UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
University of GuelphFair Trade Campus
Application
University of Guelph Fair Trade Campus Committee
Nov 15th, 2012
The following document is drafted by the University of Guelph Fair Trade Campus Committee
consisting of Danny Liang (student representative), Adam Sneyd (professor in Political Science),
Mark Kenny (Purchasing Coordinator of Hospitality Services), Brenda Whiteside (Vice PresidentStudent Affairs), Maurice Nelischer (Director of Sustainability Office), Dominica McPherson
(Central Student Association- External Affairs Commissioner). This application has also been
supported by Alastair Summerlee, the President of the University, as well as the Ethical Conduct
Committee.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the University’s Fair Trade Campus Initiative ................................ 2-3
Letters of Support .......................................................................................................... 4-5
Availability.................................................................................................................... 6-10
Coffee ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Teas .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Chocolates ................................................................................................................................... 8
Meetings and Events................................................................................................................ 8-9
Increasing Number and Types of FTC products ..........................................................................10
Encouraging Independent Businesses .......................................................................................10
Visibility ...................................................................................................................... 11-18
Signage.................................................................................................................................. 11-16
Auxiliary Information ............................................................................................................ 16-17
Webpage.....................................................................................................................................17
Annual Celebrations....................................................................................................................18
Fair Trade Campus Committee ......................................................................................18
Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 19-20
Meeting Agendas .................................................................................................................. 19-20
1
Introduction into the University’s Fair Trade Campus Initiative:
The University of Guelph’s commitment to sustainability and ethical purchasing
is long standing. Guelph was one of the first campuses in Canada to establish ethical
purchasing policies and an ethical conduct committee. The University’s Code of Ethical
Conduct for Suppliers and Subcontractors requires the University to only purchase goods
or services from suppliers that: (i) do not engage in child or forced labor; (ii) that ensure
workers are required to work no more than 48 hours; (iii) that follow national and
international wage laws; and (iv) that ensure safe working conditions. As such, the Fair
Trade Campus initiative builds upon and takes to the next level the University’s efforts to
enhance ethical purchasing. Hospitality Services, the unit responsible for most foodservice and all retail operations on campus, has a long history of commitment to
sustainability and social consciousness. As a result, the Fair Trade Campus initiative also
fits into the Hospitality Services agenda to increase the sustainability and social
consciousness of its purchases. In 2007, Hospitality Services switched to Fair Trade
Certified coffee at all their non-branded locations. Fair trade certified teas from Four
O’Clock has been introduced into campus recently. They continue to purchase and offer
these products today. The links to the university’s ethical purchasing policies and
procedures, as well as the Hospitality Services’ Sustainability Plan, can be found at the
end of the introduction section.
In addition to the administration’s commitment to ethical purchasing, support for the Fair
Trade movement is now engrained into the University’s culture. In fact, the Fair Trade
movement is something that many students, staff and faculty are passionate about. It is
also one of the most common topics discussed in political economy, international
development and economics classes on campus. From conversations with hundreds of
students, faculty and staff at outreach events to promote the Fair Trade Campus initiative,
it is clear that many students on campus support the initiative and almost everyone on
campus is aware of Fair Trade. There is also a general sentiment on campus that the
global economic system can often exploit workers in developing countries, and that as
consumers and voters, we all have a responsibility to help improve the lives of people in
developing countries through the choices we make. The University of Guelph community
believes that the Fair Trade movement has demonstrably improved the lives of people in
developing countries, and is a model for empowering the marginalized and oppressed.
Many events have already been organized on campus to promote the Fair Trade Campus
initiative and to raise awareness for the Fair Trade movement in general. For a number of
years, the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) chapter on campus has been encouraging
people to purchase Fair Trade products by giving out pins, information brochures and
sample chocolates at outreach events. The Fair Trade Campus initiative was formalized
in September 2011 when the EWB chapter decided to make the initiative a priority. EWB
Guelph organized a movie screening of “From Crop to Cup” in September 2011 that
drew over 50 people. Additionally, the chapter organized a massive Fair Trade outreach
event at the University Centre in November 2011. Amongst other aspects of this event, a
over 800 Fair Trade chocolates were distributed and hundreds of students signed an “I
Support a Fair Trade Campus” banner. Subsequently, in March 2012, the chapter
2
organized a Fair Trade panel discussion consisting of Bill Barrett (co-founder of Planet
Bean), Dr. Adam Sneyd (Assistant Professor in Political Science), Dr. Spencer Henson
(Professor in Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics) and Sean Yo (a staff member
at the University who took a “Leave for Change” to a Fair Trade co-operative in Nepal).
This event drew over 60 students and culminated in an engaging two-hour discussion of
the different facets of the Fair Trade movement.
In addition to these events, the EWB chapter has organized reverse trick-or-treat events
on Halloween to encourage local homeowners to purchase Fair Trade products as well as
numerous member learning sessions. The chapter is also working with other campus
organizations to promote the Fair Trade Campus initiative, including the Central Student
Association, the Sustainability Week group, and the Transition Guelph group to work
towards making the City of Guelph a Fair Trade city.
The Fair Trade Campus committee was formed in September 2012. Since September the
committee has had two meetings. The committee, the University administration and
students and faculty who are aware of the Fair Trade Campus initiative are all hopeful
that the University of Guelph will become the first campus in Ontario to be certified as a
Fair Trade Campus. This certification will solidify the University’s reputation as a leader
in ethical purchasing and sustainability, and will serve as a token of pride and
achievement. The committee and other supporters of the Fair Trade Campus initiative
look forward to the work that needs to be done to go above and beyond the minimum
requirements necessary for Fair Trade certification. The committee is committed to
making the University of Guelph a leader amongst Canada’s universities in ethical
purchasing, and in continuing to increase the range of Fair Trade Certified products
available on campus, as well as in increasing education about Fair Trade on campus, in
the month and years to come.
The University’s Ethical Purchasing Policies are available at:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/ethicalbuying/UniversityofGuelphCodeofConduct_Policy_June6
_2012.pdf
The University’s Ethical Purchasing Procedures are available at:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/ethicalbuying/UniversityofGuelphCodeofConduct_Procedures_J
une6_2012.pdf
Hospitality Services’ Sustainability Plan is available at:
http://www.hospitality.uoguelph.ca/sustainability/downloads/HospitalitySustainabilityInit
iatives.pdf
3
Letter of Support from the University’s President
4
Letter of Support from the University’s Code of Conduct Committee
HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUITY OFFICE
MEMORANDUM
To:
Danny Liang, Fair Trade Campus Committee
From:
Brenda Whiteside, Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) & Acting
Director, Human Rights and Equity Office
Date:
November 7, 2012
Subject:
Endorsement of FTCC Application for Designation
This is to inform you that, at its October 16, 2012 meeting, the University of Guelph’s
Advisory Committee on the Code of Ethical Conduct for University Suppliers and
Subcontractors in Relation to Working Conditions and Employment Standards
unanimously passed the following motion:
Motion: that the Code of Conduct Committee endorse the FTCC application for
designation as a Fair Trade Campus.
5
Letter of Compliance from the University’s Hospitality Services
6
Availability
Coffee
All coffee served at Hospitality Services non-franchise locations is Fair Trade Certified.
Fair Trade, organic certified coffee is purchased from Mother Parker’s and Baden Coffee
Company. Franchise locations which do not offer Fair Trade certified coffee include Tim
Hortons, Seattle’s Best, Second Cup and Starbucks. Instead, they each offer their own
sustainability and/or ethical sourcing programs as directed by their parent corporations.
William’s coffee locations on campus offer one Fair Trade certified coffee at all times.
In addition to Hospitality Services, Fair Trade certified coffee purchased from Planet
Bean, is served at the Bullring, a restaurant on campus independently operated by
students. Circled in red on the map below are Hospitality’s non-branded locations which
all coffee served is Fair Trade Certified.
7
Teas
Hospitality Services offers a minimum of three Fair Trade certified teas at each of its
non-branded locations. Four O’Clock Fair Trade certified brand tea is purchased through
Baden Coffee Company. Hospitality Services also purchase teas from Higgins and Burke,
and Mighty Leaf, which are not Fair Trade Certified. Franchise locations which do not
offer Fair Trade certified teas on campus include Tim Hortons, Seattle’s Best, Second
Cup, William’s & Starbucks. They each offer their own sustainability and/or ethical
sourcing programs as directed by their parent corporations. Circled in red on the map
below show the non-branded locations where a minimum of three types of Fair Trade
certified teas are served. The Bullring serves only Higgins and Burke tea, which is not
Fair Trade certified.
8
Chocolates
Hospitality Services locations on campus offer at least one Fair Trade certified chocolate
bar, wherever bars are sold. Most of the chocolate bars are Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Fair
Trade Certified bars, but Camino brand chocolate bars are offered at Earthworks at
University Centre. Circled in blue in the map below show the locations in which Fair
Trade Certified chocolate bars are sold (FACS denotes faculty association and catering
service).
Meetings and Events
All of the coffee served at official faculty meetings, central student union events and
most major events on campus that are purchased directly from Hospitality Services are
Fair Trade Certified. This coffee is served at official faculty meetings, central student
union events as well as all catered events on campus. A minimum of three types Fair
Trade certified teas is also offered through Coffee Services for official meetings and
events. In the introduction above, you will find a letter from Hospitality Services
supporting this. The Fair Trade Campus Committee will send out a reminder to all
student organizations on campus to serve Fair Trade Certified coffees and teas at events.
The reminder below was sent out by Brenda Whiteside, VP Student Affairs of the
university.
9
Dear Student Leaders
As you know, the University has committed to only
serving fair trade coffee and tea at all meetings and
events on campus. If you order from Hospitality
Services, you will be receiving only fair trade
coffee, and a selection of fair trade tea. We know
that some of you may make your own coffee for
meetings. By way of this email, I am reminding you of
the University policy, and ask that you purchase fair
trade coffee and tea for these meetings.
Thank you for supporting us in this important
endeavour.
-Brenda Whiteside
Associate Vice-President (Student Affairs) and Acting
Director, Human Rights and Equity Office
4th Floor University Centre
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 2W1
phone 519-824-4120 ext. 53868
fax: 519-767-1693
Developing the person, scholar & citizen
10
Effort to Increase Number and Type of Fair Trade Certified Products
The University is working towards bringing more Fair Trade Certified products onto
campus. Recently, the university has ordered Fair Trade Certified teas from Four
O’Clock and at least three types of Fair Trade Certified teas will be served at all nonfranchise locations on campus in which teas are sold from now on. In addition,
Hospitality Services has recently began serving Fair Trade Certified tahini sauce and
have used Fair Trade Certified sugar at some conferences, such as the Organic Foods
Conference. Hospitality Services is currently working with its suppliers to bring in Fair
Trade certified hot chocolate, bananas and sugar.
Encouraging Independent Businesses/Departments/Societies
The Fair Trade Campus Committee will send out an official statement on behalf of the
committee to all of the franchises on campus to encourage them to switch to Fair Trade
products. The University of Guelph Fair Trade Campus Committee has also been
working with the Canadian Fair Trade Network to encourage franchises across Canada to
bring in more Fair Trade Certified Products.
Visibility
Signage
Fair Trade point of sale signage, shown in the first image below, are present at all
locations where Fair Trade coffee is sold. In addition, all of the coffee thermal servers at
non-branded locations on campus include wraps displaying Fair Trade certified logos, as
shown in the second image below. The Bullring, a student operated restaurant on campus,
also has a large sign indicating that do serve Fair Trade Certified Coffee, as shown in the
third image below. At all locations in which chocolates are sold, there are brochure racks
with brochures provided by Camino’s available. Although the signs that are currently on
campus have the old logo, they will be replaced with new signs with the new Fair Trade
logo on them by next semester.
11
Coffee:
Café at Mountain
12
Top: Café at Mountain.
Bottom: Bullring
13
Top: Café at Mckinnon
Bottom: Creelman
14
Teas:
Teas at Creelman
Teas at Mountain
15
Chocolates:
Top and Bottom: chocolates at Earthworks in University Centre
16
Chocolates at Earthworks in University Centre
Auxiliary Information:
Hospitality Services will post the brochure (photo below) or reasonable similar signage,
provided by Fair Trade Canada, at all info/comment boards located at locations where
coffee/tea is sold. They are working towards making large posters containing information
regarding what are Fair Trade Certified products and what are the impacts of buying Fair
Trade Certified products.
The campus is planning to increase awareness for Fair Trade through social media as
well. Hospitality Services will look at the possibility & feasibility of placing QR codes at
locations where coffee/tea are sold. The QR codes will allow students, staff and faculty to
learn more about Fair Trade Certified products by linking them to either the university’s
Fair Trade page, the Fair Trade Canada page, or the Canadian Fair Trade Network page.
Hospitality will also look at the possibility & feasibility of developing a Fair Trade
Campus smartphone app, which will allow students to educate themselves about which
seasonal Fair Trade items, such as bananas and honey, are in stock on campus.
17
Web Page:
The University will have a page confirming its status as a Fair Trade Campus as well as
containing additional information pertaining to the certification. This page will be on the
university’s Sustainability Office website as soon as the University earns the designation:
http://www.pr.uoguelph.ca/sustain/home/. There is a link on the main University of
Guelph page to the Sustainability Office Website. In addition, there will also be a link to
the Fair Trade Campus page on the University of Guelph Human Rights and Equity
Website: http://www.uoguelph.ca/hre/. The information on the University of Guelph Fair
Trade Campus page will be similar to that of the University of British Columbia’s
Sustainability website: http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/ubc-named-canadas-first-fair-tradecampus/ubc-named-canadas-first-fair-trade-campus
18
Annual Celebration:
The university will celebrate its designation as a Fair Trade Campus as part of its annual
Sustainability Week, which is a week full of educational and celebration events relating
to sustainability issues http://www.guelphsustainabilityweek.com/project-updates. In
addition, the Fair Trade Campus Committee is looking at incorporating educational
materials/events on Fair Trade into its Frosh week events, as well as other campus events,
such as conferences.
Committee:
A Fair Trade Campus Committee has been organized and has been supported by the
President of the University, as shown by the letter of support on page 4. The Committee
will oversee the implementation of the changes necessary for the University to earn the
Fair Trade Campus designation. In the future, the Fair Trade Campus Committee will
exist as a sub-committee under the University’s existing Ethical Conduct Committee. The
Ethical Conduct Committee will ultimately take the responsibility of advancing the
University’s ethical purchasing practices to above and beyond those required for the Fair
Trade Campus designation. The Fair Trade Campus sub-committee will continue to be
tasked with maintaining and renewing the designation on an annual basis, overseeing the
media outreach associated with being a Fair Trade designated Campus and in overseeing
the annual celebration event to celebrate the university’s status as a Fair Trade Campus.
The membership of the committee consists of:
Brenda Whiteside (VP Student Affairs)Maurice Nelischer (Director of Sustainability Office)
Adam Sneyd (Assistant Professor, Political Science)
Mark Kenny (Purchasing Coordinator, HS)
Dominica McPherson (CSA External Commissioner)
Danny Liang (Undergraduate Student)
Administration rep
Sustainability Office rep
Faculty Rep
Hospitality Services rep
CSA Rep
Acting chair, student rep
The primary contact of the committee for the time being is Danny Liang, whose email is
lliang@uoguelph.ca and whose phone number is 226-820-7579.
19
Appendix:
Fair Trade Campus Committee- Meeting Agendas
University of Guelph Fair Trade Campus Committee- 1st Meeting
Thursday, October 11th, 2012
8:30AM to 9:45AM
Committee Members:
Brenda Whiteside (VP Student Affairs)Maurice Nelischer (Director of Sustainability Office)
Adam Snyed (Professor, Political Science)
Mark Kenny (Purchasing Coordinator, HS)
Dominica McPherson (CSA External Commissioner)
Danny Liang (Undergraduate Student)
Administration rep
Sustainability Office rep
Faculty Rep
Hospitality Services rep
CSA Rep
Acting chair, student rep
Agenda:
1. Introductions to committee members
- Everyone
2. Basics about Fair Trade Certified Products – Danny
3. Motivations behind Fair Trade Campus
- Danny
a.) Can make a huge difference as a campus
b.) Further re-enforce image as leader in sustainability, 3rd university in Canada,
great marketing tool
c.) Little costs, campus most of the way there
d.) Will increase student awareness in process, with larger goal of bringing about
greater changes in ethical purchasing
4. Thoughts and concerns about Fair Trade Campus - Everyone
5. Summary of Fair Trade Campus requirements and designation process
Thoughts on going above and beyond requirements
6. Update on where our campus is at right now
Purchasing
- Mark
7. Action items needed to meet remaining requirements, - Everyone
Divide responsibilities to each person
Form sub-committee
8. Fair Trade Campus application, thoughts from committee – Everyone
9. Decide on meeting time for next meeting, chair
- Everyone
20
University of Guelph Fair Trade Campus Committee- 2nd Meeting
Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
12 PM to 1 PM
Committee Members:
Brenda Whiteside (VP Student Affairs)Maurice Nelischer (Director of Sustainability Office)
Adam Snyed (Professor, Political Science)
Mark Kenny (Purchasing Coordinator, HS)
Dominica McPherson (CSA External Commissioner)
Danny Liang (Undergraduate Student)
Administration rep
Sustainability Office rep
Faculty Rep
Hospitality Services rep
CSA Rep
Acting chair, student rep
Agenda:
10. Updates on Fair Trade Campus application
- Other campuses
- Meeting with Ethical Conduct Committee
11. Bringing Fair Trade Teas on campus
- Possible Alternatives to Higgins and Burke
- Steps Forward
12. Plan to Increase Visibility in the short term
- Brochures
- Replacing Signage
- Sustainability Website
- Sustainability Week
13. Transition Following Designation
- Possible subcommittee with Ethical Conduct Committee
- Integration with ethical Conduct Policy
14. Action Items and Next Meeting
21