A new Fairtrade-themed tram will hit the tracks in Melbourne on Tuesday 26 October and Fairtrade is hoping locals will see its beautiful blue design and be reminded of the good that is happening in the world.

Fairtrade Australia New Zealand (ANZ) CEO, Molly Harriss Olson, said she hoped the new tram would bring some brightness to the city as it emerged from this difficult lockdown period.

“It’s been a really challenging time. I hope this gorgeous tram can serve as a reminder that there are many organisations just like Fairtrade that have been working throughout the pandemic to make a big difference in the world,” she says.

The tram, which will travel route 48 and 109 until 11 January 2022, is part of the Yarra Trams Community Partnership program in which Yarra Trams offers community partners in-kind advertising worth more than $1 million a year. The program’s theme for 2021 is ‘a more sustainable Melbourne’ and focusses on organisations contributing to a more sustainable Melbourne, Australia, and world.

Ms Harriss Olson is also hoping the tram will be part of a bigger movement in the city where people buy a Fairtrade product to gift to someone who might be struggling.

“Buying and gifting a Fairtrade product brings double the joy. Firstly, when something like flowers, ice-cream or chocolate has the Fairtrade Mark, then you know that your purchase has made a positive impact on the person who produced it – they were paid a fair price and supported to look after their environment.

“And then, giving that wonderful product to someone locally will definitely make their day better. Extra bonus is that you’ll feel great too!”

“So, for the next four months while this tram traverses Melbourne, please think about celebrating the good by buying Fairtrade products and sharing them with family and friends.”

Victorian Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said the Fairtrade tram was promoting an important message of how people can make a difference.

“The pandemic has provided a stark reminder of how globally interconnected we are and this bright blue Fairtrade tram is a reminder that we can make a positive impact to the welfare of people and the environment in Victoria as well as other parts of the world through the product choices we make locally.”

Yarra Trams’ Chief Executive Julien Dehornoy celebrated the tram’s inclusion on the network saying:

“Over the past few years Yarra Trams has been proud to support organisations doing important community-focussed work. We do this because by promoting a worthy organisation such as Fairtrade we can support their deep and meaningful impact on producers, farmers, and tradespeople across the world.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Fairtrade’s brilliant blue tram out on the network!”

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Molly Harriss Olson, Fairtrade ANZ CEO, contact Virginia Jones.

Ph 61 0439 430 033 or virginia@fairtrade.com.au

Fun for kids!

Join in the fun with kids on the Fairtrade Tram webpage with education resources and a colour-in tram.

About Yarra Trams:

Yarra Trams operates the world’s largest tram network with 250kms of double track, more than 480 trams, 1,680 stops and 5,000+ services a day serving 200+ million trips a year. Melbourne’s trams are 100% offset by solar energy, and tram travel saves ~$97 million in environmental damage annually compared to driving through reduced emissions.

Yarra Trams is proudly operated by Keolis Downer, the largest private provider of multimodal public transport in Australia. Our guiding principle is to ‘think like a passenger’. We focus on delivering safe, reliable, clean, and easy-to-use services, and we are committed to increasing the environmental, social, and economic contribution that Melbourne’s tram network makes to the city.