The linkages between trade and environment are complex and numerous. However, they can be put into three broad categories. First in the absence of proper pricing, trade can lead to environmental degradation. This is known as the “magnifier effect”. Second, trade can put pressure on environmental standards – the “ competitiveness effect” of trade. A demand for better environmental performance may arise due to foreign purchasers of multinationals with direct investments.
Conversely, the pollution haven effect can create downward pressure on standards. Thirdly, closed or protected markets may impair sustainable development by protecting inefficient and polluting domestic industries and by denying exporters the opportunity to sell into the protected market. The following selection provides a listing of the top ten readings in the area of Trade and Environment, as recommended by experts in the field. The listing is focused on publications which give an effective grounding in the central issues and which are accessible for readers previously unfamiliar with the subject.
Environmental benefits can be summarized:

• Small farmers use organic methods, which are more environmentally friendly and sustainable;
• Small farmers disperse their plants throughout a region, a more environmentally friendly method;
• Small farmers plant shade grown coffee which is key to protecting certain species of birds;
• The existence of small farmers helps prevent the clear-cutting of larger estates.

In today’s globalized world traditional ethical rules are not enough. Environmental degradation and exploitation of others is an unfortunate fact of life, and you could be adding to this without even realising it! For example, by buying non-fair trade coffee you may be supporting deforestation and poor working conditions. Through car driving or travelling by plane, you are adding to climate change through the emissions of harmful gases. By thinking about what impact you may be having to the environment and others you can start to limit the damage caused. This doesn’t mean becoming a tree hugging, nut-and-berry eating hippy! There are ethical alternatives to nearly all of the most damaging products. By using these ethical alternatives you can help people and the environment.
Fair-traded products, which are also frequently produced in ecological ways, are about to outgrow the muesli image of products formerly confined to a niche of the market and to develop into goods which are increasingly finding their way into the shelves of the large supermarkets and department stores. We welcome the fact that they reach more and more groups of prospective buyers because fair-traded and environment-friendly products are important building stones of sustainable patterns of consumption which do not push the poorest of the poor further to the edge socially and ecologically but help them to build up a decent and humane existence.

Examples of fair trade products are coffee and bananas.

Protecting the environment
Large amounts of herbicides and pesticides are commonly sprayed on to sugar cane crops. Burning and processing of sugar crops can also cause serious pollution of the ground, waterways and the air.
On fair trade farms, producers must adhere to strict standards regarding the use and handling of pesticides, the protection of natural waters, virgin forest and other ecosystem of high ecological value, and the management of erosion and waste.

The Conclusion
Commit to purchasing and drinking only fairly traded coffee or other foods and begin the cycle of positive effects in your life, the lives of others and the world around you!