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      Manufacture and materials processing: Fairtrade

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain the importance of Fairtrade in developing countries.

      Key learning points

      1. Decisions for the manufacture and materials processing stage have the potential to reduce the environmental impact.
      2. Fairtrade is a global movement, ensuring better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms for farmers/workers.

      Keywords

      • Fairtrade - a system that ensures farmers and workers receive fair prices, decent working conditions, and support for community development through trade

      • Living income - the amount of money that is needed for a household to have a decent standard of living

      • Fairtrade price - minimum price that must be paid to producers (like farmers) for their goods when sold under Fairtrade standards

      • Fairtrade premium - investment for the community to help build stronger, healthier communities

      Common misconception

      Fairtrade is just the label on bananas.

      Fairtrade is a system that ensures farmers and workers receive fair prices, decent working conditions and support for sustainable community development through trade.

      Teacher tip

      A great way to start this lesson is to bring in a selection of chocolate, some being Fairtrade and others that are not. Ask them to vote for their favourite chocolate and a reason why... did anyone say Fairtrade?

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What does this image represent?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: the circular economy, circular economy

      Q2.
      At which stage of the circular economy does the Ellen MacArthur Foundation state that design decisions influence 80% of a product's environmental impact?

      Correct answer: design/redesign
      manufacture and materials processing
      transportation
      materials processing
      extraction

      Q3.
      What are carbon emissions?

      amount of carbon in fossil fuels
      process of planting trees to absorb carbon
      Correct answer: volume of carbon dioxide released into atmosphere contributing to global warming
      carbon found naturally in plants and animals

      Q4.
      Why do some people choose to buy Fairtrade products?

      they are always the cheapest
      they look nicer
      Correct answer: it helps support fair wages and better lives for workers
      they are made in the UK

      Q5.
      What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) used for?

      to calculate how long a product will last before it breaks
      Correct answer: to measure the environmental impact of a product from raw material to disposal
      to decide how attractive a product looks to customers
      to work out the cost of manufacturing a product

      Q6.
      In Design & Technology, what does LCA stand for?

      Linear Cost Analysis
      Correct answer: Life Cycle Assessment
      Local Carbon Analysis
      Long term Component Appraisal

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the term to the definition:

      Correct Answer:Fairtrade price,minimum price that must be paid to producers for their goods

      minimum price that must be paid to producers for their goods

      Correct Answer:Fairtrade premium,investment for the community to help build stronger communities

      investment for the community to help build stronger communities

      Correct Answer:living income,amount of money needed for a decent standard of living

      amount of money needed for a decent standard of living

      Q2.
      There are approximately __________ products that carry the Fairtrade mark in the UK.

      2500
      Correct answer: 4500
      3000
      3500

      Q3.
      The missing stage of the circular economy is manufacture and __________ processing:

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: materials

      Q4.
      Order the steps of cocoa bean production.

      1 - Cocoa beans grow inside pods on trees.
      2 - The pods are collected and opened.
      3 - Cocoa beans are removed from the pod.
      4 - Banana leaves are collected and laid out.
      5 - Cocoa beans are spread onto banana leaves.
      6 - Cocoa beans are covered with banana leaves and left to dry in the sun.
      7 - Beans ferment and dry out.

      Q5.
      In the UK alone the chocolate business is worth over £__________ billion.

      1
      2
      Correct answer: 4
      10

      Q6.
      Fairtrade is a system that ensures:

      Correct answer: farmers and workers receive fair prices
      long holidays
      Correct answer: support is provided for community development
      Correct answer: decent working conditions
      that all crops grow equally

      To help you plan your 10 design and technology lesson on: Manufacture and materials processing: Fairtrade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...