Fairtrade is delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Fairtrade Global Awards, which recognize Ben & Jerry’s, Co-op and Green & Black’s for their commitment to supporting social justice through trade.
The Fairtrade Global Awards bring Fairtrade farmers and workers closer to the businesses that source from them and celebrate where these relationships are creating impact. Each category has been producer-awarded, giving farmers and workers the opportunity to recognise business commitments to Fairtrade.
As a producer led initiative, the awards ceremony was held in Nairobi, Kenya, on the second day of the Fairtrade Business Summit hosted by Fairtrade Africa. It featured a diverse range of eight categories celebrating excellence in ethical and sustainable trade practices. From climate action to living wages and income.
The UK Winners:
- Climate leader: Co-op
- Latin America and Caribbean winner: Green & Black’s
- The Fairtrade Partner of the Year Award: Ben & Jerry’s
The full list of winners can be found at Fairtrade Global Awards 2023 – Business shaping a fair future
The awards recognize existing commitments by businesses, strong two-way relationships with producer groups, and a willingness to innovate and test new approaches in collaboration with Fairtrade.
Kerrina Thorogood, Partnerships Director at the Fairtrade Foundation said: “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.”
Commenting on their award, Cheryl Pinto, global head of values Led Sourcing, Ben & Jerry’s, 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.
“Ben & Jerry’s has been committed to making ice cream from Fairtrade certified ingredients since 2005 and Fairtrade has been a thoughtful partner with us in developing creative approaches and projects to drive more impact, particularly through our Living Income Accelerator. Especially because this award was decided by the producers in the Fairtrade community, Ben & Jerry’s is humbled, grateful and delighted to be the recipient of the inaugural Partner of the Year award at the Fairtrade Global Awards.”
Sandra Uwera, Fairtrade International Global CEO, said: “Businesses have the potential to be remarkable agents of positive change. At Fairtrade International, we’ve seen countless examples of companies going the extra mile to make a sustainable impact. With great pride, we announce the launch of new award categories, recognizing those businesses that are leading the way. Let us use their stories as a source of inspiration, a testament to what’s possible, and a call to action for others to follow suit in the pursuit of a more sustainable world.”
Mrs Assata Doumbia, president ECAM Meaui, an Ivorian cocoa farmer cooperative and member of the judging panel for the Fairtrade Awards said: “The Fairtrade Global Awards provide a platform to acknowledge those who are actively reshaping our global trade landscape. It’s truly inspiring to see how these nominees have harnessed the principles of fairness and sustainability to make a tangible difference in the lives of farmers and workers.”
