Daisan Sekai Shop (Third World Shop) started its fair trade business in 1986 with the aim of solving poverty and the various world problems it brings by creating work. According to its website, after building experience in fair trade it has expanded into "community trade," which aims to solve problems through the strength of local communities, in Japan and abroad.
It handles foods made with fair trade or organic ingredients and methods, and handicrafts that value traditional crafts and local hand-making cultures. The website includes pages introducing the producers behind products, pages for learning about fair trade and community trade, and a page on its SDGs efforts.
Products are sold through an official online store, retailers across Japan and wholesale for businesses. The site also introduces collaboration with local organizations, such as products whose packaging uses artwork by people with disabilities at a welfare facility and studio.
Key points
- Has pursued fair trade since 1986 with the idea of tackling poverty by creating work
- Publishes pages introducing producers and explaining fair trade alongside its products
- Has expanded from fair trade to community trade, drawing on the strength of local communities in Japan and abroad
Why this organization's work stands out
Fair trade, which connects shoppers with producers in distant countries and local handcraft traditions, is one accessible way to take part in international cooperation. As an initiative that has continued since 1986, Daisan Sekai Shop offers clues for understanding the background of fair trade.
Its broadening to "community trade," which looks at local issues at home as well as abroad, is also a useful reference for thinking about the future of international cooperation. Please note that this article introduces its fair trade business and is not an advertisement for its products.
Editor's comment
Thinking that our everyday shopping connects to someone's work and livelihood might make choosing what to buy a little more enjoyable.
Introductions of producers and explanations of fair trade can be read on the official website. Please take a look.