Young fairtrade champs 'bag' design opportunity

Sunday 08 September 2019

Two young islanders are set to see their designs promoting fairtrade products printed on 250 reusable bags to be sold across the island.

Linda Correia (11) and Sari Hunt (9) will see their bags stocked in the Co-op's Grand Marché stores in St. Helier and St. Peter after winning a competition run by the supermarket during its annual Fairtrade Fortnight.

The Co-op invited children at local primary and secondary schools to submit their suggestions for a unique bag design that would help in the supermarket's fight against single-use plastics, while promoting food items from brands that ensure farmers and producers have a decent wage and working conditions.

Entries flooded in, but it was ultimately the colourful images of bananas and chocolate and bubble writing by Linda and Sari's spin on the fairtrade logo that won the judges' approval.

Pictured: The Co-op hopes the initiative will promote fairtrade, while also cracking down on plastic bag use.

"It feels amazing to win," Linda said, adding: "Fairtrade is very important because it makes sure that people who grow Fairtrade items live healthily and have good working conditions."

The Fairtrade Foundation has been running since 1992 to support workers in developing countries. The Co-op is the largest supplier of products accredited by the foundation in the Channel Islands, with over 200 brands across its shelves. 

"We are so pleased that so many young people entered this competition to show what supporting Fairtrade meant to them," Mark Cox, CEO.

"Both Linda and Sari’s designs are fantastic and we can’t wait to see the bags in stores. This competition was a great opportunity for our younger generation to not only promote Fairtrade, but to help us reduce our impact on the environment by reducing the amount of plastic we use."