Industry News: Fairer Festivals Guide Launch
Events are powerful. They bring people together, shape culture, influence behaviour and leave a footprint that reaches far beyond the day itself. In Scotland, where commitments to Fair Trade and global justice are part of our civic life, the events sector has a real opportunity to lead by example.
From conferences and corporate functions to festivals and community gatherings, every event involves countless decisions about people, products and places. Those choices can either reinforce harmful supply chains or help create a fairer and more sustainable global economy. To support organisers in making better choices, we have launched our Fairer Festivals Guide. The guide is a practical resource designed to help embed Fair Trade principles into event planning, purchasing and delivery in ways that are innovative and achievable.
What the Fairer Festivals Guide offers
The guide takes a holistic view of sustainability. Alongside environmental impact, it places equal emphasis on social and economic fairness – taking into consideration issues such as decent work, inclusion, transparency and respect for the people behind the products and services that make events possible. It supports organisers to think across the full event lifecycle, from venues and accommodation to staffing, procurement, travel and waste. Throughout, the focus is on identifying practical actions that align with Fair Trade values and can be adapted to different types and scales of events.
Why this matters for Scotland’s events and business community
Scotland is internationally recognised for its cultural events. Decisions made here influence supply chains and industry standards well beyond Scotland’s borders. The Fairer Festivals Guide is designed to support organisations at different stages of their journey. Whether planning a small meeting or delivering a large scale festival, it helps identify meaningful steps that fit different contexts and budgets.
Get involved
Scottish Fair Trade is inviting event organisers across Scotland to use the Fairer Festivals Guide as a starting point for change. By doing so, organisations become part of Scotland’s wider commitment to Fair Trade and global justice.
The guide is free to access and can be complemented by advice, consultancy and partnership opportunities for organisations that want to go further.
Download the guide here and please contact kiera@scottishfairtrade.org for further information.
