Enhancing your coffee brand with fair trade

Fair Trade Coffee Program Updates

3/30/2023 Update:

Fair Trade USA is aware of the coffee pricing changes that Fairtrade International announced today, March 30, 2023. Per our commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement and design, we are continuing an assessment of the coffee market to ensure that the needs of coffee farmers and workers are met and that industry partners are positioned to drive impact at scale.

As the leading third-party certifier of fair trade products in North America, we are conducting this assessment with care and consideration. While we were not part of the formal consultation process for today’s shift in pricing, we know that it was executed with the intention of positive impact, and we will leverage our 25-year presence in the U.S. market to ensure that our final determination reflects that same priority.

In alignment with our organizational values, we will make sure that our partners have access to timely information on any changes in our program. We will be providing guidance and updates regularly over the coming weeks, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). For additional questions please reach out to Fair Trade USA account managers or local field support.

Please direct media inquiries to pr@fairtradeusa.org

Why Source Fair Trade Certified™ Coffee

Ready to begin your better business journey? Fair Trade Certified is your ticket! Here’s how sourcing fair trade coffee can help you.

Solidify your supply chain resiliency.

Actively manage potential risk with rigorous fair trade standards ensuring safe working environments and improved conditions, wages, working hours, benefits, and the elimination of forced labor and poverty
Improve operational efficiency and performance

Get support and training in field to help ensure compliance to Fair Trade Certified Standards
More sustainable income and better working conditions increase worker retention (less turnover and absenteeism) with more satisfied and engaged employees

Improves workers’ lives and communities with Fair Trade Certified processes and Community Development Funds that contribute to long-term improvements in supplier communities, increasing resiliency

Fair Trade Community Development Funds go directly to initiatives determined by workers for their benefit that support communities
The Fair Trade Committee process engages worker voice and participation

equator-fair-trade-certified-coffee-beans

Advance your Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals

Accelerate your ESG/ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals
- With over 120 KPIs tracking to the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), your partnership with Fair Trade USA unlocks metrics that deliver on environmental, social, and economic sustainability commitments.
- Get visible, real outcomes
Help reach B-Corp Certification

Strengthen your brand

Mitigate potential reputational risk such as undetected labor violations in your supply chain
Get peace of mind with rigorous, ISEAL-compliant third-party certification and auditing by Fair Trade USA ensures credibility of your commitments and demonstrates authenticity to your consumers
Ensure traceability and transparency with data
Evolve your brand compliance and cost (CSR) to value creation and innovation (ESG)

Build loyalty and meet your consumers’ demand

65% of consumers recognize the Fair Trade Certified seal
78% of consumers trust the Fair Trade Certified seal
1 in 3 consumers are more likely to purchase with the Fair Trade Certified seal
75% of consumers indicate a third-party certification provides trust that a product/company is taking sustainable action.

The Case for Fair Trade – Helen Russell, CEO of Equator Coffees & Teas

Helen Russell, CEO of Equator Coffees & Teas, talks about being one of the first coffee companies to sell Fair Trade Certified coffee and what that means for the entire supply chain.