Suche
Mein Konto
Art project in the town hall: Fair trade made tangible in Tuttlingen!
A work of art about fair trade, designed by 100 children, is on display in the Tuttlingen town hall. Visible until September 11th.
Art project in the town hall: Fair trade made tangible in Tuttlingen!
In the city of Tuttlingen, an exciting art project by the ZEBRA youth art school is in full swing and is dedicated to the important topic of fair trade. Under the title “The Fair Trade Chess Game”, the larger-than-life cardboard figures impressively show the various actors involved in the production of everyday products. You can see, among other things, dark-skinned farmers, men wearing suits, supermarket salespeople and children with chocolate cream bread. The exhibition, which can be visited in the town hall foyer until July 11th, was launched by the project managers Sabine Krusche and Petra Metzger and thrilled around 100 children between the ages of 6 and 14.
The project was started two months ago and it clearly illustrates the complex global supply chains that lie behind our everyday food. Among other things, the history of a chocolate cream and the path of a pink cuddly toy are covered. The works of art were presented during Fair Week and now enjoy a place in the annual exhibition, which runs until September 11th. Something cool for the whole family!
The path of chocolate
But how does chocolate actually get to Germany? According to oekolandbau.de, small farmers can become part of the Fairtrade network. They conclude contracts with trading organizations such as GEPA, which ensure a guaranteed share of the proceeds from their products. Such fair conditions not only create good working conditions, but also long-term planning security for farmers, who often have to work in countries with adverse conditions.
A look at the numbers shows: Sales of Fairtrade products in Germany amounted to around 2.9 billion euros in 2024, which represents an increase of over 12 percent. Nevertheless, it can be noted that the number of Germans who prefer to buy fair products has fallen to around 15.97 million. Whether this is due to rising prices or the perception of Fairtrade remains to be seen.
Fair is better
Another important aspect in connection with Fairtrade is the absence of child labor and forced labor, which is particularly important for the textile industry. Clothing and products are often produced in countries where working conditions are anything but fair. The Fairtrade seal guarantees that such defects are taken into account during production. Products with these seals create awareness of minimum social standards and promote the business well-being of small farmers in developing countries.
The art project in Tuttlingen is a strong reminder that each of us can make a difference by purchasing everyday products. There is “something going on” in the perception of supply chains – and a box of chocolate opens up a whole world of stories in which people work for a fair wage. A little awareness is good for all of us!
Although the proportion of buyers paying attention to Fairtrade audits and organic quality has fallen slightly over the past year, Fairtrade still remains a significant part of German trade and actively supports small farmers worldwide. In this sense, the exhibition in Tuttlingen can be seen as an invitation to deal with these topics and make conscious purchasing decisions.