Will you choose the world you want and create the next Fair Trade co-op?

Co-operatives have played a major role in the development of Fair Trade and building belief in the possibility of a better world.

Fair Trade co-ops have been global leaders in building economic, social and environmental sustainability through creating models of business based on ethical values and principles.

They can provide for the needs and aspirations of their customers, members and the communities they live in, whilst also having a positive impact with producers to create shorter supply chains and make trade fairer across the world.

Fair Trade is just one example of how co-ops have often been pioneers in new food movements with others including: community supported agriculture, reducing food miles, organic produce, ethical vegetarian/vegan/plant-based diets, veg box schemes, wholefoods and zero waste.

For two weeks each year at the end of February and start of March, Fairtrade Fortnight gives the opportunity for thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK to come together to share the stories of the people who grow our food and drinks, mine our gold and who grow the cotton in our clothes, people who are often exploited and underpaid.

This year, the focus of Fairtrade Fortnight (21 February to 6 March 2022) is climate change, and the growing problems this poses to farmers and workers within the Fairtrade community.

Find out more and support the campaign by visiting the Fairtrade Foundation website.

Co-op Loan fund are proud to have worked with some brilliant co-operatives who buy, sell and promote Fairtrade products including:

Regather – Organic fruit and veg box scheme and vegan micro-brewery based in Sheffield
Valley Organics – Wholefood zero packaging community shop
Wild Thyme wholefoods – Wholefood co-op promoting zero packaging in their shop
Leicester Wholefoods, long-established wholefood shop.

Will you choose the world you want and create the next Fair Trade co-op?

14 million people are members of a co op in the UK and you could be too. Join a co-op, support your community and be part of a movement that has the potential to change society for the better.

Coop Loan Fund provides unsecured loans to co-operatives with no personal guarantees up to £85,000 with ongoing advice and support and no set lending terms.

Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops.