Fair trade is an arrangement designed to help producers in growing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships. At the University we are committed to purchasing in a way that benefits the communities and economies of producers, and so have a number of initiatives to help us achieve this.

We continue to uphold our Fairtrade status since June 2021, which demonstrates our achievements in making positive changes to support fair trade. 

What are we doing

We have been working to meet the five goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation using a SMART Plan (PDF, 221kB) to achieve Fairtrade status. These include:

• Upholding our Fairtrade Policy 2024 (PDF, 172kB) 
• Stocking and promoting Fairtrade goods across the University (such as all stationery by Lyreco)
• Using Fairtrade products at University and Students' Union meetings
• Organising fair trade campaigns
• Establishing a fair trade steering group. 

What can you do 

• Make conscious purchasing decisions and look out for the various Fairtrade labels that are used to certify Fairtrade products
• Get involved with campaigns like Fairtrade Fortnight 
• Engage in the purchasing process and start discussions with our Sustainability and Procurement teams.

Fairtrade engagement

Our recent Fairtrade engagement activities included a Fairtrade banana giveaway at Hiatt Baker Hub, a competition to win a Fairtrade tote bag of Fairtrade goodies, our 'Fairtrade Sustainability Cafe' event as part of Green Week and lots more.

If you would like to help spread the word about Fairtrade on campus, please contact sustainability-comms@bristol.ac.uk. 

Fairtrade University Award Audits - Volunteers needed!

Become an auditor for the Fairtrade University & College Award and help us monitor our progress towards Fairtrade University status!  

Volunteer auditors conduct an audit of the university to review the efforts to embed and promote Fairtrade and wider ethical consumption. You will receive full training via Zoom, delivered by SOS-UK and the Fairtrade Foundation, where you will learn about trade justice issues and how they apply to the University, as well as develop professional and analytical skills. You will learn how to conduct an audit, and then get the opportunity to conduct the audit of the university with other volunteer auditors. To express interest, email sustainability-comms@bristol.ac.uk. 

Fairtrade Survey results 2025 

The University of Bristol participates in a national survey about Fairtrade in Higher Education.

• 65 students participated in the survey in March 2025.
• When asked about how important human rights were to them, 94% say they were very or fairly concerned.
• When asked about buying products with ethical credentials, 66% said they already did this, and a further 28% said they would be willing to.

This provides great feedback to how important the principles of Fairtrade are to the student community at the University of Bristol.