Fair Trade

The University of Jyväskylä is a Fair Trade University

Fair Trade University title is awarded by the Fair Trade Finland association in recognition of the university’s ethical responsibility and its commitment to acting according to the sustainable development principles. Fair Trade awards the title for a year at a time and its renewal requires constant improvement. The first time that the title was awarded was in 2014. The University of Jyväskylä was the 7th Fair Trade University in Finland. Since 2014, the University of Jyväskylä has achieved the title every year.

Fair Trade ensures a fair wage for the producers and farmers and aims at decreasing poverty with the help of trade. The use of child labour is prohibited. The additional income from Fair Trade allows community development projects, such as building schools and health care centers.

In order to be awarded the Fair Trade University title, the university has to commit to the promotion of the usage of ethical products in its units and subject associations. Fair Trade Universities have made a commitment to support Fair Trade and the use Fair Trade products. In its events, the university increases awareness about Fair Trade and the benefits it brings to the farmers of the Global South. The Fair Trade title communicates to the students and other stakeholders about the university’s global responsibility.

In Jyväskylä, Fair Trade products are widely available in the student restaurants. These include coffee, tea, sugar and chocolate. Most faculties, departments and subject association are also committed to using Fair Trade products. Every year, Fair Trade is present in Jyväskylä at various events, trainings, teaching through visiting lecturers and on social media. The most notable of these are the Fair Trade Week in the fall and Banana-Flashmob in the spring.

Fair Trade in Finland Website

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Units Committed to the Project