Co-op, Ben & Jerry’s and Green & Black’s are among the winners of the Fairtrade Global Awards recognising their commitment to supporting social justice through trade.
At the ceremony held in Nairobi, Kenya at the Fairtrade Business Summit, Co-op was named ‘climate leader’, acknowledged for its commitment to innovating and generating impact in tackling the climate crisis.
The convenience retailer has invested over £500,000 to help farmers in its supply chain in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Dominican Republic and Colombia to better mitigate against the impact of the climate crisis.
Co-op director of technical, agriculture and sustainability, Guy Stuart, said: “Now more than ever, the challenges that are facing farmers are stark and we need co-operation at the heart of our collective responses to equip producers with the tools to sustain themselves and their commitments for long-term food security.
“That’s why we continue to invest to support the climate adaptation and resilience of producers who are unproportionally impacted and we’re pioneering farmer-centric climate adaptation programmes with Fairtrade.”
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Green & Black’s was the winner of the Latin America and Caribbean category, which shows the chocolate company is committed to sourcing from the Caribbean and Latin America while actively supporting the Fairtrade agenda.
Ben & Jerry’s was presented with the Fairtrade Partner of the Year Award which recognises existing commitments, strong two-way relationships with producer groups and willingness to innovate and test new approaches in collaboration with Fairtrade.
The ice cream manufacturer’s global head of values led sourcing, Cheryl Pinto, said: “Ben & Jerry’s commitment to Fairtrade and its principles is deep and longstanding; striving for social and economic justice is baked into our ethos of how we do business.
“With the global challenges we face, it is critical that across sectors, we become more transparent, resilient, and fair in terms of valuing and honouring the essential contributions of farmers and farmworkers along with all other supply chain actors.”
Fairtrade Foundation partnerships director, Kerrina Thorogood, added: “Congratulations to all the winners, especially the three UK Fairtrade partners.
“The 2023 Fairtrade Global Awards winners have exemplified the spirit of Fairtrade by demonstrating a commitment to fairness, sustainability, and positive impact in the lives of farmers and workers in low-income countries. Their contributions serve as an inspiration to all who believe in creating a more equitable global trade system.”
