Fairtrade vs. Fair Trade: What’s the Bloody Difference?

Let’s clear something up right off the bat. If you’ve spent more than five minutes browsing our shop in Trinity Market or looking at our website, you’ve probably seen both terms tossed around: Fairtrade (one word) and fair trade (two words).

You might assume it’s just a typo, especially if it was typed after too much coffee, but there is actually a proper distinction. So, what’s the difference, and why should you give a damn? Let’s break it down without sending you to sleep.

1. Fairtrade (One Word): The Official Certification Mark

When you see Fairtrade written as a single word, it usually refers to the specific, registered certification system.

Think of the FAIRTRADE Mark (the little black, white, and blue logo with the person holding their hand up). This is a tightly regulated global certification system managed by Fairtrade International and national organisations like the Fairtrade Foundation here in the UK.

• What it covers: Mostly specific commodities like coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, bananas, and cotton.
• How it works: Producers and supply chains must meet strict international standards, pay a guaranteed Fairtrade Minimum Price, and pay an additional Fairtrade Premium for community and environmental projects.

In short: One word means it’s certified by the official Fairtrade system.

2. Fair Trade (Two Words): The Broader Movement & Fairly Traded Goods

When it’s written as fair trade (two words), it becomes a broader, descriptive term for the entire ethical trade movement.

It’s a collaborative approach to business that prioritises transparency, fair payment, safe working conditions, and respect for the planet across all kinds of goods—especially handmade crafts, homeware, clothing, and musical instruments that the official Fairtrade certification scheme doesn’t typically cover.

This is also where terms like fairly traded come into play. Because many small-scale artisan groups (like the ones making our hand-carved soapstone boxes or musical instruments) are too small to afford the high administrative costs of formal Fairtrade certification, they operate on a fairly traded basis. They get a fair wage, safe conditions, and long-term support, but they don’t carry the official one-word label.

• Who regulates it? Unlike “Organic” or the single-word “Fairtrade,” the phrase “fair trade” isn’t a legally protected trademark on its own. That means any bugger can slap “fair trade” on a label, even if they’re chatting absolute rubbish.
• How to cut through the bull: This is where bodies like BAFTS Fair Trade Network UK come in. As proud members of BAFTS, shops like Near & Fair in Hull are independently audited every single year to prove that our suppliers genuinely live and breathe fair trade and fairly traded principles.

Ethical and Made in the UK

When talking about fair trade producers being paid a decent wage, we are occasionally met with a somewhat contentious statement such as, “Well, I think people in the UK should be paid a decent wage!” We agree! That is the reason the National Minimum Wage was introduced, though whether it is high enough is a matter for debate. We also have Health & Safety laws to protect British workers from unsafe working conditions. For these reasons, the term “fair trade” in any of its forms is unnecessary for goods made in this country. We can, or at least should be able to assume that the workers have been paid at least the legal minimum and that they have safe working environments.

Items We Sell That Are Made in the UK With Respect for the Environment

Of course, that means we could stock anything made in the UK, but as we like to provide our customers with ethical options, we tend to gravitate towards products that are made with respect for the environment, or that give something back to the earth—such as our Seed Cards which, when planted, grow into beautiful bee-friendly flowers, our Cinnamon and Orange Soap, or our locally blended Devon Violet Fragrance Oil.

Summary: Which One Is It?

• Fairtrade (One Word): The specific certification label you see on your morning coffee, tea, or chocolate bar.
• fair trade / fairly traded (Two Words): The wider ethical movement, independent networks like BAFTS, and the business model covering everything from handmade incense to gorgeous artisan gifts from small-scale makers.

We like to think that when it comes to living ethically and selling ethically-sourced products we’re not doing too badly, but we will never become blasé about it. There is always more to learn, new products to try, and new ideas to share. That, for me, is one of the fun parts of having an ethical shop.

Next time you’re shopping with us—whether you’re grabbing a bag of coffee from KarmaCorner, picking up some hand-rolled incense, or choosing a UK-made eco product—you can rest easy knowing that whether it’s one word or two, it’s all about putting people and the planet first!

Take care of yourselves and each other.