For two weeks each year Fairtrade takes the spotlight and aims to raise awareness of the importance of choosing Fairtrade products and how it positively impacts those who produce them.
This year the University is supporting the Fairtrade Festival with a number of events including free Fairtrade brews in the library, info stands in Minerva and a film on Fairtrade hosted by Lincoln Fairtrade, TCfR and the University Chaplaincy. Keep your eyes peeled on the Lincoln Fairtrade socials for further information!
What does Fairtrade mean?
Fairtrade is ensuring a fair price, good working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world; these are all things we take for granted. Purchasing Fairtrade items is a simple way to make a huge difference to the lives of the people who grow the things we love – like coffee and chocolate!
Fairtrade, Sustainability and The Sustainable Development Goals
One question that gets raised when it comes to Fairtrade, is how sustainable purchasing items from abroad is compared to buying local. To get a clear answer you have to look at the bigger picture, for example when buying flowers out of season the carbon footprint of growing flowers in an artificial environment, where buildings are heated and lit continuously, is higher than the same flowers growing outdoors in a natural environment but shipped from further away.
Secondly, with the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals, sustainability as a whole looks into supporting and improving the quality of life for all. By choosing to purchase Fairtrade items you are giving those in third world countries a chance to improve their quality of life, live healthier and gain better opportunities to grow.
Read more here about how each Sustainable Development goal ties into Fairtrade
Get involved in Lincoln
Did you know that Lincoln is a Fairtrade city? There are many outlets in and around Lincoln committed to selling Fairtrade products, just keep your eyes peeled for the Fairtrade logo on the packaging!
Items that can be Fairtrade include:
· Bananas
· Chocolate
· Coffee
· Clothes
· Flowers
· Gold
· Cold drinks & juice
· Tea
· Sweets, snacks and grains
· Sugar, spreads and oil
· Wine
· Beauty products
· Herbs and spices
· Fruit and vegetables
Read more here – Buying Fairtrade
You can also support Fairtrade by hosting a Fairtrade meeting where the refreshments are Fairtrade items – tea, coffee and sugar!
