Highlands awarded Fairtrade Zone status

The Highlands have been awarded Fairtrade Zone Status by the Fairtrade Foundation.

The good news was announced at The Highland Council’s Finance Housing and Resources Committee by Council Vice-Convener Councillor Hamish Wood, who has led the Fairtrade campaign over the past two years.

The Highland Council has been working with local Fairtrade groups to submit an application to the Fairtrade Foundation for the Highlands to become a Fairtrade Zone.

Councillor Wood said:  “I am thrilled that the Highlands have achieved this award, which demonstrates the commitment that exists across the Highlands to promoting Fairtrade. I would also like to thank the local Fairtrade groups who do so much to promote Fairtrade in their communities. Their contribution was a key factor in being given this award. I see this as a real opportunity to promote the use of Fairtrade products across the Highlands and to encourage more people and organisations to get involved.”

Hilary Lawson, Chair of the Inverness Fairtrade Group said “this is an amazing achievement and we are all very pleased that the Highlands have been recognised in this way”.

Commenting on this award Martin Rhodes, Director of the Scottish Fairtrade Forum said: “Fairtrade Zone status for Highland brings us a material step closer to reaching our targets for the Fair Trade Nation campaign as well as being symbolically important in terms of the size and diversity of the area covered.”