Fair Trade

Good to read that fair trade is increasing. Half of the Dutch population does buy fair trade products occasionally and sales have risen with 14% in fair food. Also design is an upcoming segment in fair trade. Products made with a small footprint; recycled, organic or re-used and good circumstances for workers. The shop I blogged before, Fair+Fair is doing well. A very contemporary look and feel in the shop, appealing products that matter in a wide variety. Also Waar is a good example; they sell lifestyle - and household items as well as food. You have to innovate, also in this market segment; it's getting bigger but if shops don't modernise their identity and their collection they miss the development.
The mission should be that in the years to come fair trade will become the norm, and all other production methods will reduce almost to zero due to higher prices. Prices of those products should become much higher because of higher taxes ( for non-worker-friendly production, foot print, water print etc).
Sustainability and fair trade should become more and more connected. In the long term that's better for us as well as the planet and therefore is cheaper.
As many world-wide conferences about the future of our planet are due to start this spring; it's also becoming more and more clear that the real development has to come from the bottom: consumers. We have the power in our wallets. Even if they're not always filled to the brim, we still can make choices.