The University is taking part in Fairtrade Fortnight and all students and staff are encouraged to do their bit.
Date: 27 February 2017
London Metropolitan University is taking part in Fairtrade Fortnight from 27 February – 10 March.
Fairtrade Fortnight is a fortnight when campaigners, businesses, schools and places of worship show their support for the farmers and workers who grow food for the UK in developing countries.
Tunde Toki, Students’ Union (SU) representative for the Guildhall School of Business and Law, said: “Becoming a Fairtrade University means joining a worldwide movement working to ensure that producers in poor countries get a fair deal.
“This means a fair price for their goods that covers the cost of production and guarantees a sustainable living and long-term contracts which provide real security; and, for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.”
London Met will be applying for the Fairtrade University status which is awarded to universities who have made a commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade. To help commit to the Fairtrade status, Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar will be served at all University meetings. All merchandise used by the Students’ Union will be Fairtrade and the University will explore whether all merchandise can be Fairtrade.
Campaigns and events will be held by the Students’ Union and the sustainability team to raise awareness of Fairtrade and link into subject teaching where appropriate.
As part of Green Week, there will be a Fairtrade wine tasting session held on 10 March in the Rocket at the Holloway campus at 5pm.
A full list of Green Week events can be found on the sustainability page.
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.
One of the key values outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020 is effective citizenship. Achieving Fairtrade status for the University will help to support this key value, in particular promoting global citizenship, promoting social justice and supporting wider communities.
The policy has been instigated by the SU with support of the sustainability team. Implementation of the policy will be undertaken by the SU, catering team and sustainability team.
