Fairtrade at HGU

To be certified as a Fairtrade University, certain criteria must be met:

1. University resolution: The central bodies of the University administration and the student body – in our case, the Senate and the Student Parliament – pass a joint resolution to apply for the certification.
2. Steering group: The essence of the certification is collaborative action. To this end, the University has formed a group comprising students and staff to plan and coordinate Fair Trade activities on campus: the Fairtrade Steering Group.
3. Products at events: Fairtrade drinks and snacks are served at events and internal meetings.
4. Products in shops and catering outlets: Fairtrade coffee, tea and snacks are available in our canteen. In addition, a hoodie made from certified cotton was sold to mark the Research Institute’s 150th anniversary.
5. Media and Public Relations: Awareness-raising events are held on campus at least twice a term. These may include, for example, workshops or themed film or games evenings.

The Fairtrade Universities campaign was recognised as a Sustainability Project of 2019 by the Regional Network for Sustainability Strategies (RENN) in cooperation with the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE). Fairtrade Universities promote awareness and engagement amongst University stakeholders in Fair Trade – combined with the implementation of specific projects on campus. The campaign offers colleges and universities:

• Induction and further training in fair trade, covering its social, environmental, cultural and economic aspects
• Networking, cooperation and partnerships – nationally and internationally, including with Fairtrade Universities in other countries
• A framework for the sustainability discourse and concrete options for action for the administration, catering, commercial services and the student body
• A platform for student initiatives, projects and campaigns
• Synergy effects through the interplay of practice, teaching and research
• A starting point for establishing a transdisciplinary dialogue between higher education institutions, business and society on sustainable development

(Source: www.fairtrade-universities.de)

[Translate to English:]

Anyone looking into the topic of fair trade should pay attention to how providers actually define fair trade. This encompasses far more than just financial aspects. The World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) has defined 10 principles of fair trade:

1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
2. Transparency and accountability
3. Fair trading practices
4. Fair payment
5. No exploitative child labour, no forced labour
6. Commitment to non-discrimination, gender equality, the economic empowerment of women and freedom of association
7. Ensuring good working conditions
8. Promoting training and further education
9. Promoting Fair Trade
10. Protecting the environment

Unlike ‘organic’, the term ‘fair’ is not legally protected. Any company can use it in its communications as it sees fit; however, its use is generally accompanied by compliance with various minimum social and environmental standards in production and marketing. There are, however, recognised labels and marks that operate in accordance with internationally defined Fair Trade principles.

And is a product bearing these labels really 100 per cent fair? Recognised labels operate according to the ‘all that can be fair must be fair’ rule. If a product consists of just one raw material, that material must always be 100 per cent fair trade. However, food such as chocolate or biscuits are composite products, so the situation is somewhat different. As not all ingredients are available through Fair Trade, the following applies to such products: all components of the product that are available through Fair Trade must come from Fair Trade sources. As a result, the proportion of Fair Trade ingredients is usually over 50 per cent, and in some cases 100 per cent. According to Fairtrade standards, however, this proportion must be at least 20 per cent.

With a total of around 1,000 labels and marks on food packaging alone in Germany, consumers can quickly lose track of them all. In particular, the term ‘fair’ and its use on labels are not clearly regulated. It is therefore important for consumers to take a closer look at the individual labels: Are there transparent and verifiable criteria, and is compliance with them regularly monitored? The LABEL-ONLINE portal, run by the association Die VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE e. V., provides an overview and offers a search function for labels. On LABEL-ONLINE, labels are assessed according to a standardised matrix. The assessment examines, for example, the claims made by the labels, how independently they are awarded, what checks are in place, and how transparent this process is for consumers. The portal is funded by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection.