Fairtrade

The University of Westminster, with the support of the University of Westminster Students’ Union, is working towards achieving Fairtrade status. The Fairtrade mark is a certification system which ensures producers in developing countries receive a fair price for their products.

What is Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is an international movement to ensure that producers in poor countries get a fair deal for their products. Products are entitled to be called Fairtrade if they meet the following criteria: a price that covers producers’ costs, include a premium to be invested in communities and enable producers to access finance and to have greater control of the trading process.

Fairtrade products address the unfairness of trade barriers, which traditionally discriminate against the poorest producers. Through the Fairtrade scheme, the world's poorest have the ability to improve their working conditions and make their lives better.

The Fairtrade mark is administered by Fairtrade International. For more information visit the Fairtrade Foundation website.

How can I help?

By choosing products with the Fairtrade mark, you make a significant change to the lives of the world's poorest farmers and workers. Fairtrade products include Fairtrade tea, coffee and chocolate. We are working with the catering staff to increase the number of Fairtrade products available to purchase. 

The process

The University of Westminster has been working hard to achieve Fairtrade status since February 2010. To become a Fairtrade university the University of Westminster and University of Westminster Students’ Union  must develop a Fairtrade policy incorporating the following five points:

1. Make Fairtrade foods available for sale in all campus shops

2. Use Fairtrade foods in all cafés/restaurants/bars on campus. Where this is not possible, commit to using Fairtrade foods in our establishments as soon as it becomes possible to do so

3. Serve Fairtrade foods (for example, coffee and tea) at all meetings hosted by the university or the Students’ Union. Serve Fairtrade food and drink in all university or college and Student Union management offices

4. Commit to campaigning for increased Fairtrade consumption on campus

5. Establish a Fairtrade Steering Group

Fairtrade Steering Group

The Fairtrade Steering Group includes representatives from the Westminster Students’ Union, student body, academia, catering contractors, local campaign groups and University departments.

Contact Organisational Development Adviser - CSR, Andy Norris, to view the group’s terms of reference, the University’s Fairtrade policy, to request minutes of past meetings or to RSVP for the quarterly Fairtrade Steering Group meetings.