News Archive

As we drink tea and coffee at work, UWA staff are investing in a bright future for farming communities in the developing world.

The University is now officially a Fair Trade institution, a status granted after a rigorous assessment process.  All the coffee sold by Guild Cafes is Fair Trade certified (and also certified organic). This equated to a four -and -a -half tonnes of coffee beans last year. And  43 per cent of the tea and coffee bought for staff kitchens on UWA campuses is certified Fair Trade.

Rob Shannon from Strategic Procurement and Trish Howard from Sustainable Development have tracked exactly where our money is going.

"Fair Trade products guarantee fair wages and conditions for workers on their plantations and farms. They also use sustainable farming practices and a percentage of the profits are invested in the community through health care services, education programs, school buses and other tangible projects," Rob said.

Schools, health care centres, micro-credit finance and women's cooperatives have been created for communities in Peru and Ethiopia, thanks to the Fair Trade Cooperatives from which the Guild Café's coffee is sourced.

"Bird species have increased from six to 36 on the Idulgashinna plantation, in Sri Lanka, from where our offices' Scarborough Fair tea is sourced," Trish said. "This community has also seen the establishment of a dress-making school, computer centre, pre-schools, a retirement home and safe housing.

"The University's Fair Trade steering group hopes to expand sales of Fair Trade tea and coffee to all office kitchens and look at UWA buying Fair Trade chocolate, sugar and sports balls," she said.

UWA staff can switch to Fairtrade tea and coffee in their offices through Corporate Express. More information is available on the UWA Sustainable Development website.

The Co-Operative Bookshop sells T-shirts made of Fair Trade cotton and most of the tea and coffee in its gift range is also Fair Trade certified.

Sustainability Week, at UWA this week, will encourage staff and students to consider more options, as well as Fair Trade choices, to improve sustainable purchasing and other activities.

As part of Sustainability Week, EnviroFest will be on the Oak Lawn from 11:30am until 2pm on Tuesday 19 March and the Bike Breakfast will be at the University Club on Wednesday 20 March. Live birds of prey, bees and a native Australian animal ‘petting zoo' will feature at EnviroFest, along with stalls promoting the environmental research and activities from various centres at UWA.

You can do your bit to support Fair Trade by choosing Fair Trade products, where available.