Do it Fair and support food producers fighting climate change

Angus Coull • June 18, 2026

Fair on The Planet is Chapter 2 of the Fairtrade Foundation's Do it Fair Campaign. We are with them!

This summer, the Fairtrade Foundation are shining a spotlight on the climate crisis. “The products we rely on every day – from coffee to bananas – are under threat. And so are the livelihoods of the people who produce them. Farmers are facing increasingly unpredictable weather, failing harvests and rising costs, often without the support they need to adapt. And they are being forced to shoulder the burden of a crisis they did little to create.”

As importers of Fairtrade Certified tea and other Fair Trade food products we get this. We hear regularly from the producer groups in the global south of the divesting effects of climate change they face, from floods to drought the impact on their production is huge.

This is the first of three short blogs on this matter, in the second we will focus on the producer groups. In this one we focus the action we are taking at our Paisley warehouse, based the WFTO 10 Principles of Fair Trade.

"Respect for the Environment" is one of the ten fair trade principles which True Origin adheres to as a WFTO Guaranteed Member, and one which has clearly increased in importance as the extent of the climate emergency has become ever clearer.

We believe there can be no climate justice without fair trade, highlighting that smallholder farmers and workers are part of the solution to the climate crisis. Over recent years we have reviewed our Environmental Policy, and this is driving actions throughout our business:

We have significantly increased our organic range For example, Black Mamba's organic chillies) conscious of the benefits this brings to the planet.
Picking and packing at source is a focus. For instance, Sunshine Nut Co. roasts, packages and ships cashews and cashew nut butters directly from Mozambique, resulting in fresher flavour, a smaller carbon footprint, and life-changing impact for farmers, families, and factory workers.
After much research on different packaging options over several years, we moved to recyclable Kilombero Rice bags. We worked with National Flexible to make our rice bags recyclable. National Flexible is a carbon neutral company who provide sustainable solutions to packaging.
We have supported our parent charity, True Origin Partnerships as they raised funds for example for a Briquette Project led by women farmers in Malawi, seeking to reduce deforestation and waste by creating fuel briquettes from waste rice husks.
We have reviewed our waste streams and increased the percentage we recycle.
We have implemented changes to our shipping practices to reduce the carbon footprint associated with imports - double layering containers and consolidating shipments from two suppliers to maximize the container fill and avoid waste.
We have really focused on eliminating food waste in the community, using our foodbank fund to give any short-dated stock away.
We have replaced the lighting throughout our warehouse and offices with energy efficient LED lighting.
We have taken an active part in Veganuary, highlighting the benefits of introducing plant-based meals to your diet and increasing the range of vegan friendly recipes on our website.
We launched new resources within our 90kg Rice Challenge packs to enable schools to teach about climate change with real-life examples.

This summer, the Fairtrade Foundation is shining a spotlight on the climate crisis. “The products we rely on every day – from coffee to bananas – are under threat. And so are the livelihoods of the people who produce them. Farmers are facing increasingly unpredictable weather, failing harvests and rising costs, often without the support they need to adapt. And they are being forced to shoulder the burden of a crisis they did little to create.”

As importers of Fairtrade Certified tea and other Fair Trade food products we get this. We hear regularly from the producer groups in the global south of the devestating effects of climate change they face, from floods to drought the impact on their production is huge.

Choosing True Origin products empowers consumers to help make a difference directly on producers and the environment. If you want to go beyond buying fair trade products, you can turn your attention to Westminster.

The Fairtrade Foundation is calling on the government to pass a new law that would ensure all businesses address human rights abuses and climate damage behind their products. Please consider signing their petition.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

Why We Are Retiring The 90KG Rice Challenge

By Angus Coull • September 11, 2026

The unique Kilombero Rice from Malawi is still available to purchase

A loveheart made out of white Kilombero rice from Malawi

Kilombero RIce - The Story of a Partnership

By Nicola Taylor • September 9, 2026

An insight into 17 years of partnership between a small fair trade organisation in Paisley and an association of smallholder rice farmers in Northern Malawi

True Origin Finalists in Two UK Social Enterprise Award Categories

By Angus Coull • September 3, 2026

We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Consumer-Facing Social Enterprise of the Year and the International Impact Award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2026. Produced by Social Enterprise UK and Co-operatives UK, the Awards celebrate the leading lights in our sector, showcasing diversity and impact across 15 categories. Social enterprises are businesses that trade for a social or environmental purpose, and reinvest at least half their profits to further that mission. There are more than 100,000 social enterprises in the UK, employing 2.3 million people, and we’re delighted to be recognised as one of the best in this pioneering business movement. Commenting on being a UK Social Enterprise Awards finalist, Tracy Mitchell MD said: “Being shortlisted for not one but two UK Social Enterprise Awards is a huge honour for everyone at True Origin. We are particularly proud that the nominations recognise both sides of what we are trying to achieve: building a successful consumer-facing business here in the UK, while creating meaningful and lasting impact with our producer partners internationally.

Six New Prestigious Great Taste Awards for True Origin Products

By Angus Coull • July 28, 2026

Official recognition for our great tasting fair & fine food products

A woman standing at church fair trade stall with lots of delicious fair trade products available

How to Run a True Origin Fair Trade Stall at Your Church

By Nicola Taylor • July 3, 2026

A Fair Trade stall is about so much more than selling tea, coffee and chocolate. Every purchase supports smallholder farmers and producers who are working incredibly hard to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change, rising fuel costs and an unpredictable global market. For many of the communities we work with, having reliable customers is essential. By running a True Origin stall at your church, you become part of that support network, helping to create regular demand for products that often aren't available in supermarkets or high street shops. Whether your church is passionate about global justice, caring for creation or simply making a practical difference, a Fair Trade stall is a simple but powerful way to turn those values into action. Start Small You don't need a huge team or a large budget to get started. Begin by talking with your church leaders about the idea. Many churches are happy to provide a small loan or donation to purchase initial stock, particularly if it can be repaid gradually as sales grow. Remember that most of the income from a stall is best reinvested into buying more stock rather than raising money for church funds. This helps keep the stall sustainable and ensures producers continue to receive orders. If you're new to running a stall, don't worry, you won't be on your own. The True Origin team and experienced Fair Traders are always happy to share advice and practical tips.