University gains Fairtrade University and College Award

Oxford is now a Fairtrade University after securing accreditation under the new Fairtrade University and College Award Scheme. The Fairtrade Foundation announced the result today. It marks a big step forward in ensuring the people who produce the University's food and drink get a fair cut of the proceeds. The new scheme sets stretching actions which will take the University several years to achieve. Fairtrade certification is something students have asked for and the student body were closely involved in the work to achieve it. The evidence submitted was even audited by a trained Oxford student. All the departmental cafes and other sites that operate under the University's central catering contract with Compass took part, as did six colleges.