Bath Spa University has won the Gold Award for Best Fairtrade University at the recent South West Fairtrade Business Awards 2015.
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Other winners of the Gold award included City College Plymouth, Falmouth and Exeter Plus and the University of the West of England, with the University of Bristol taking the overall prize for the category.
The award is given for the range of Fairtrade products available to the staff and students within the University. This includes the food and drink on sale in the Students’ Union shop and café-bar, as well as the products served in the Refectory and other catering outlets.
The award also pays close attention to the amount of Fairtrade products available in the vending machines and the amount of training given to catering staff on the benefits of Fairtrade.
Sustainability Coordinator Sara Cundy commented: “We are so pleased to win this Gold Award for our Fairtrade offering at Bath Spa University.
“This confirms our commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade products, and continues the excellent work done across the University which recently saw us receive the Silver Food for Life Catering Mark from the Soil Association.”
The South West Fairtrade Business Awards began in 2013 and forms part of the Bristol Green Capital 2015 programme, also linking with the Go Green Business Scheme.
The awards are given annually to award high levels of dedication and promotion to Fairtrade products by businesses, educational centres and retail.
There are seven categories in total including: Best Fairtrade Accommodation or Conference Centre, Best Fairtrade Café, Best Fairtrade Office, Best Fairtrade Retailer, Best Fairtrade retailer – Multiple Products, Best Fairtrade University or College and Best Fairtrade Advocate.
The 2015 awards were held at The Watershed, Bristol on Friday 6th March 2015.
Bristol is due to host the International Fairtrade Towns conference in July 2015 and is now celebrating 10 years as a Fairtrade City.
