Bocholt recertified as a "Fairtrade city" once again

The city of Bocholt continues to fulfil all five criteria of the "Fairtrade-Towns" campaign. The award was first presented by Fairtrade Deutschland e.V. in 2013 and Bocholt has been recertified every two years since then.

Fairtrade cities campaign locally for fair trade and promote it at local level. To date, there are 923 Fairtrade cities in Germany and over 2200 worldwide in a total of 36 countries. The Fairtrade standards are based on social, ecological and economic criteria to ensure sustainable and fair conditions with regard to production, working conditions and trade in countries of the Global South. Five requirements must be met for a city to be awarded the title "Fairtrade City".

A council resolution ensures that fair trade coffee is served at council meetings and in the mayor's office. A local steering group is responsible for coordinating Fairtrade activities, and shops, cafés and restaurants also offer Fairtrade products. Schools, clubs, churches and other organisations also use Fairtrade products and promote Fairtrade through educational campaigns. All of this is accompanied by regular reporting in the local and social media.

The Borken district has also held the Fairtrade label since 2024. In addition to the city of Bocholt, Ahaus, Borken, Gescher, Gronau, Stadtlohn and Vreden are also certified as Fairtrade cities in the district, thereby supporting the global fair trade campaign.

Ecumenical Working Group One World Bocholt e.V.

In Bocholt, the ecumenical working group "Eine Welt Bocholt e.V." is particularly committed to fair trade - around 40 volunteers are involved in the world shop on St. Georg Platz. The shop sells fair trade goods from all over the world as well as products from the Büngern-Technik workshop and Haus Hall.

The association also organises events and exhibitions and makes the premises of the world shop available as an extracurricular learning venue for Bocholt schools. Further information can be found at www.eine-welt-bocholt.de.

Fairtrade in Bocholt

The city of Bocholt supports the Weltladen by purchasing fair trade chocolate, among other things. There has also been a co-operation for events for several years. This year, the primary school tournament organised by FC Olympia Bocholt was supported in this way with 25 fairly traded footballs.

In addition, the Ecumenical Working Group, in collaboration with the Verein für Heimatpflege, is organising a total of 6,000 fair trade chocolate bars to fill the Martinmas bags for this year's Martinmas procession. The sale of five chocolates enables a tree to be planted in Mexico - a total of 1200 trees will be planted through the project.

"This campaign is a project close to Susanne Schmeing's heart and her commitment has significantly increased the number of chocolate bars provided compared to the previous year", says a delighted Barbara Böggering, Managing Director of the Weltladen. The certificate for Fairtrade recertification was accepted by the Chairman of the Board, Mr Bernd Galluschke, together with the volunteer employee, Mrs Susanne Schmeing, in the Weltladen.