmers Union of Scotland.

Join a Fairtrade group

There are various Fairtrade groups throughout the region.

Castle Douglas Fairtrade group

Email: [email protected]  
Facebook

Dumfries Fairtrade group

Email: [email protected] 
Facebook
X @fairdumfries

Dunscore Fairtrade group

Email: [email protected] 
X @fairdunscore
Fairtrade village – Dunscore Community Council
Facebook

Kirkcudbright Fairtrade group

Email: [email protected] 
Facebook

Dumfries and Galloway Fairtrade

Dumfries and Galloway Fairtrade on:

Facebook
X @dgfairtrade

What we are doing 

Dumfries and Galloway became a Fairtrade zone in October 2017. This was achieved through the combined efforts of:

  • ourselves
  • Loch Arthur Camphill Community (our Fairtrade Employer Champion)
  • Fairtrade campaigners from Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Dunscore, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown

Fairtrade supports all four of our council principles, which are detailed in the Council Plan. All of the following activities help to maintain the region's Fairtrade status.

Currently we as a council:

  • buy and use Fairtrade coffee, fruit juice, sugar and tea
  • provide opportunities to order Fairtrade goods through procurement arrangements
  • mark Fairtrade Fortnight in our workplaces
  • help our schools achieve Fairtrade awards
  • support local Fairtrade groups
  • support the regional Fairtrade group
  • are members of Scottish Fair Trade
  • have pledged our support to the International Fair Trade Charter

Fairtrade aligns with several of the Sustainable Development Goals so by supporting Fairtrade we are helping to meet these global goals.

Scotland as a Fair Trade nation

Scotland marked 10 years as a Fair Trade nation in 2023.

You can view the five films which were made to celebrate the occasion, including one in Castle Douglas.

Go to Fair Trade community films launched – Scottish Fair Trade