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Support Fairtrade

Fairtrade sets social, economic and environmental standards for both companies and the farmers and workers who grow the food we love.

Fairtrade

10 January 2023

Why is Fairtrade important?


Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers. It’s about supporting the development of thriving farming and worker communities that have more control over their futures and protecting the environment in which they live and work.

Fairtrade ingredients are produced by small-scale farming co-operatives or plantations that meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards.

When you buy products with the FAIRTRADE Mark, you support farmers and workers in improving their lives and their communities. If you are wondering how:

  • Fairtrade is the only certification scheme that has a minimum safety net price providing essential economic stability for workers;
  • The Fairtrade Premium delivers an extra payment directly to farmers and workers offering them the ability to build and develop projects for the future;
  • Fairtrade Standards require farmers and workers to be organised, inclusive, democratic and accountable, thus providing the strength to negotiate and protect a fairer deal.

Fairtrade labels


  • Products made entirely with 100% Fairtrade ingredients can use the Fairtrade mark (on the left).
  • Products which use some Fairtrade ingredients can display the ingredient-specific Fairtrade mark (logo on the right - to suggest they use Fairtrade cocoa).

Fairtrade Labels with the logo

Fairtrade and environmental sustainability


Fairtrade products have a role to play in the Climate Crisis and there are many ways this trade is tackling the issues:

  • Avoiding Emissions - The Fairtrade Standards aim to minimise the emissions produced in Fairtrade products through the application of lower-impact farming techniques.
  • Adaptation - The impacts of the Climate Crisis are already hitting the Global South: by providing higher incomes, training and support, farmers and workers are better able to adapt to these changes and save for unforeseen setbacks on their holdings.
  • Advocacy - Campaigning for Fairtrade, in countries like the UK, ensures the voices of the workers and their calls to action are heard by policy-makers

How can you support Fairtrade at UCL?


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Buy Fairtrade

Where possible and feasible, buy products with the Fairtrade Mark.

There are over 6,000 products from coffee and tea to fresh-cut flowers and even gold, that are supported by the Fairtrade Foundation. 

> More on buying Fairtrade


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Join the Sustainability Food Working Group

Sustainable UCL has established the UCL Sustainable Food Working Group, consisting of representatives from UCL caterers, the Sustainability Team, the Students' Union UCL and Student Societies. The group leads on sustainable food projects, including Fairtrade promotion.

To find out more about how to get involved email Sustainable UCL's Sustainability Manager, Evan Landy at e.landy@ucl.ac.uk


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Host an Event

There are many activities and events you could host to raise awareness around Fairtrade. Visit the Fairtrade Foundation's website for inspiration and get in touch with the Sustainable UCL Team to let us know, or for further advice.

> Fairtrade event inspiration

Share your Fairtrade experiences


Help us understand people at UCL's perceptions of Fairtrade. 

Fill out our survey →