Purbeck is a Fairtrade Zone
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. In the long term this establishes more sustainable communities - an aspiration shared here in Purbeck.
Purbeck's status as a Fairtrade Zone was made official in March 2006 following Wareham and Swanage both achieving Fairtrade town status. The award has been achieved in recognition of the progress made by the Purbeck Fairtrade Network in promoting Fairtrade across the district, an initiative fully supported by the council
wide range of Fairtrade products are available in Purbeck including coffee, teas, drinking chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, apples, citrus and other fresh fruits, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, cakes and snacks, honey, jam and preserves, chutneys and sauces, rice, quinoa, herbs and spices, seeds, nuts and nut oil, wines, spirits, ale, chocolate, confectionery, muesli, cereal bars, yoghurt, ice cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub, cotton products including clothing, homewares, cloth toys and cotton wool.
The council supports Fairtrade in the district by:
•Allocating responsibility to staff and elected members for future progression of the initiative
•Using Fairtrade food and beverages for internal and external meetings
•Making Fairtrade snacks and fruit available for council staff to buy
•Designing a Fairtrade cotton bag-for-life which is produced by Sathya Handicrafts in south-east India and organised by Vandanamu Fair Trade. The bag is available to buy at the Wareham Tourist Information Centre or Swanage Museum and Heritage Centre and at the council offices at Worgret Road, Wareham
•Promoting the Fairtrade Mark using the Fairtrade Foundation materials
•Publishing annually the Purbeck Fairtrade Directory
•Working with Purbeck Fairtrade Network to organise events and publicity during Fairtrade Fortnight, (includes Fairtrade 5-a-side football tournament, taster sessions, etc.)
•Promoting Fairtrade Fortnight activities on the council website and other publications
