Fair trade

Fair trade city is a title for those cities that want to promote sustainable development and fair trade with their purchases. Riihimäki received this title in 2012.

Follow current events on the Fair Trade Riihimäki Facebook page.

Riihimäki is a Fair Trade city

As a fair trade city, the city of Riihimäki is committed, among other things, to offering fairly produced coffee and tea at its own official events and to inform its residents about fair trade. As a business gift, Riihimäki is giving away a Fair Trade Riihimäki bag, which can also be purchased at the city's Information Center or museums. Fairtrade products are also available in the city's cafes, restaurants and hotels.

In addition to offering fair trade products, the city must have a support group. In Riihimäki, in addition to the city, Riihimäki Martas, Riihimäki parish, Riihimäki Vihreät, Riihimäki recycling center and Riihimäki region's nature conservation association are represented in the support group. Representatives of the youth council also participate in the activities of the support group. The support group shares information about fair trade and inspires new actors to become promoters of fair trade. In addition, the support group monitors that the criteria required for the title are also met in the future.

Workplaces and organizations operating in the city can participate in the promotion of fair trade, e.g. choosing fair products for coffee breaks and events, such as fair coffee, tea, sugar and honey. Workplaces and organizations can also participate annually in the Fair Trade Week in October and other fair trade events.

What is Fair Trade?

The goal of fair trade is to reduce poverty through fairer trade: fair trade criteria have been created to address the inequality of traditional trade and trade relations and the problems brought by unstable markets. The goal of fair trade is a world where farmers in developing countries have the opportunity for a secure and sustainable livelihood.

Thanks to fair trade, farmers and workers in developing countries receive at least a guaranteed price for their products, which covers the costs of production that is sustainable for the environment and people. For the farmer, the guaranteed price is a safety net against the fluctuations of the world market. Fair trade also protects children and the environment: exploitation of child labor is prohibited in fair trade, and attention is paid to environmental sustainability in farming.

Fair trade offers the consumer the opportunity to participate in reducing global poverty and positively influence the lives of people in developing countries by making everyday and simple choices. Fair products include e.g. coffee, tea, sugar, honey, fruit, cocoa, chocolate, wine, flowers and cotton.