What Are WFTO's 10 Principles of Fair Trade?

WFTO's 10 Principles of Fair Trade are the standards the World Fair Trade Organization uses to verify whether an enterprise fully practises fair trade. They matter because WFTO membership is not open to any business that simply claims to be ethical: wfto.com states that WFTO is "the global community and verifier of enterprises that fully practise our 10 Fair Trade Principles." If you want to understand what WFTO stands for, judge whether a member enterprise is credible, or align your own business with fair trade, these principles are the reference point.

What the 10 Principles are for

The principles serve three practical purposes:

• Verification. They are the criteria behind WFTO's verified member status, so they distinguish verified Fair Trade Enterprises from ordinary businesses using fair trade language.
• A holistic standard. WFTO describes Fair Trade Enterprises as taking "a holistic approach that extends beyond profit maximisation," recognising that social, environmental and economic factors "are interconnected and must be addressed collectively."
• A public tool. wfto.com offers the principles as a downloadable document and invites organisations to contact WFTO if they want to use the 10 Principles of Fair Trade in media, publications or on a website.

How the principles fit into WFTO's wider work

The principles are one part of a larger structure on wfto.com:

WFTO describes itself as an association of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working across sectors "from food to fashion, from house ware to tourism, from toys to digital services, globally." The principles are what hold that network to a common standard.

Why the principles matter

WFTO's own framing explains the stakes. It argues the current economic system is "extractivist," hindering equitable distribution of wealth, perpetuating social and economic inequality, and speeding environmental degradation, while businesses prioritise short-term profit over long-term sustainability.

Against that backdrop, WFTO makes several claims about fair trade that shape how the principles should be read:

• Fair trade is not charity.
• Fair trade is economically viable.
• Fair trade business models need to happen globally.
• WFTO is for local economies.
• WFTO is aligned with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

In other words, the principles are not a charitable add-on. They describe a business model intended to be economically viable while distributing value more equitably.

How to use the principles

1. Read the full list. Download the 10 Fair Trade Principles from wfto.com rather than relying on summaries, since verification depends on the complete set.
2. Check a business against them. Use the Verified Member Search on wfto.com to find enterprises that WFTO has verified as fully practising the principles.
3. Reuse them correctly. If you want to publish or display the principles, wfto.com asks you to contact WFTO for permission for media, publication or website use.
4. Consider membership. Businesses that fully practise the principles can apply through the "Become a Verified Member" route on wfto.com; buyers can use the "Become a First Buyer" option.

Common points of confusion

• "Fair trade" vs. WFTO verification. Many businesses use fair trade language; WFTO verification specifically means an enterprise fully practises all 10 principles.
• Principles vs. labels. The principles are the underlying standard; the Product & First Buyer Labels are a separate part of wfto.com's offering.
• Charity framing. WFTO explicitly states fair trade is not charity, so the principles should be read as business requirements, not donations or aid.

For the authoritative wording of each principle, download the document from wfto.com or contact WFTO directly about reuse.