Advantages: Good for the Third World Disadvantages: Not that good for you
Did you know that since the Co-op switched its entire block chocolate range to FairTrade chocolate, its sales have increased by 25%? The Guardian told me that, so it must be true. And it follows, I think, that FairTrade chocolate: a) can?t really be that much more expensive than the mainstream offerings; b) must either be nicer or at least as nice as regular chocolate, and c) there must genuinely be a market of people out there who actively buy FairTrade products over others.
So, I did it! I bought my first FairTrade chocolate bar. Wrapped in a blue wrapper it was, available for the princely sum of thirty-nine pence at any Co-op, but my particular bar was from my University union shop, where there is a little stand for all things FairTrade.
The Co-op FairTrade range encompasses quite a lot of stuff. You can get 9 types ...
Advantages: Great smell, lovely colour, makes my skin smooth. Disadvantages: A little expensive.
Most people will already know about Lush products. Lush is the shop you occasionally walk past that always smells divine, well pop on inside, yes, they can be a little pricey but it's guilt free indulgence, their products are fresh & handmade and they use lots of fairtrade products (this one contains fairtrade cocoa butter).
I got this 225g pot as part of the Think Pink gift set that I purchased for myself from Lush at the end of February this year. The product can be purchased alone (but then it would be lonely!) for £7.59 for a 225g pot which would quite possibly last a whole year (judging from how little I've used so far!). Remember you can take 5 of these containers back to Lush for recycling and be granted with a free fresh face mask for your troubles (see - it's good to recycle!).
FairTrade Foot Lotion is provided in a black ...
Advantages: It is absolutely your choice Disadvantages: Masks deeper problems and encourages scams
Let me first make a big, big disclaimer. Like recycling, this is one of those scams that even the most normal people believe in. And, also, it's not all a scam. Behind fairtrade, like behind recycling, there are good motives. Everybody wants the world to be a fairer, nicer place to be. The thought of helping people out who are in severe poverty is a whole-heartedly good thing. And the fact that we do help out in situations of dire need is an extremely good thing, and it is something we ought to keep up.
The very fact that consumers - no, screw that word - people are willing to pay a little bit more - voluntarily - in order to help their fellow man out is a very worthwhile thing. Similarly, the fact that people want to voluntarily reduce pollution and recycle their waste is a good thing. But, there are problems. Good will, if not ...
