As you probably know, fairtrade is not just about exotic fruits, coffee, chocolate and nuts. There are also a lot of non-edible things that are being noted as unfairly traded. Rubber to make things like washing-up gloves is one of those things.
So, this year, for Fairtrade Fortnight, Tradecraft linked up with the UK's leading supplier in hand protection to launch the UK's first Fairtrade rubber gloves.
They're made in Sri Lanka by a group called the Firstlight Project. It was set-up by a Sri Lankan rubber manufacturer and the farmers receive a fair price for their rubber latex, as well as technical support and help with purchasing equipment.
With over 26 million pairs of rubber gloves sold annually in the UK, consumers who switch to fairtrade could help make a big difference to the small-scale farmers, like Mr. Sampala who is featured on the back of the packaging.
Traidcraft was established in 1979 to fight poverty through trade. They have seen that through promoting and practicing fairtrade, and ensuring a good price, that poor farmers in developing countries can transform their lives.
Tradecraft's packaging helps tell the story of the farmers and it's also very campaign led. The bright packaging on the rubber gloves features the slogan "I'm washing unfair trade away" and is in keeping with the award-winning design of Traidcraft's successful recycled tissue range which features similar eye-catching campaign phrases such as "I'm blowing poverty away".
The aim of the brightly coloured and compelling thought-bubble mottos is to get shoppers to think about their purchasing decisions and how a small change in buying could dramatically change the lives of others.