_{Photos by: Scottish Fairtrade, Photographer: Media Murray}

At the end of August, Fair Trade Wales joined campaigners, producers, and advocates from across the globe at the International Fair Trade Towns Conference (IFTTC) 2025, hosted this year in Edinburgh.

The conference brought together voices from every corner of the movement – from cocoa farmers in Ghana and artisans in Peru, to young activists from Germany and South Korea. Each story reminded us why Fair Trade is more than just a label on a product: it’s about people, livelihoods, and justice.

Panels explored some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for the movement – including how to engage younger generations, how Fair Trade can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and how campaigners can influence systems and structures to achieve long-term change. There were also powerful conversations on storytelling, highlighting the importance of respecting the dignity of producers when sharing their experiences.

For us in Wales, the conference was an important reminder that our work is part of something much larger. The energy, creativity, and determination of campaigners worldwide reflected what we already know at home: communities are the backbone of the Fair Trade movement. From local grassroots campaigns to global partnerships, we all share the same vision – to build a trade system that is fairer, greener, and more sustainable.

We are grateful to Scottish Fair Trade and all the organisers who gave producers, campaigners, and young people the space to share their voices. The conversations in Edinburgh will continue to inspire our work in Wales as we move towards Fairtrade Fortnight later this year and beyond.

Together, we are stronger – and together, we can keep Fair Trade at the heart of a more just future.