Celebrating Two Decades of Fairtrade Commitment
The University of Leeds Sustainability Service has published its Fairtrade Progress Report and has marked the end of an important year of celebrating 20 years as a Fairtrade University.
The report covers activity from January to December 2025 and tracks progress against our SMART Action Plan (2024–2026), which sets out clear objectives for embedding Fairtrade principles across campus operations, procurement, and student engagement.
Read the full Fairtrade Progress Report here.
Why Fairtrade Matters
Fairtrade remains a cornerstone of our commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. By choosing Fairtrade products, we help ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and environmental protection for farmers and workers worldwide. These values align with our broader sustainability goals and the University’s pledge to create a positive global impact.
Highlights from 2025
This year, we worked closely with staff, students, and suppliers to strengthen Fairtrade across campus.
Key achievements include:
- Campaigns and events, including Fairtrade Fortnight activities, awareness campaigns of our ethical coffee supply chain and the Brew it Fair campaign.
- Updated and enhanced our Fair Trade Policy.
- Strengthened our approach to fairtrade within procurement by integrating Fair Trade Principles into purchasing decisions.
Looking Ahead
The report doesn’t just reflect on what we’ve achieved. It sets out our next steps to keep momentum going. Our priorities include:
- Continue increasing visibility of Fairtrade on campus.
- Enhancing engagement through workshops and student partnerships.
- Continuing to embed Fairtrade principles into procurement and supply chains.
Get Involved
Fairtrade is a shared responsibility. Whether you’re a student, staff member, or supplier, you can play a part:
- Choose Fairtrade products when shopping on campus.
- Join upcoming campaigns and events (or host your own!)
- Learn more about Fairtrade and why it matters.
If you have any further ideas about how to get involved, you can email the team on [email protected]
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 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Find out more about our impact on the SDGs
