Happy World Fair Trade Day

Every year on the second Saturday of May, World Fair Trade Day shines a spotlight on the transformative power of the Fair Trade business model and its positive impact on people’s lives and communities. With a 2024 theme of #BusinessRevolution, this year’s celebration takes place on Saturday, May 11th and emphasizes the idea that businesses can be a force for good when they embrace sustainability from both a social and environmental point of view.

As a socially responsible business, we understand that without a thriving planet we can’t have thriving people and that our impact can’t end with the food we serve, but must extend to how we source our ingredients. That’s why, at Plant Power, we prioritize incorporating fair trade certified products into our 100% plant-based menu and merch store. With a focus on coffee, chocolate, sugar, and cotton, we’re proud supporters of the fair trade movement and are honored to play a part in building long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound.

WHY FAIR TRADE?

Fair trade is defined as a global movement made up of a diverse network of producers, companies, consumers, advocates, and organizations putting people and planet first. With a current trade model that favors large plantations, agri-business, and multinational corporations, fair trade works to challenge this model by keeping small farmers as an active part of the world marketplace.

Since small farmers and their workers are among the most marginalized by the global trade system, the fair trade movement aims to create a trade system that prioritizes their safe working conditions, the environmental protection of their communities, and sustainable livelihoods for their families. More specifically fair trade works to:

  • Raise and stabilize incomes of farmers, workers, and artisans

  • Implement prices that aim to cover the average costs of producing crops sustainably

  • Equitably distribute economic gains, opportunities and risks associated with the production and sale of goods

  • Increase the organizational and commercial capacities of producer groups

  • Support democratically owned and controlled producer organizations

  • Promote labor rights and the right of workers to organize

  • Promote safe and sustainable farming methods and working conditions

  • Connect consumers and producers

  • Increase consumer awareness and engagement with issues affecting producers


OUR FOCUS

COFFEE & CHOCOLATE

Everyone loves coffee and chocolate. Whether it’s in your morning cold brew or coated on a decadent candy bar, it’s safe to say that these internationally acclaimed crops make the world go round. However, like most things in life, they don’t come without faults. They’re, instead, commonly linked to two big problems: environmental destruction and ongoing human rights violations. It’s these issues that have caused these products to become such prominent pillars within the fair trade movement and why, at Plant Power, we prioritize sourcing fair trade coffee and chocolate.

We proudly serve Equal Exchange coffee and use Equal Exchange cocoa powder and chocolate chips throughout our dessert menu. Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative started in 1986 with a mission to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate the contribution of worker cooperatives and fair trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

Make an impact with your purchase by ordering any of our 100% plant-based menu items featuring Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate.


SUGAR

With roughly 175 million tons of sugar produced globally each year, unfortunately, for small-scale sugar cane farmers, the reality of production isn’t so sweet. Market fluctuations and changing climates often lead to declining harvests and reduction of already low incomes for farmers and their workers. The fair trade movement works closely with small sugar farmers to resolve these two tension points by implementing better labor practices and climate resilient cane production programs.

At Plant Power, you can find fair trade certified sugar throughout our drink menu. Our fountain sodas, made by Maine Root, feature 100% organic, fair trade sugar cane. With flavors like classic cola, rustic root beer, bright blueberry, tart lemon-lime, and sweet lemonade, you can comfortably wash down your favorite plant-based burger with a soda that supports a pretty sweet supply chain.


COTTON

Every day you wake up and get dressed you benefit from the cotton industry. It’s safe to say that it’s part of the fabric of our daily lives. With 90% of the world’s cotton farmers living in developing countries, it’s no surprise that cotton is one of the core crops where the fair trade movement focuses its efforts.

Thanks to heavy subsidies on behalf of global superpowers, the cost of cotton is kept relatively low and, by default, working conditions and living wages are poorly regulated and narrowly enforced. This puts pressure on small-scale farmers who lack the capital and resources to enforce similar subsidies. Likewise, cotton production is linked to several environmental issues: extensive usage of agrochemicals and excessive use of water that puts fresh water supplies for local populations at risk.

At Plant Power, we prioritize printing everything from our employee uniforms to our brand merchandise on only the softest 100% organic, fair trade certified cotton. So the next time you put on your favorite Plant Power t-shirt or eye a new tote, know that you’re making a choice that’s better for people and the planet.