[Press Release Fairtrade Belgium]

Fairtrade made further significant progress in Belgium in 2024. The market value of Fairtrade products increased by 6.4% to €351.8 million, and the impact remained noticeable: thanks to their purchases, Belgian consumers contributed nearly €4 million in Fairtrade premiums to farmers and workers worldwide.

A strong performance! Yet, there's still work to be done. Fairtrade calls on Belgian companies and the government to take real action now and realize their sustainability ambitions. For the farmers, for the climate, and their future, because investments in fair supply chains are crucial to meet the growing consumer demand for ethical products and to address resource shortages. It's time for action, then, to make fair trade the norm.

• Fairtrade will grow by 6.4% in 2024 to €351.8 million.
• The Fairtrade premium collected in Belgium amounts to almost €4 million.
• Fairtrade calls on businesses and the government to take action to finally make fair trade the norm!

Fairtrade made further progress in Belgium in 2024. The market value of Fairtrade products increased by 6.4% to €351.8 million, and the impact remained noticeable: thanks to their purchases, Belgian consumers contributed almost €4 million in Fairtrade premiums to farmers and workers worldwide. A strong performance! Yet, there is still work to be done. Fairtrade calls on Belgian businesses and the government to take real action now and achieve their sustainability ambitions. For the farmers, for the climate, and their future, because investments in fair supply chains are crucial to meet the growing consumer demand for ethical products and to address resource shortages. So it's time for action to make fair trade the norm.

Fairtrade performed well in 2024, recording modest but significant growth. This growth is primarily attributable to the strong performance of the Fairtrade cocoa sector, which has now reached an impressive 22.3% market share. Other trusted Fairtrade products, such as bananas (19.5%) and coffee (4.4%), also saw significant increases. These positive developments are resulting in a greater impact on the ground. Fairtrade measures this impact through the Fairtrade premium: an additional sum of money on top of the purchase price, earmarked for social and economic projects of farmers' and workers' organizations. In 2024, €3.94 million in premiums were generated through the Belgian market, a 2.4% increase compared to 2023. Major retail partners such as Lidl, Aldi, Delhaize, Colruyt, and Carrefour, as well as committed Belgian brands like Oxfam Fair Trade, Charles Liégeois, and La Chocolaterie Galler, made significant contributions. New players like fashion chain Bel&Bo, Hamlet, and Vandenbulcke, which joined the Fairtrade movement in 2024, also contributed to this positive trend.

These are excellent results, with Fairtrade cocoa and chocolate as the best example: "We are extremely grateful for the continued support of Belgian businesses and consumers," says Philippe Weiler, the organization's director. "We are once again seeing strong growth, particularly in chocolate, both in terms of certification and with partners who want to take their commitment to living incomes a step further. Colruyt's Boni range, for example, fits this profile." And in other product categories, Fairtrade is also being built upon to ensure better incomes for farmers and workers. For example, since last year, Lidl has been paying better wages to workers on the banana plantations from which it purchases bananas, contributing to living wages for them.

While many companies—and especially retailers—are deepening their Fairtrade commitment, even those lagging must take action now. "The Fairtrade premium in Belgium has been stuck between €3.5 and €4 million for several years. That's not enough," emphasizes Philippe Weiler. "For a real breakthrough, where Fairtrade becomes the standard, we need to accelerate together." This is particularly urgent for Fairtrade coffee—ironically, the very first Fairtrade product in Belgium, which has been available here for over 30 years. "A stronger foundation is crucial, especially for this pioneer. We need more companies to take up the challenge," says Weiler. The call is clear: broaden the base, deepen the commitment, and accelerate the transition together. Only then will fair trade evolve from the exception to the rule.

It's clear that Fairtrade ensures a better income for farmers and has a positive impact on the climate. But investing in fair trade is also pure profit for companies themselves. By choosing sustainable chocolate, coffee, and bananas now, they are sustaining their businesses and responding to the growing consumer demand for ethical products. And the government can accelerate this transition. "There are plenty of options," says Weiler. "From a reduced VAT rate for Fairtrade products to new partnerships like Beyond Chocolate. But what really makes a difference? Legislation that makes fair trade mandatory, so that the Fairtrade label eventually becomes obsolete." The time for talk is over—it's time for action!