Students’ Association Fairtrade Policy

St Andrews Students’ Association assigns great importance to the University's role within the international community, and therefore commits to supporting, selling and promoting Fairtrade. This will be achieved by reaching and maintaining Fairtrade status as defined by the Fairtrade Foundation. The Fairtrade Foundation has outlined five goals for a Fairtrade University, and our commitment to them is as follows:

1. Fairtrade products are made available for sale in all Students’ Association shops wherever possible. Fairtrade foods are used in all cafes/restaurants/bars within and connected to the Students’ Association including Beaton’s, Old Union Diner and BESS. Where this is not possible, there is a commitment to begin to use Fairtrade products in these establishments as soon as it becomes possible to do so.

2. Fairtrade products (i.e. tea and coffee) are served at all meetings that supply refreshments hosted by the Students’ Association, and are served in all Students’ Association management offices.

3. The Students’ Association will promote the sale of (and encourage increased consumption of) Fairtrade products via the following methods:
• Articles and other appropriate material will be included on the Students’ Association website, and will be encouraged to be included in the student newspaper.
• Fairtrade materials will be displayed on notice boards promoting commitment to Fairtrade foods.
• Materials will be displayed in every place where Fairtrade products are sold.
• The Students’ Association will commit itself to working with societies in running a series of promotional events during Fairtrade Fortnight each year (March). The joint Fairtrade Steering Group is responsible for co-ordinating this.

4. A joint Fairtrade Steering Group will be incorporated within the University’s governance structure. It will meet at least twice per semester, and its job will be to continuously monitor and improve both the University’s and the Student’s Association’s approach to Fairtrade. It will include representatives from:
• The residential and catering departments of the University
• The university authority
• The Students’ Association
• Appropriate societies

5. The Student’s Association Sustainability committee will be responsible for the oversight and implementation of the Fairtrade Policy, with regular communication with the Student’s Association General Manager.

6. This policy statement will be communicated throughout the University, and efforts to support Fairtrade will be strongly encouraged.
This policy statement will be reviewed on an annual basis.