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Fair Trade

York St John was awarded Fairtrade University Status by the Fairtrade Foundation in March 2009. This means that we are committed to making Fairtrade products available on campus and raising awareness of Fairtrade.

To become a Fairtrade University, York St John achieved the following 5 goals (in accordance with Fairtrade guidelines):

  1. The Students' Union and the University authorities both created a Fairtrade policy incorporating these five goals.
  2. Fairtrade foods have been made available for sale in all campus shops. Fairtrade foods are used in all cafés/restaurants/bars on campus. Where this is not possible, there is a commitment to begin to use Fairtrade foods in these establishments as soon as it becomes possible to do so.
  3. Fairtrade foods (for example, coffee and tea) are served at all meetings hosted by the University and the SU, and are served in all University and SU management offices.
  4. There is a commitment to campaign for increased Fairtrade consumption on campus.
  5. A Fairtrade Steering Group has been set up.

What is Fairtrade?Fair Trade Logo

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. 

 


Why buy Fairtrade?

Buying products with the FAIRTRADE Mark guarantees:

  • farmers' organisations a fair and stable price for their products
  • extra income for farmers and plantation workers to improve their lives
  • greater respect for the environment
  • smaller farmers a stronger position in world markets
  • a closer link between consumer and producer
 

As well as guaranteeing a fair price for the farmers, the FAIRTRADE Mark also means an additional Fairtrade premium is invested in community development projects chosen by farmers and workers. Producers decide how to invest this additional money in their local community - on education, clean water supplies, health care or other vital facilities.



 

Find out more