LSE Fairtrade PolicyPaper 2 – FTSG December 2008
LSE Fairtrade Policy
As approved by the LSE Fairtrade Steering Group, 11 October 2006
The London School of Economics and Political Science and the LSE Students’ Union assign great importance to the University's role within the international community, and therefore commit to supporting, using and promoting Fairtrade products.
Having achieved Fairtrade Status in 2004 we will implement this policy through maintaining Fairtrade status as defined by the Fairtrade Foundation. The Fairtrade Foundation have outlined five goals for a FairtradeUniversity, and our commitment to them is as follows:
Fairtrade products will be sold in all campus shops wherever possible, including but not limited to chocolate, snacks, fruit, juices, tea, coffee and clothing. Fairtrade foods are used in allLSE and Students’ Union cafes, restaurants and bars. Where this is not possible, there is a commitment to begin to use Fairtrade foods in these establishments, including vending machines, as soon as it becomes possible to do so.
Fairtrade foods (for example tea and coffee) are made available wherever possible through hospitality catering for use in meetings, with the commitment to increasing the use of Fairtrade foods at meetings as it becomes possible to do so. Departments and budget holders will also be encouraged to buy Fairtrade products wherever a viable option exists.
The University and the Student Union will promote the sale of Fairtrade products via the following methods:
- Thestudent newspaper will be encouraged to include articles and other appropriate material concerning Fairtrade, and it will be included on the Students’ Union and University's website.
- Promotion of the Fairtrade Mark will take place in other appropriate publications where possible, such as News and Views and the University Prospectuses. The publications will commit to cover the annual Fairtrade Fortnight in March, and to update readers with major developments.
- Fairtrade Foundation materials will be displayed on notice-boards promoting commitment to Fairtrade foods.
- Materials shall also be displayed in every place where Fairtrade foods are sold.
- The Students’ Union and the LSE will commit itself to running a series of promotional events during the Fairtrade Fortnight (March). This will be coordinated through the Fairtrade Steering Group.
A Fairtrade Steering Group will meet at least twice a year. This group shall initially report to both the Catering Service Users Group and the Environmental Management Review Group, and its role will be to continuously monitor and improve the University's approach to Fairtrade.
This policy statement will be communicated throughout the University, and efforts to support Fairtrade will be strongly encouraged.
This policy statement will be reviewed on an annual basis.