GEPA - The Fair Trade Company

Gepa: A Story of Success in Fair Trade

"Jute instead of plastic." This is the slogan that made the Gepa well known. In May of 1975, the two big ecclesiastical denominations in Germany founded the "society for the promotion of partnerships with the Third World" (gepa) in Wuppertal, Germany. Since then the gepa has developed into the largest fair trade organization in Europe with a turnover of more than 36 million Euros for the financial year 2003/2004. The gepa is also a member of an international fair trade network that is committed to the observance of binding principles like fair prices, long-term trade relations, consulting on developing products and organic farming. In this manner the gepa improves the living conditions of people in the South in accordance with the Agenda 21 program established by the UN economic, social and ecological sustainability.

More than 100,000 volunteers work in Third World shops and action groups. In addition, a large number of consumers has been acknowledging the high quality work of the gepa's trade partners by buying Fair Trade products. The gepa transfers about 15 Million US dollars annually for food products such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, or crafted products such as footballs, baskets or stainless steel kitchen tools for the approximately 150 farm cooperatives and socially committed private corporations in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

In addition to Third World shops and action groups, gepa products are also available in many supermarkets, natural food shops, company canteens and education centers throughout Germany. You can order coffee, tea, chocolate or organically grown wine directly at www.gepa.de.