Some unwanted items can help disadvantaged communities and small co-operatives in Africa make a sustainable living. We are collecting sewing/knitting machines, and hand tools of any type on behalf of CART (Christian African Relief Trust) in Lockwood. Their volunteers inspect them, convert some of them to be hand-driven, pack into containers and ship to their trusted partners all over Africa. cartyorkshire.co.uk
We are also collecting guitars, ukuleles, recorders and keyboards for Anno’s Africa who work with children and young people living in slum conditions in Kenya and Malawi. They offer an art-based education and training in performance arts. annosafrica.org.uk
We are putting pressure on our suppliers to reduce their packaging, use recycled materials, and identify any plastics used so we can segregate them for recycling. We use no plastics in our own packaging.
We would like to hear from other businesses/organisations/individuals who are able to work with us to scale up the recycling in our area. At Fair Trader we have our own recycling centre for a range of items; this now includes beauty products packaging and bottles. For everything else HoTT (hott.org.uk)has produced an excellent directory of re-cycling collection points in our area.
Fair Trader also looks out for and stocks items made from recycled/upcycled materials, such as bird tables, greetings cards and re-useable cups.
Thank you. Many of us working together can make a difference."
Kathryn Sheard, Fair Trader