7 Reasons Fair-Trade Matters to the Planet

Author: Millennia TEA’s Official Science Steeper, Allison Tannis, MSc RHN

The planet deserves better, as do the people on it. Here’s what you can do to support a healthier planet.

Fair-trade is more than ensuring farmers are paid well and treated ethically – fair-trade farming helps promote environmentally friendly practices. A sustainable future is possible with the help of organic, fair trade farming practices. Your choice of fair-trade products can be part of the environmental solution. Here’s how…

Sustainability needs more environmentally friendly farming.

The Climate Crisis isn’t Fair

Sustainability is about more than the environment - it’s about creating a global food system that is fair to the planet and the people who live on it. The climate crisis isn’t fair - farmers in third world countries, where many popular food products are grown, are being hit the hardest by changes in the environment. These farmers contribute the least to the crisis - emissions are significantly greater in more industrialized countries. However, many farmers earn too little to make changes to their agricultural practices to adapt to the changing environment and to support our planet.

Truly possible to live and eat an organic way of life, that is good for the planet and the people on it.

How Choosing Fair-Trade Products Can Help Protect the Environment

Farmers that struggle to thrive financially can be left with no other option but to engage in cheap agricultural practices that damage the surrounding ecosystem. Fairtrade products are more than just ensuring farmers are getting fair prices. It’s about meeting the needs of people today, without compromising the needs of our future. Fair-trade practices foster the use of more sustainable farming practices that could help our environment. Studies show some benefits to the environment and farmers among fair-trade practices.

To be sustainable the environment, economy, and society need to work together.

7 Reasons Fair-Trade Helps Protect the Environment

Together we can reverse the harmful effects of unstainable consumption and production patterns. Fair-trade is a movement that prioritizes sustainable and environmentally responsible farming:

Creates more sustainable farming economies and communities
Reduces demand for inexpensive environmentally harmful farming practices
Sets environmental standards for farmers
Promotes organic soil enrichment
Improves water use
Encourages biodiversity
Use of organic fertilizers

Does Buying Fair-Trade Help the Planet?

Sustainability is possible – it’s working. An organic fair-trade farming organization of tea plantation farmers in Sri Lanka has promoted sustainable environmental change, equity, and a strong future for the community. Over 10,000 farmer families, particularly women are benefiting. Ten years ago, these small farmers were merely daily paid workers struggling in a community with a factory in disrepair. Today, they are independent farmers, educated and trained in sustainable organic tea farming practices, working in a fair-trade environment as part of a thriving community. Commitment to the environment is unsurpassed – efforts have even created an organic tea production facility with a zero-carbon footprint.

You can be a part of the change for good.

How You Can Make a Difference to the Planet

Become inspired to think more about the impact of your purchases. Choosing organic fair-trade products encourages more environmentally-friendly farming practices, and supports a more ethical economy.

Is Millennia Tea Fair Trade?

Yes! Millennia Tea is passionate about the well-being of people and the planet. Millennia Tea sprouted from a health scare that sent Tracy and Rory in search of the healthiest, purest form of tea leaves – the ultimate superfood. Years of traveling around the globe looking for the most pure, clean, sustainable, and ethical fair-trade source of tea leaves, brought them to Sri Lanka and a fair-trade tea plantation managed by the winner of the Fairest Fair-Trader in the World award. “Spending time in the fields where a product is cultivated in Sri Lanka, and with the people who work the land daily, it is important,” notes Tracy Bell, co-founder of Millennia Tea.

Millennia Tea works with an organic, fair trade organization of Sri Lanka tea plantation farmers who are dedicated to environmentally friendly farming practices, (enriching soil structure, improving biodiversity on farmland, and increasing productivity) to bring you the healthiest and purest form of tea leaves – as a frozen superfood.

“In the same way that we care deeply about the science of tea, we care deeply that the products we offer is brought into this world by partners who care about their people and our planet, treating both with fairness and respect, always.”

– Tracy Bell, Co-founder of Millennia Tea