Fairtrade University

Millions of people have to work under poor, sometimes even dangerous working conditions, while still only making just enough money to ensure their daily survival. In some cases, even children have to work and cannot go to school as a result. This particularly affects people in the Global South who are involved in the production of everyday goods such as coffee or tea.

Universities are social actors and important drivers of social, ecological and economic development. The nationwide campaign "Fairtrade University" tries to lead the way with positive examples and to integrate fair world trade into everyday (university) life. Only when people and institutions are aware of their role in the globalised world can they succeed in developing individual and societal solutions for a socio-ecological change of the existing system.

The nationwide campaign is supported by the non-profit organisation TransFair e.V.. Across Germany, around 35 universities and colleges are participating in the campaign.

The city of Braunschweig has been a certified Fairtrade Town since 2014.

You can find more info on: https://www.fairtrade-universities.de/mitmachen

The Fairtrade campaign is basically open to all actors of fair world trade. However, the term "fair" is not protected. Therefore, certain standards have to be considered. The campaign recognises all members of the World Fair Trade Organization WFTO (e.g. dwp, El puente, Gepa) as well as all Weltladen [Fair Trade Shop] suppliers that comply with the convention of fair trade shops (e.g. BanaFair, Contigo, Globo). The seals, own brands and suppliers listed there meet the definition of fair world trade.

In the case of textiles, some of the WFTO members or suppliers of world countries include textile companies. If this is the case, they are allowed to apply - as are those with the Fairtrade Cotton Seal and the Fairtrade Textile Standard. Unfortunately, other labels and certificates cannot be considered due to different approaches (and the resulting lack of comparability).

Typical products of fair world trade are coffee, tea, textiles, flowers and chocolate.

Current members of the steering group

• Immatrikulationsamt, Kai Brunzel
• Fair in Braunschweig, Nathalie Gerlach
• Green Office der TU Braunschweig, Sira Möller & Kerry Orlowski
• Nachhaltigkeitsreferentin, Julia Willich

Former members of the steering group

• Hochschulinitiative Campus Grün, Aïcha Platzdasch
• Greenpeace Hochschulgruppe, Andrea Lange
• StAgEz e.V., Sarah Koppe

The use of the term "fair" is controversial. You can find our thoughts on this here.