Bristol has been a Fairtrade City since 2005 – one of over two thousand villages, towns and cities across the world that form Fair Trade Towns International’s network. You can view our Fairtrade City certificate here.

The Fair Trade Towns movement is based on Five Core Goals – read on to find out what they are and just some of the ways we fulfil them in Bristol

Five Core Goals

Local council passes a Resolution supporting Fair Trade and agreeing to use Fair Trade products.

Bristol City Council passed a resolution to support Fair Trade in 2004. Since then it has been a strong and active supporter of Bristol Fair Trade Network and the funding provided to us by the council in 2015 is still an important source of financial support.

In March 2018, Bristol City Council passed its Good Food and Catering Procurement Policy, which specifically states its support of Fairtrade and of Bristol’s Fairtrade City status. It states that the policy will support our Fairtrade City status. Furthermore, it specifies that for contracts applicable to food supply and catering service:

“Certified Fairtrade products should be sourced and used where possible. At a minimum tea, coffee, cocoa and bananas must be used.”

Fair Trade products are readily available in the area’s shops & served in local cafés/catering establishments.

Bristol is famous as a thriving hub of independent, ethically-driven retail, and Fair Trade products can be readily found in cafés and shops across the city, as well as in many well-known supermarkets. Our Local Fair Traders pages list many of these outlets, and we celebrate their achievements annually at the South West Fair Trade Business Awards.

Fair Trade products are used by a number of local work places & community organisations (faith groups, schools, universities etc).

Bristol is the first city to host an award scheme for local businesses and organisations in the city and surrounding region that support Fair Trade through use and resale of Fair Trade products and promotion of Fair Trade values. The South West Fair Trade Business Awards not only celebrate the dozens of organisations that already support Fair Trade, but encourage others to follow their lead and to strive to increase their commitment to Fair Trade each year. The Awards recognise workplaces, retailers, cafés, accommodation, manufacturers and universities.

Each year, Bristol Fair Trade Network collaborates with Bristol Link with Nicaragua to support the visit to the city of a female Fairtrade certified producer from Nicaragua. Her visit during Fairtrade Fortnight focusses on educational visits to local schools, giving hundreds of school children the opportunity to learn first-hand about the impact of Fair Trade.

Attract media coverage & popular support for the campaign.

Bristol Fair Trade Network maintains an active and high profile presence in the city. As well as hosting quarterly public socials in central Bristol, we have strong connections with local partners in the media, food and business networks who have helped us to keep our activity in the public eye. By hosting our own events such as the South West Fair Trade Business Awards ceremony, and having a presence at other high profile events in the city, we attract media coverage and engagement for Fair Trade issues and campaigns.

A local Fair Trade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fair Trade Town status.

Bristol Fair Trade Network CIC is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, each committed to using their particular expertise to further our impact as an organisation. In addition to the board, we have a team of voluntary Officers who each carry out a specific role for the Network. Meet the team.

Our quarterly socials ensure that there is a regular place for local people to meet and progress Bristol’s commitment to Fair Trade.