The attention to certified products is growing. Both on the part of consumers, who increasingly prefer products with certification, and on the part of companies that “choose a fairer, more transparent and human rights-conscious procurement model throughout the supply chain”.
Describing the scenario, which also tells of a change and a new trend, is Fairtrade, the international movement for sustainability, human rights and the environment, and a family of certification marks found on products such as coffee, cocoa, bananas, pineapples, teas grown or made under conditions that improve the quality of life of farmers in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The occasion was offered by the annual event “Cultivating the future: the impact of Fairtrade Italy”.
Certified products. In 2024, the value of products sold in our country containing at least one Fairtrade-certified ingredient exceeded 550 million euros. A figure that includes not only raw materials, but also processed products that use one of the certified ingredients, such as biscuits.
The companies
The number of active Italian operators is also growing: “Today, more than 300 companies import, process and distribute Fairtrade-certified products, up +3% compared to 2023,” they point out. ” The number of references on the shelf is also increasing, especially in large-scale distribution, and the brand’s presence in the non-food market is strengthening, with cotton (+40%) and cut flowers (+28%) growing strongly”.
A trend that represents the beginning of a new course. “The data speak of an Italy that is increasingly involved in change. In a world that demands responsibility, Fairtrade represents a concrete response for companies and people: a system that combines rigour, transparency and real impact,” underlines Paolo Pastore, general manager of Fairtrade Italy. Strengthening supply chains today means protecting human rights, addressing environmental challenges and building together an economy that looks to the future.
It is not just a question of fair prices, but of shared responsibility. This is why we work every day alongside Italian companies, not only with certification but also with concrete tools to face the new challenges of compliance and traceability, always remaining connected to the needs of producers”.
