Fair trade is a worldwide movement to ensure farmers and producers in developing countries get paid fair wages and fair price, work in safe environments, and protect the environment during production. Agriculture is the single largest employer in the world, providing living for 40% of today’s global population. It is the biggest source of income for households in developing countries, yet many farmers at the beginning of the chain don’t always get a fair share, earning an average of about $2 per day. Poverty, discrimination, and exploitative child labor some of many social and economic injustices that people in the agricultural industry and rural communities continue to face even today.
KORISSA partners with fair trade organizations and members who value and practice the 9 principles of fair trade set by FTF, believing that with fair trade we can change the world a little bit every day. We believe that when a product is traded in a more ethical way, it provides better working conditions for our artisans, improves their living standards, and protects the environment we live in.
As you shop our selections, be proud that you are making a difference by supporting and promoting fair trade standards. Through our simple shopping choices, we can definitely provide social and economic opportunities for farmers, workers, and artisans to lift themselves out of poverty and even save lives.
Nine Principles of Fair Trade set by Fair Trade Federation
1. Cultivate New Market Opportunities for Economically and Socially Marginalized Producers
KORISSA collaborates with artisan communities to provide opportunities for those who experience social, political and economical discrimination and exclusion.
2. Develop Transparent and Accountable Relationships
KORISSA serves as a bridge to link between our artisan groups and our customers. We provide information about our artisan’s production process to customers under informed consent. This helps to maintain long-term relationships and build mutual respect with our artisans, and customers are also able to make conscious choices. If any problems arise or any changes are made, we are open to any forms of communication to implement solutions. You can read more about our artisan groups here.
3. Build Capacity
KORISSA supports artisan groups through active communication and collaborative partnership. Our artisans are able to build skills and knowledge to improve market information.
4. Promote Fair Trade
KORISSA makes its best efforts to promote Fair Trade through multiple communication vehicles, including our website, blogs, displays and social media. We aim to encourage both producers and customers to make informed choices and how their choices make a difference towards improving inequalities and the environment we live in.
5. Pay Promptly and Fairly
KORISSA’s products are properly priced to guarantee fair compensation to our artisan groups. Fair Trade members price their products based on the true cost of labor, time, materials, skill level, training, sustainable growth, and related factors. KORISSA always makes prompt payments upon the receipt of products.
6. Support Safe and Empowering Working Conditions
KORISSA values safe and healthy workplace which encourages inclusive environment supported by individual’s participation, free from any form of discrimination. We continuously communicate together to improve the working conditions of our artisans and employees.
7. Ensure the Rights of Children
KORISSA does not support child trafficking or exploitative child labor in any way. If by any means there is involvement with children in case of educational opportunities, we openly communicate with our artisans and make sure this does not conflict with child labor.
8. Cultivate Environmental Stewardship
KORISSA’s partner organizations are Fair Trade Certified™ and we are fully committed to being environmentally conscious and producing less waste by using sustainable and eco-friendly materials, forms of production, and packaging. You can find more information about our sustainable packaging practices here.
9. Respect Cultural, Racial, and Ethnic Identity
KORISSA values and celebrates our artisans’ local traditions and customs, making every effort to preserve their cultural heritage and traditional techniques when we collaboratively develop our products. Each of our pieces are unique and special which conveys an individual's identity and story.
Our artisan partners are an integral part to KORISSA's growth and success, and we strictly commit to the above Fair Trade principles for our mutual development and benefits. In hopes of growing awareness for Fair Trade and demand for ethical goods, we promise to strengthen and maintain the highest standards of ourselves to practice fair trade principles in every step we take.
