Uni aims to join Fair Trade movement

The University of Adelaide will seek accreditation as the state's first Fair Trade university.

The move follows the recommendation to the University of Adelaide's Council by the Student Fair Trade Collective, the Adelaide University Union and the University's Ecoversity program.

Making the announcement on the eve of Fair Trade Fortnight in May, the University said it would seek accreditation to be recognised as an official provider of Fairtrade certified products, such as coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar, across all of the University's campuses.

Fairtrade provides fair and stable prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

The Fairtrade label also means that farmers and workers in developing countries can strengthen their businesses and invest in projects to benefit their communities, such as education, healthcare or environmental protection.

If the University of Adelaide becomes Fair Trade accredited, it will join a global network of non-government organisations tackling poverty and empowering producers through trade.

"Increasing consumption of products on campus which are Fairtrade certified contributes to an ethical consumption that aims to help others help themselves, give them fairness and dignity at work, and essentially helps to make their business more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable," said University of Adelaide student Bec Taylor from the Student Fair Trade Collective.

"It's fantastic that we have the University's support in this endeavour. It shows that they are willing to work with students on something that will make a positive change to people's lives elsewhere. It shows that the University is committed to partaking in ethical and sustainable purchasing."

The University's Vice President (Services and Resources), Paul Duldig, said: "To become a Fair Trade University, we need to satisfy a range of minimum requirements as determined by the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand. We are well positioned already, with Fairtrade products used widely on campus by our retail outlets, in our offices and at meetings.

"Seeking accreditation to become a Fair Trade University is the culmination of a lot of hard work by our students. It demonstrates how students and the University are working together to achieve positive change."

For more information about Fair Trade, go to: www.fta.org.au