Fairtrade Fortnight hits 1,000,001 target

CAFOD campaigners are celebrating the success of Fairtrade Fortnight’s ‘The Big Swap’ (27 February – 7 March), which saw parishes, schools and dioceses across the UK swapping their usual purchases for Fairtrade ones.

According to the Fairtrade Foundation, more than one million and one swaps were completed, including tea, chocolate, coffee and bananas, as well as cosmetics, cotton wear and olive oil. The most popular everyday item swapped was tea. Almost 1 in 5 who registered their swap pledged to swap their cuppa to one carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. This is very encouraging considering we drink about 165 million cups of tea every day in the UK, and the market for 72 per cent of tea produced is monopolised by big brands.

In a YouGov survey commissioned ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight, 55 per cent of the 3,300 people asked said they would consider switching one or more of the products they buy to Fairtrade.

This is not just about one fortnight of the year. We are asking for parishes and dioceses to continue promoting the swap to the Fairtrade brand – and sticking to it all year round.

Katy Harris, CAFOD

Fundraisers and tea for free

Catholic parishes across England and Wales picked up the challenge during Fairtrade Fortnight. St Bart’s, in St Albans parish, held a Fairtrade lunch which raised £200 for CAFOD. The meal was organised, cooked and served by the parish Justice and Peace group, who served a two-course lunch consisting of largely Fairtrade ingredients. The meal was accompanied by a Fairtrade stall, and between courses the diners were entertained with a Fairtrade quiz.

In St Edmund Campion parish, Maidenhead gave everyone a chance to try Fairtrade tea at their Fairtrade stall. They distributed bags of tea (with four Fairtrade teabags and a ‘Make it fair’ action card) after all Masses. It was a huge success, and they even ran out.

Katy Harris, Campaigns Communication Manager for CAFOD said, “Fairtrade Fortnight has been a huge success. Thank you to everyone who got involved and swapped your goods. The difference to millions of farmers around the world is immeasurable. This is not just about one fortnight of the year. We are asking for parishes and dioceses to continue promoting the swap to the Fairtrade brand – and sticking to it all year round.”

Hexham and Newcastle was among the first Catholic dioceses to launch its official Fairtrade status following a seven-month drive in which half of its 176 parishes committed to using and selling Fairtrade products. They set a trend. There are now nearly 6,000 Fairtrade churches and eight Catholic Dioceses certified as Fairtrade.