JTS celebrates achieving Guaranteed Member status of the World Fair Trade Organisation
Mary Popple • January 14, 2021
The Gold Standard for ethical business
Here at JTS we are delighted to have been awarded Guaranteed Member status by the World Fair Trade Organisation. This is the gold standard for ethical business and ensures everything we do is focused on the needs of producers and the protection of our planet.
This is an independent recognition achieved through a thorough self-assessment and audit process. Our work and the way we do it was all assessed against the 10 Principles of Fair Trade with all our staff taking part in the audit.
This is a great recognition of our mission to empower producers and consumers through the fair buying and selling of delicious food. We were thrilled at the response of the WFTO auditor and the reaction of some of our partners in the fair trade movement:
“JTS Ltd demonstrates a wholehearted commitment to fair trade across all aspects of its activities. All of the products it trades are sourced from marginalised producers and through the trading relationship, JTS demonstrates its will to improve the socioeconomic position of its suppliers and their producers.” WFTO Audit report
Martin Rhodes, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum commented “It’s is really exciting to see JTS being awarded full membership of the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). The commitment of JTS to the Principles of Fair Trade in all that they do has been independently audited and verified by the WFTO. It is another sign of the continuing and growing commitment across Scotland to Fair Trade.”
Laura Cave, Chair of BAFTS Fair Trade Network UK responded “Massive congratulations to JTS on becoming a guaranteed WFTO member. Thoroughly well deserved! So excited to see greater collaborations and unity in the international fair trade community.”
Charlotte Timson (Traidcraft Exchange CEO) welcomed the news saying “Congratulations to JTS team, producer organisations and customers for this brilliant news of JTS becoming a WFTO Guarantee member. This is another evidence of the excellent work you have been doing with your partners in Africa, especially in Malawi. We hope this Fair Trade certification will allow the organization to reach new customers; and continue to increase the positive impact of JTS on those communities in Sub-Saharan Africa using fair trade as a key instrument of change; as well as providing the inspiration to JTS to include more best practices in its relationship with its partners.”
We are a small organisation with a long reach. We are proud of the producer relationships we have developed and we hope this recognition will enable us to strengthen our work with them over the coming years. As Chair I would like to thank all the members of the JTS team for their total commitment to achieving our Fair Trade mission and to the Board for backing us in all we do.
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We’re absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news: Ethical Consumer has extended its prestigious Best Buy status to the entire True Origin product range and Traidcraft Tea! This recognition previously applied only to our True Origin Kilombero rice, but now it covers all True Origin products — and our beloved Traidcraft Tea as well. This is a huge moment for us — and for everyone who chooses to shop with purpose. The Best Buy label is Ethical Consumer’s highest ethical rating, reserved for brands and products that go above and beyond in areas like environmental impact, workers’ rights, sustainability, and transparency. To receive this mark across our True Origin product range is a powerful endorsement of our ongoing commitment to fairness, justice, and sustainability in global trade – and of the way we do business here in the UK too. Ruairidh Fraser, researcher at Ethical Consumer, said “True Origin are clear ethical leaders in their field, so we're delighted to expand our Best Buy certification to cover all of their branded products. It’s rare to find a company of True Origin’s size which demonstrates such a comprehensive understanding of its social and environmental impact.” He continued “True Origin scored 100/100 for its approach to its supply chain, going above and beyond to ensure that workers’ rights are respected and their communities supported. From agriculture to food waste, they are rejecting greenwash and are instead focused on doing the right thing where it matters." From the fragrant Kilombero rice grown in the heart of Malawi to the rich, responsibly sourced Traidcraft Tea, from the fantastic relishes and spices from South Africa to the exotic Kenyan jams — every product in our portfolio stands for dignity, opportunity, and ethical excellence. We couldn’t have done it without our producer partners, staff and customers. Every time you choose True Origin or Traidcraft, you’re choosing a better world — and now you’ve got Ethical Consumer’s seal of approval to back that choice. 🛒 Explore the full Best Buy-approved range here . 📣 Spread the word and tag us when you share the news! Together, we’re changing trade for good. See Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label