Staff and students will be encouraged to swap their usual morning cup of tea or lunchtime banana for Fairtrade versions when they get involved in this year鈥檚 Fairtrade Fortnight (22 February to 7 March).
Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual campaign of the Fairtrade Foundation to promote awareness and sales of products carrying the Fairtrade Mark鈥� ensuring producers in developing nations receive a fair deal. This year鈥檚 Fairtrade Fortnight is asking the nation to join in 鈥楾he Big Swap鈥欌�� swapping your usual drink鈥� snack or clothing item for a Fairtrade version.
The University鈥檚 catering outlets have various promotions during Fairtrade Fortnight across all its six campuses including free drinks鈥� daily meal deals and a special Fairtrade competition with a chance for customers to win a hamper full of Fairtrade goodies.
The Students鈥� Union will also have a number of activities during Fairtrade Fortnight鈥� such as information stands鈥� a Fairtrade-themed quiz鈥� and a local producers market with Fairtrade stalls. The Union鈥檚 Environment and Ethics website will also feature an online map showing students where they can buy Fairtrade produce.
Nick Beall, the Students鈥� Union Environment and Ethics Officer, comments: 鈥淎sking people to swap their usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas or their usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa is a brilliantly small step to making the world a fairer place.
鈥淏uying products with the Fairtrade logo is really important as it guarantees that producers get a fair deal. Students are often very active in environmental and ethics issues and want to buy Fairtrade. Fairtrade Fortnight is a great way to let more people know about the issues and other ways they can help.鈥�
For full details about Fairtrade Fortnight at the University of Southampton, please visit
Both the University and its Students鈥� Union are committed to supporting, using and promoting Fairtrade wherever possible and have been accredited with Fairtrade status by the Fairtrade Foundation fo rth last five years.