Image Credit: World Fair Trade Organisation
What the 10 Fair Trade Principles Really Means?
Fair trade is about far more than simply paying people fairly.
At its heart, fair trade is about creating better opportunities for artisans, protecting traditional skills, supporting communities, and helping people build more secure and sustainable livelihoods through trade.
When you choose fair trade products, you’re helping support skilled makers around the world while encouraging more ethical and environmentally responsible ways of doing business.
At Voyage Fair Trade, these values are at the centre of everything we do.
The 10 Fair Trade Principles Explained
The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) sets out 10 core principles that fair trade organisations work towards every day. These principles help ensure that products are made with respect for people, communities, and the environment.
Principle One: Creating Opportunities for Disadvantaged Producers
Fair trade helps small producers and artisan groups move towards greater financial independence and long-term stability through sustainable trade opportunities.
Principle Two: Transparency and Accountability
Fair trade organisations work openly and honestly with producers, customers, and partners, building long-term relationships based on trust and respect.
Principle Three: Fair trading practices
Fair trade focuses on people as well as profit. Organisations work cooperatively with producers and support long-term partnerships that protect traditional skills and cultural identity.
Principle Four: Paying of a Fair Price
Artisans and workers should receive fair payment for their work—payment that reflects skill, effort, and sustainable livelihoods.
Principle Five: Ensuring No Child Labour or Forced Labour
Fair trade organisations follow strict standards to help ensure safe, ethical working practices and protect the rights and wellbeing of children.
Principle Six: Equity & Non Discrimination
Fair trade promotes equal opportunities regardless of gender, religion, disability, age, background, or beliefs.
Principle Seven: Ensuring Good Working Conditions
Safe and healthy working environments are a key part of fair trade, helping protect workers and artisan communities.
Principle Eight: Supporting Skills & Development
Fair trade organisations help artisans and producers develop skills, confidence, and opportunities for long-term growth.
Organisations working directly with small producers develop specific activities to help these producers improve skills they need.
Principle Nine: Promoting Fair Trade
Fair trade businesses actively raise awareness about ethical trade, sustainability, and the importance of supporting artisan communities worldwide.
Principle Ten: Respect for the Environment
Fair trade encourages the use of sustainable materials, environmentally responsible production methods, recyclable packaging, and lower-impact transportation wherever possible.
Buyers and importers of Fair Trade products give priority to buying products made from raw materials that originate from sustainably managed sources, and have the least overall impact on the environment.
Businesses, organisations, self-employed has to use recycled or easily biodegradable materials for packing to the extent possible, and goods are dispatched by sea wherever possible.
Why These Principles Matter to Us
At Voyage Fair Trade, we believe beautiful products should also have a positive story behind them.
That’s why we carefully choose handmade products that support artisan skills, traditional craftsmanship, fairer trading relationships, and more sustainable ways of producing and buying.
Many of the artisans, cooperatives, and organisations we work with are accredited by the WFTO or connected with recognised fair trade groups and ethical organisations around the world.
For us, fair trade isn’t simply a label—it’s about helping preserve craftsmanship, supporting real people, and choosing products made with care rather than mass production.
We at, Voyage Fair Trade, strongly believe these above principles are fundamental to all businesses and societies and the crafts and gifts sold on our online shop are all choosen around these principles. You can see a List of the fair trade organisations we work with who have been accredited by the WFTO.