What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade ensures that better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade are applied for farmers and workers. It supports the development of farming and working communities to give them more control over their futures and protect the environment in which they live and work.
Products such as tea and coffee are given a Fairtrade Mark. This mark means that the ingredients in the product meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards. These standards include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price and an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business or community projects.
Why should a Fairtrade policy be implemented?
One of the key values outlined in the University’s Strategy 2019/20 to 2024/25 is collaboration to "work in partnership with our students, staff, alumni, institutions, communities, employers and educational providers across the globe to make a lasting difference’’.
The University has achieved Fairtrade University Status and this policy helps to support its key values, in particular promoting global citizenship, promoting social justice and supporting wider communities.
The carbon footprint of the University’s supply chains is many times greater than the footprint of our buildings. Ensuring that Fairtrade products are purchased helps to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and supports sustainable farming practices. Our commitments are outlined in the policy.
Fairtrade at London Met
London Metropolitan University achieved Fairtrade University Status in 2017. Five Fairtrade goals that the University has achieved are as follows:
Goal 1: Leadership and strategy
The University, our Students' Union and our catering team have been working together to create this policy. It was approved on 15 February 2017 and is reviewed bi-annually.
A Fairtrade Steering Group has been established with representatives from the student body, University staff and members from the catering or procurement department.
Fairtrade Steering Group 2020-21
We have Fairtrade University 2019-20 SMART Targets that include operational considerations such as procurement and catering, campaigning and influencing, and engagement and communications.
*Leadership and strategy criteria (1, 2 and 3).
Goal 2: Campaigning and influencing
We held a series of events/promotions/engagement activities during Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 and 2020 (24 February to 8 March 2020) and we have measured the impact across the events. This will be included in our Fairtrade Impact Report.
In addition, we aim to deliver an innovative campaign on Fairtrade, trade justice or ethical consumption, which will be run in partnership with students.
*Campaigning and influencing criteria (4 and 5).
Goal 3: Fairtrade products in all campus food outlets and on our e-shop
Fairtrade products including food and cotton are made available for sale in all campus food outlets and on our e-shop. You'll be able to see point-of-sale material in all relevant food outlets, highlighting Fairtrade products and providing information on the benefits of Fairtrade to growing communities.
We are committed to gradually increasing our Fairtrade products in all outlets in the University. Please see below a list of the products currently available and where you can find them.
*Products are subject to availability. Procurement, Retail and Catering Criteria (6, 7 and 8).
Goal 4: Fairtrade in research and curriculum
We have carried out a Fairtrade survey to help us target our actions for the next year.
In partnership with our Students’ Union, we are working to provide and publicise opportunities for students to investigate Fairtrade, trade justice or ethical consumption issues on or off-campus within their coursework or dissertations. This information is available on the Student Zone.
*Research and curriculum criteria (9 and 10).
Goal 5: Impact report
We have published our new Fairtrade Impact Report. Our impact report includes our actions on Fairtrade, trade justice and ethical consumption. This will refer to the tasks and progress made through the SMART action plan.
*Outcomes criteria (11).
Get in touch with us:
- if you are a student and would like to be part of our Fairtrade journey by helping us audit Fairtrade inclusion in the curriculum and by running campaigns with other students
- if you are staff and would like to be part of the University's Fairtrade Steering Group to ensure our Fairtrade Policy is implemented
- if you are a local Fairtrade campaigner from the community or a college – get in touch to collaboratively support Fairtrade
- if you are an external business and have opportunities for our students to investigate Fairtrade, trade justice or ethical consumption issues off-campus within their coursework or dissertations.