Did you know that BU is one of only three 3-star Fairtrade Universities in the country? Join us during Fairtrade Week to celebrate this and support Fairtrade by getting involved with a variety of events, from film screenings to cooking lessons
What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade works with farmers and workers so they can improve their living standards, invest in their communities and businesses, and protect our shared environment. For farmers and workers, Fairtrade means workers’ rights, safer working conditions and fairer pay. For shoppers it means high quality, ethically produced products.
What is Fairtrade Week?
The purpose of our Fairtrade Week is to raise awareness of Fairtrade and ethical trade, and to promote certified products. This year, we will be highlighting the key message of the need to de-colonise both trade and the curriculum, by empowering students and staff to reflect on the current system of global trade through a producer lens.
What can I do?
- Make your uni kitchen Fairtrade! As a first step, commit to stocking only Fairtrade tea and coffee in your uni kitchen.
- Buy Fairtrade! Did you know that as well as your favourites, you can also buy Fairtrade versions of toffee, deodorant, wine, spices, gold and much more? This page lists Fairtrade brands you can buy in the UK (at most supermarkets)
- Learn about Fairtrade! Fairtrade plays a very important role in protecting farmers financially and from climate change impacts and supporting their communities. You can find out more about Fairtrade on Fairtrade Foundation's website.
Fairtrade Week events:
Fairtrade Ethical Art Exhibition – Monday 26 February – Friday 1 March – Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) North Building West Entrance Ground to First Floor staircase
Open to all BU and AUB students and staff, come and view AUB’s ethical, sustainable, Fairtrade, AUB Art Exhibition. Expect a fabulous display of AUB artwork, and learn about Fairtrade and Sustainability.
Fairtrade Film Screening: ‘The True Cost’ - Monday 26 February – 2-3pm – K101
Open to all staff and students at BU and AUB, join us for a free viewing of ‘The True Cost’: a documentary focused on fast fashion. This documentary film examines the garment industry—specifically the fast fashion business and links it to consumerism, globalization, capitalism, structural poverty, and oppression. There will also be free Fairtrade Tea and Coffee donated by Chartwells, and Tony’s Chocolonely’s chocolate to nibble on! Register for your free Eventbrite ticket.
Fairtrade Short Films – Monday 26 February – 1-2pm – AUB North Building A25 Lecture Theatre
Open to all BU and AUB students and staff - Pop in at your convenience and see the great things Fairtrade are doing!
Embedding Fairtrade into Research and Education - Tuesday 27 February – 2-3:30pm – F305
Join us for a panel discussion dedicated to BU academics with an interest in sustainability, to explore connections with Fairtrade through collaboration with the Fairtrade Foundation.
- Elena Fernandez-Lee (Education Campaigning Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation) will talk about the Fairtrade University scheme
- Izzy Chalk (BU Sustainability Support Officer) will talk about BU's journey to becoming accredited as a 3-star Fairtrade university
- Dr Roberta Discetti (BU Fairtrade academic representative) will share some research-informed practices related to Fairtrade engagement, including NGO/academics cooperation, student co-creation, and multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Fair-Trade International Symposium.
The panel discussion will be followed by an optional 30-minute networking session. If you are interested in attending and you are a member of BU or AUB, please contact [email protected]
Embedding Fairtrade into your Education (BUBS students only) - Wednesday 28 February – 3:30-4pm – D206
Come along to this session to learn all about what Fairtrade is, why it is so important, and what we do at BU to support Fairtrade. You can also expect to find out what you can do as a student to support Fairtrade, and how you might embed the concept of Fairtrade and ethical trade into your future career. There will also be plenty of free samples of Tony’s Chocolonely’s chocolates to munch on while you learn! If you are interested in attending and you are a student in the Bournemouth University Business School, please contact [email protected]
Fairtrade Social Kitchen - Wednesday 28 February – 4:15pm – Fusion Kitchens
Open to BU and AUB students, join a free cooking lesson and learn some top tips from our Head Chef John about using Fairtrade ingredients for a mouth-watering meal!
Fairtrade theme SUBU Breakfast Club - Thursday 29 February – Lansdowne Campus
Want a free hot meal? Join our Fairtrade themed Community Kitchen Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club is open to both students and staff and is run on a first come, first served basis.
Free Fruit Fairtrade Friday - Friday 1 March - BGB, Fusion Building and AUB shop
Help yourself to some free Fairtrade Fruit at our outlets at Fusion Building, Bournemouth Gateway Building and the AUB shop. While stocks last.
