Smith Congratulates East Dunbartonshire On Its Renewed Fairtrade Zone Status

The Fairtrade scheme was set up in 1994 and through this scheme, producers in the developing world are given a decent return for the goods that they provide us with, such as chocolate and bananas. The scheme also provides funding for producers to invest in community facilities such as water supplies, sanitation and education. Products that are traded through this scheme are stamped with the Fairtrade Mark which is an internationally-recognised label. The number of Fairtrade towns now stands at 500.

East Dunbartonshire Council have extended the number of catering outlets providing Fairtrade products and fourteen churches in the area now have Fairtrade status.  The Council are actively working with other Councils and encouraging them to develop their support for Fairtrade.

Alyn Smith said:

“Fairtrade Fortnight begins on 28 February and what better way to celebrate than being awarded renewed Fairtrade zone status.  Around 7.5 million farmers, workers, their families and communities across 58 developing countries in the developing world benefit from the international Fairtrade system.

“East Dunbartonshire was one of the first towns in Scotland to be awarded Fairtrade status and to this day it continues to fly the Fairtrade flag at full-mast. Congratulations to Sylvia Gray and her colleagues for all their hard work and for incorporating Fairtrade further into the life of the community in East Dunbartonshire.”