People Tree Foundation to champion fair trade

People Tree founder Safia Minney is working with Jo Wood of Jo Wood Organics to promote and develop awareness of fair trade and will create documents and videos highlighting the need for higher minimal ethical standards within the fashion industry.

The foundation was launched to coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight, which began on Monday. Minney said: “It is clear that despite the recession retailers want an ethical and fair-trade offer.”

She said retailers remain under increasing pressure from customers to offer ethical products and she has been approached by several more high street retailers wanting to bring People Tree products into their stores.
The brand already has a concession in Topshop and on Asos.

This week the Government launched a sustainable clothing action plan supported by retailers including Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury’s. They have pledged to ramp up fair-trade ranges and help reduce the 2 million tonnes of clothes sent to landfill each year.

However, Minney criticised the scheme for lack of focus and not tackling the issues of sustainability and poverty.

* Co-op this week launched the first Palestinian fair-trade product – olive oil, which will be sold in 300 shops.