Worldwide sales of Fairtrade products soared by more than a third to £758m last year, figures out today show.
The value of goods sold under the label in Ireland increased by 30% to €6.5m.
More than 300 companies joined the global scheme last year, according to the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO). They sold goods ranging from sugar and fruit to coffee and spices. The UK mirrored the worldwide trend, with sales up by 40% to more than £195m from 2004 to 2005. Worldwide sales of goods bearing the Fairtrade mark increased by 37% over the same period.
Luuk Zonneveld, MD of FLO International, said the scheme was creating sustainable changes for farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America and that more companies are approaching the labelling organisation because they want to have the certification mark on their products.
Over 500 producer groups across 58 countries are certified to supply goods as part of the Fairtrade scheme.
They receive a minimum price which covers production costs plus an extra premium for investment in their local community.
FLO is the umbrella organisation which unites 20 national Fairtrade initiatives across the world. It sets the standards which products must meet in order to gain the Fairtrade mark.
