Fair trade in focus: Clara Herrmann and Martin Hikel on Maybachufer

Fair trade in focus: Clara Herrmann and Martin Hikel on Maybachufer

September 16, 2025 is all about fair trade. Clara Herrmann, the district mayor of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and Martin Hikel, district mayor of Neukölln, took the opportunity to come into direct contact with citizens at the fair trade stand at the Maybachufermarkt. Over a fair trade coffee, which comes from the “Angelique's Finest” coffee variety and is produced exclusively by women's cooperatives in Rwanda, they exchange ideas about the meaning and background of fair trade.

Fair Week 2025 is Germany's largest fair trade campaign week and runs until September 26th. Under the motto “Act fairly – experience diversity!” There are more than 1,600 campaigns taking place nationwide that aim to attract interested parties and inform them about the benefits of fair trade. The coffee that the two mayors enjoy not only symbolizes the taste benefits of fair products, but also stands for the financial independence and decision-making power of coffee farmers in the producing countries.

Sustainability and fairness are the focus

Martin Hikel emphasizes how important fair trade is for the dignity, security and future prospects of producers. Neukölln has established itself as a FairTrade district and actively promotes sustainable and fair consumption.
This also includes measures to promote fair trade products in public institutions and at district events in order to increase awareness of sustainable trading practices.

A central goal of Fair Week is to make the diversity of fair trade tangible and to raise awareness of current political and ecological challenges. Fair trade combines social justice and the protection of ecological diversity. These include topics such as the sustainable cultivation of raw materials, the protection of biological diversity and the role of small farmers in global food security. These aspects are addressed through various actions and events during the Fair Week, as explained on the Faire Week 2025 website.

Role of consumers

Fair trade also has an important role that goes beyond pure product selection. According to information from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), it is aimed at creating more fairness in international trade. It improves trading conditions and secures social rights for disadvantaged producers in developing countries. Through conscious purchasing decisions, consumers can significantly improve the living and working conditions of these producers and thus support the idea of ​​a fairer trading order.

This year there will be another FairLauf in Neukölln, a further step to strengthen local initiatives and networks that are committed to fair trade. The city relies on workshops, markets and projects to promote interest in fair trade products and to actively involve citizens. The Fair Week therefore offers an important platform to raise awareness of fair trade and to make its diversity tangible.