Fair trade and Ethical Consumption – Progress Report 2025/2026
The University of St Andrews is committed to fair trade, trade justice and ethical consumption. Our renewed Fairtrade Policy underpins our SMART Fairtrade Action Plan.
Read below some highlights of progress made across the University, Students’ Association, and wider town.
Student and staff engagement and visibility
- The Fairtrade Survey in February 2026 achieved almost 230 responses from staff and students, covering awareness, perceptions, and behaviours towards Fairtrade. Three lucky winners were randomly awarded a voucher each to spend at the University cafes.
- For research and curriculum, answers from the Survey highlighted modules that positively engage with trade justice and ethical consumption, including modules from Sustainable Development and Social Anthropology.
- Our incoming Staff Training in Environmental Sustainability Action (TESA) contains a section on Fairtrade and ethical sourcing to equip staff with awareness of actions they can take for Fairtrade in their professional and personal lives.
- This summer, the Environment team will be hosting a summer internship centered around Fairtrade – exploring wins and opportunities, planning campaigns, and working across the University to help continue our trade justice efforts.
Fairtrade Visibility – Promotions and Events
- At the Freshers’ Fayre in September 2025, we held a Fairtrade hoodie giveaway competition to emphasise ethical sourcing and consumption, sharing discounts for students to purchase from the Fairtrade cotton range available in the University Shop.
- During Fairtrade Fortnight, we held a Climate Café with Fairtrade as a central topic of discussion. We also talked about trade-offs when purchasing B Corp-certified or seasonal/local produce over Fairtrade.,
- A Fairtrade drinks stall has taken place each semester in partnership with the student Environment Network. We hosted a bubble tea stall for Scottish Fair Trade’s tea campaign in October, and a Fairtrade tea and coffee stand at the community Skate, Scoot and Bike Festival, over Sustainability Week. In total, we gave away around 150 cups to raise awareness to students, staff, and community members about choosing Fairtrade products available in town.
- Over the University’s Sustainability Week, Fairtrade was featured throughout events. This included showcasing examples of the University Shop’s Fairtrade cotton range alongside stories from the fast fashion industry and its impacts on garment workers at the Sustainable Fashion Extravaganza.
Collaborations
- In August, we hosted six student Youth Fairtrade Ambassadors from Belgium. Fairtrade Towns Group spoke with them about social media, engaging young people, and the role of universities in promoting social justice by supporting Fairtrade.
- Koolskools-SUstainable, the suppliers of the Fairtrade cotton range in the University Shop, have come to St Andrews twice to speak with the community. The founder gave the first talk in November to student sustainability representatives. This led to ongoing communication between the Computer Science representative and SUstainable. As a result, after the founder gave a second lecture to students, staff and community members in Sustainability Week, the student launched a new Sustainability Side-project for over 10 fellow students to redevelop Koolskools’ website. The aim is to make the website more accessible, effective at converting sales, and showcasing the organisation’s Fairtrade USP through efficient but impactful storytelling.
- In November, we helped the local organisation St Andrews Fair Trade Towns Group to organise a celebration event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of St Andrews as a Fair Trade Town. The University’s renewal of its Fairtrade University accreditation this year will also mark 20 years since St Andrews became a Fairtrade University.
