This is an article from Revolver World's Discussions series - read more and join our discussions at RevolverWorld.com/Discussions.

Since the beginnings of fair trade there have been many debates about the alternativeness of it and whether it loses meaning as it becomes more mainstream. What we know as 'fair trade' mostly came out of older 'alternative trade', I suggest that since this transition the message of fair trade has partly lost meaning.

In a time when everyone is 'claiming' to be pushing at the 'ethical' edges of fair trade it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand-out as distinct. I think it is time that we reconsider what being 'ethical' and 'fair trade' means and whether it is possible.

Whilst many goods claim to be 'ethical' there are a variety of meanings and percentages of fair trade ingredients in the goods. Fair trade is not a simple state of being, there are a variety of understandings of fair trade. Fair trade is a judgment. How one perceives this, and the reason for it, influences what one expects from it. Here at Revolver World we believe in pushing at the edges of fair trade focusing on investing in the producer communities.

A number of large companies have  controversially added 'Fairtrade'  goods to their product range even though they are famous for their poor treatment of workers. This has led to the devaluing of the term 'fair trade', meaning that companies that really focus on the producers are missing out. However some would argue that this was always going to happen as fair trade became bigger.

Due to the rapid growth of fair trade products in the UK, there has been increasing protection with different companies. Fair trade is based on the idea of mutual trust and understanding, but what I have seen thus far shows a growing epidemic of mistrust, self-interest and fear of losing their client base.

With certain goods fair trade certification is very difficult, because managing the everyday actions over distance is hard. However those with emotional attachment to the producers such as Revolver World put in the hours to make sure that the conditions of the workers are fair as they can be. Fair trade is based on this connection, so is it possible to continue this in any depth within a large Trans-national Company?

Fair trade is coming of age, but with this the paradoxes of it are becoming more obvious. Whilst everyone is saying that we are pushing at the edges of fair trade, what do we expect from beyond fair trade? And where is fair trade aiming now to go?

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