Celebrating 3 Star Fairtrade Status at the University of Leeds
The University of Leeds and Leeds University Union Fairtrade Partnership are delighted to have achieved the highest level of recognition - 3-star status - in the Fairtrade University Award. This rare achievement reflects successful audits for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 academic years.
Our 3-star status recognises the breadth of activity to promote Fairtrade, trade justice and ethical consumption, contributing to our strategic commitment to building a more just, equitable and sustainable world. This achievement reflects our activities and commitments that are set out in our recently launched institutional Framework for Environmental and Social Responsibility and has been delivered through a strong partnership between the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union (LUU).
We’re incredibly proud to achieve 3-star status in the Fairtrade University Award, which reflects our deep commitment to advancing environmental and social responsibility at Leeds. This recognition highlights the collaborative efforts of our students, staff and partners in embedding ethical practices across our institution. It demonstrates how we are turning our sustainability commitments into meaningful action, from our curriculum to procurement and beyond. We remain committed to building on this progress and supporting fairer, more equitable global trade.
Quote from Thom Cooper, Head of Sustainability
What is the award and why is it important?
The Fairtrade University Award, developed by the Fairtrade Foundation and Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), recognises institutions that embed ethical and sustainable practices across curriculum, research, procurement and campaigns.
At Leeds, this achievement reflects a strong and long-standing partnership between the University and LUU, bringing together staff, students, and suppliers to deliver meaningful change both on campus and beyond. Participation in the Fairtrade University Award helps to shape and strengthen our broader Fair Trade work, as outlined in our Fair Trade policy, which combines support for the Fairtrade Foundation and Fairtrade-certified products with our commitment to sustainable sourcing. Being part of this scheme also provides valuable guidance and support to help us build on our progress, while offering independent recognition of the work we are already doing.
Embedding Fairtrade into learning, teaching and research
A key part of achieving 3-star status is the integration of Fairtrade and sustainability into the curriculum.
At Leeds, academic colleagues are embedding themes such as global supply chains, ethical consumption, climate justice and social equity into teaching across a vast range of disciplines. This ensures that students are not only aware of Fairtrade but critically engage with the systems that shape global trade and inequality.
This work contributes to the University of Leeds’ wider commitment to a sustainable curriculum, equipping students with the knowledge, values and skills needed to address global challenges and support more just economic systems.
Universities play a vital role in shaping the values and behaviours of students, helping to build long-term understanding of fairness and sustainability. Across the university, researchers play an integral role in exploring issues such as sustainable development, responsible business practices, food systems, climate resilience and global inequalities – all of which align closely with Fairtrade’s mission. Research helps to generate knowledge and solutions that support fairer supply chains and improved livelihoods for producers across the world.
Campaigns, procurement and student-led action
Beyond teaching and research, our 3-star status recognises a wide range of activity across campus and beyond, including:
- Maintaining and increasing a Fairtrade presence across catering and retail, such as by selling Fairtrade flowers during graduation
- Student-led campaigns raising awareness of ethical consumption and sustainability
- Events and communications that engage the wider university community on sustainability issues and collaborative initiatives between staff and students
- Connecting with local partnerships such as Fairtrade Leeds and local supplementary schools
The award structure emphasises collaboration across institutions, with students, staff and partners working together to drive change.
Why Fairtrade Matters
Fairtrade addresses the inequalities in conventional global trade by ensuring better prices, working conditions and sustainability standards for producers, particularly in the Global South.
At a time of global challenges - including climate change and rising living costs -supported fairer trade systems has never been more important. The Fairtrade Foundation highlights how these issues are interconnected, affecting the people behind everyday products such as coffee, chocolate, clothing, and much more.
How can you get involved?
The easiest way everyone can get involved is to buy Fairtrade products; Fairtrade products are widely available in local supermarkets, especially for products such as fruit and vegetables, tea and coffee, nuts and grains, tea, coffee and chocolate.
Find out what students at the University of Leeds think about Fairtrade and other ways to get involved by having a look at our webpage for Fair Trade at Leeds.
Take our Fairtrade Survey to let us know your thoughts on Fairtrade at Leeds!
We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our work on Fairtrade is linked to the following SDGs:
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 15: Life on Land
- Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals
Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.
