Scottish Government
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Fairtrade future
More than 1,000 Scottish Schools now Fairtrade
More than 1,000 Scottish Schools are now Fairtrade registered, External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf announced on the first anniversary of Scotland achieving Fairtrade Nation status.
Since Scotland became a Fairtrade Nation, five new towns have achieved Fairtrade status, bringing the total in Scotland to 23. Two new Fairtrade zones have been established, Inverclyde and Orkney – and another college has achieved Fairtrade Status.
Also, 153 schools have registered with the Fairtrade Schools Programme, bringing the total number of schools in Scotland registered with the scheme to more than 1000.
Welcoming the progress in the year since Scotland was declared a Fairtrade Nation, External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf said:
“Scotland has made great progress since achieving Fairtrade Nation Status. I’m proud of how many schools, towns, cities and areas have decided to sign up to Fairtrade.
“The daily decisions we make to buy Fairtrade may not seem a big deal when we’re choosing which coffee or chocolate to buy. But each time we choose to buy a Fairtrade product, we help to protect families and communities across the world. Our decisions make a huge difference in the everyday lives of the people who work to bring us our food.
“Although times are hard for many, Scotland is still a rich nation, and our values mean we are duty-bound to help those less fortunate.
“Our Fairtrade status has gone from strength to strength, showing that people all over the country share a vision of Scotland as a good global citizen, committed to playing its part in addressing poverty.
“That vision and commitment is behind all our ambition for Scotland to become a global leader in the field of international development. I have recently returned from Malawi and saw first-hand the enormous difference our projects are already making to people’s lives.
“This Fairtrade Fortnight, the people of Scotland are helping to improve lives every time they visit their local shops.”
Martin Rhodes, Director, Scottish Fairtrade Forum, said:
"As Scotland marks one year on from being recognised as a Fairtrade Nation, it's clear that the commitment to Fairtrade in Scotland is growing. The huge range of events taking place all over Scotland this Fairtrade Fortnight shows the commitment to Fairtrade from the Scottish Government; local authorities; universities, colleges and schools; public sector agencies; the voluntary sector and private business; along with Fairtrade supporters all across Scotland.
"The important message about Fairtrade is that we all can make a difference for producers and farmers in the developing world by choosing to buy Fairtrade products - this means they get a fair price for their produce."
Notes to editors
Background
Scotland achieved Fairtrade Nation status in February 2013.
- To qualify for Fairtrade Nation status, the Scottish Fairtrade Forum (SFTF) was required to demonstrate how Scotland had met a series of stringent criteria, including:
- All seven Scottish cities and at least 55 per cent of local authority areas to have Fairtrade status.
- All 32 local authorities areas and at least 55 per cent of towns with a population of 5,000 or more to have active Fairtrade groups working towards Fairtrade status.
- At least 60 per cent of higher education institutions to have active Fairtrade groups working towards Fairtrade status.
- Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to use, promote and make available Fairtrade products internally, and to actively promote Fairtrade Fortnight each year.
- Fairtrade to be promoted in schools through the curriculum, procurement and other possible means.
- Schools, Further Education Institutions, Faith Groups, Trade Unions, business networks, voluntary and youth organisations to pledge to use and promote Fairtrade.
- 75 per cent of people to buy a Fairtrade product every year.
- 40 per cent of people to regularly buy Fairtrade products.
An image is available on request.
