Fairtrade

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A system of trading that aims to give producers in poorer countries a fair price and better working conditions, often shown by a special label on products.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: 'Fairtrade is growing.' Not 'a Fairtrade'.

   Patterns

   • buy Fairtrade
   • support Fairtrade
   • Fairtrade products

   Many shoppers choose Fairtrade to support farmers in developing countries.

   The company switched to Fairtrade for all its chocolate bars.

   Fairtrade guarantees a minimum price for cocoa growers.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Describing a product or company that follows the Fairtrade system, usually marked with a certification label.

   Grammar: Comes before the noun: 'Fairtrade bananas'. Not 'bananas Fairtrade'.

   Patterns

   • Fairtrade coffee
   • Fairtrade certified
   • a Fairtrade label

   This supermarket sells Fairtrade tea and coffee.

   Look for the Fairtrade mark on the packet.

   They only use Fairtrade cotton in their T-shirts.

Common combinations

Fairtrade certified

The farm is now Fairtrade certified.

Fairtrade products

Fairtrade products often cost a little more.

Fairtrade label

The Fairtrade label helps shoppers identify ethical goods.

Fairtrade premium

The cooperative used the Fairtrade premium to build a school.

Synonyms and how they differ

ethical trade

A broader term for any trading that aims to be fair; Fairtrade refers specifically to the certified system.

fair trade

Often used interchangeably, but 'fair trade' (two words) can describe the general movement, while 'Fairtrade' is the official certification.

Opposites

Word family

fair trade noun

The general principle of fair trading, not necessarily certified.

Commonly confused: Fairtrade or free trade?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Fairtrade”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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