Fair Trade Campus

	The University of British Columbia became the first Fair Trade Campus in Canada in January 2011. Pictured above (left to right) are Andrew Young, Sara Mohammed Pour, and Kaan Williams, leaders in UBC's Fair Trade Campus community, accepting the designation for the university. Photo courtesy of Engineers Without Borders.

Across the country, Canadian universities and colleges are leaders in developing new ideas and making old ideas better. The Fair Trade Campus program is designed to acknowledge institutions that have shown leadership in this regard through their support of Fair Trade.

Fair Trade Campus isn't a certification (only products and producers can be Fairtrade certified), rather, it's a status that recognizes the leadership of Canadian colleges and universities.

How Does It Work?

Any college or university can be designated a Fair Trade Campus once it has met a series of standards that fall within three distinct categories:

Availability standards focus on the Fair Trade products that can be found on campus. Some are very specific and measurable, setting clear targets for particular products, whereas others are more open and challenge the university push beyond the more specific standards.

One important thing to know is that the availability standards only apply to products purchased by the university/college and the students' association. They don't apply to independent businesses (unless they've been hired to provide catering services), individual departments, student clubs, etc.

	The Fair Trade Campus Action Guide is loaded with information to help any campus make the grade.

The reason for this is simple. By seeking Fair Trade Campus status, a university or college is making a commitment to support Fair Trade and, just like with us, this begins with changing our own behaviours. 

Visibility criteria are alll about ideas - introducing people to the concept of Fair Trade, and providing them with opportunities to find it, learn about it, and discuss it. As with the availability standards, the visibility criteria have both specific targets and more open-ended requirements to allow each campus to express its own creativity.

Committee requirements are simply about keeping the momentum going. They formally bring together members of a Fair Trade Campus community to ensure the standards continue to be met and, more importantly, so each Fair Trade Campus can decide how they will go beyond them.

How To Apply?

Once a college or university has met the standards, a representatve of the newly formed committee need only contact us, formally apply, and provide supporting documentation.

To get the ball rolling, or just to ask questions, you can contact us at communicationsfairtrade [dot] ca.