What makes Fair Trade Enterprises different from the mainstream business? In this latest episode, Erinch Sahan takes us to the journey of Village Industries on how authenticity, the increasing awareness on environmental issues and prioritising their workers have given them a unique place in the fast changing market.
Social Enterprise + Fair Trade (WFTO)
African Authenticity by Village Industries in a crowded marketplace
Published: 14th November 2019
In our new podcast, Jonathan and Helen discuss their new initiative to allow consumers to directly tip the maker of the product. This podcast explains how tip me works, and how it benefits businesses in the promotion of ethically-made products.
Published: 11th July 2019
On International Cooperatives Day we hear from Ed Mayo, the secretary general of Cooperatives UK. Ed is helping drive new ideas on creating a Fair Trade economy. He talks about where and how cooperatives thrive, and why they are a bold idea in a world of ecological and social challenges. He gives the story of coops in Japan, Finland, Spain and more, and highlights the emerging area of platform coops.
Published: 4th July 2019
This week, Erinch speaks with Laura Cave from BAFTS- a leading network of independent Fair Trade shops in the UK. Laura tells her story of founding a social enterprise to collaborate with and benefit artisans in Peru.
Published: 27th June 2019
Created for a mission and designed for impact, CORR The Jute Works sets examples of how modern social entrepreneurship should be. Their successes show it is possible to redefine business to prioritise the people and planet through inclusive governance and representation in decision-making, women’s empowerment and modern and sustainable products. Their mission is enforced by requiring the board’s enterprise to be represented by artisans (5 of 9 seats). Operating for over 4 decades, there is much to learn how to run your own mission-led social enterprise from Bertha Baroi, Director of CORR The Jute Works.
Published: 20th June 2019
Can a chocolate social enterprise go global? This is Arjen's story of Tony's Chocolonely. Arjen helped take Tony's from 4 people in an empty room to a global chocolate success story. He discusses the big issues in cocoa and compares social enterprises to companies that aren't making the tough choices to put people and planet first.
Published: 13th June 2019
Social entrepreneurs Susi and Henry together with team member Dilani of Rice and Carry in Colombo, Sri Lanka share their upcycling and recycling stories. They also tell their inspiring story on their journey as a social enterprise operating in the rural community of Sri Lanka.
Published: 6th June 2019
Andrea is a sustainable fashion entrepreneur, fashion lecturer, advocate and chair of the New York City Fair Trade Coalition. Her journey started in New York's fashion industry, took her to Uganda and through to social enterprise and Fair Trade. She tells her story and reflects on the future of sustainable fashion.
Published: 29th May 2019
Part two of this podcast focuses on Ten Thousand Villages. Erinch and Llenay discuss how the organization, established in the 1940s, has grown to show resilience and adapt to the changing market.
Published: 23rd May 2019
Llenay is the acting CEO of Ten Thousand Villages, an importer and retail network in the US. She shares the long and proud history of Ten Thousand Villages, and her story of helping grow the maker-to-market movement in the US and North America. She gives insights on bringing ethical products to the US market and telling the story of the makers to the consumers.
Published: 16th May 2019
Ffion Storer Jones of the Fair Trade Advocacy Office sat down with Linda McAvan MEP ahead of World Fair Trade Day to talk about her work supporting Fair Trade over her 20 years as an MEP and how she encourages us all to take action in support of Fair Trade.
Published: 3rd May 2019