The Fairtrade Foundation has been recognised in the 2006 new year’s honours list, with a CBE for executive director, Harriet Lamb, for “services to business”.
Lamb said she was proud to be listed as one of the 95 people endowed with the honour, which she regarded as a sign of the nation’s increasing awareness of Fairtrade and its aims.
“It is a tribute to the achievement of all those who make Fairtrade work: from the farmers and workers in developing countries, to the companies and retailers who offer Fairtrade, to supporters up and down this country who campaign tirelessly for Fairtrade and of course everyone at the Fairtrade Foundation,” she said.
The Fairtrade mark has gained significant recognition in recent years, with nearly half a million fairtrade bananas eaten every day. But, more work needs to be done to improve working and living conditions for farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Lamb said the award would spur on the foundation to step up its game.
“If we are going to really tackle global poverty, then all of us here in the UK need to make Fairtrade our everyday habit. That’s our call for 2006, so that more farmers and workers in developing countries can participate in Fairtrade,” she added.
