Fair Trade at Loyola Marymount University Alison Sackerson Faculty Advisor: Brianne Gilbert Fair Trade History at LMU What is Fair Trade Fair Trade is an economic system that provides opportunities for farmers, workers and artisans to lift themselves out of poverty. Fair Trade certified products assure consumers that producers are paid fair prices for their products and labor, protect the environment and are able to provide for their communities. Fair Trade Colleges and Universities across the nation promote social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment for Fair Trade producers, workers, artisans and their families. LMU Fair Trade Status means an institutional commitment to embed Fair Trade principles and practices within administrative policy and within the social and academic communities. Fair Trade Impact Globally, Fair Trade makes an incredible impact through building business, protecting the environment, empowering women, supporting education, providing healthcare, and fighting poverty. Fall 2013 16 Spring 2014 43 Fall 2014 47 Number of Fair Trade Products on Campus Fair Trade Rubric: After Becoming a Fair Trade University Conclusion Fair Trade Stakeholder Interviews 2012 • Sodexo switched all coffee on campus to Green Mountain – A Fair Trade coffee company January, 2013 • Fair Trade committee formed at LMU February 18, 2014 • LMU officially became the second Jesuit University to achieve a Fair Trade University status April, 2014 • Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf coffee cart opens on campus with “University Blend” Fair Trade coffee developed for LMU, now distributed nationwide Introduction In 2013, a group of staff members and student activists formed a committee to make Loyola Marymount University a Fair Trade University. In doing so, the University would commit to achieving five components laid out by the non- profit: Fair Trade Campaigns (view the five steps in the chart below). On February 18, 2014, only a year after the committee formed, LMU became the second Jesuit University to achieve a Fair Trade (FT) status. Now that this goal has been met, LMU needs to set new goals which will help to ensure that Fair Trade continues to be successful on campus. This research aims to report how Fair Trade has made an impact on campus in the year since becoming a Fair Trade University and what can be done to improve success on campus. Pass a Fair Trade resolution Draw up a resolution that reflects the university’s commitment to Fair Trade Commit to Fair Trade education Sponsor Fair Trade educational events and activities on campus and in the classroom Source Fair Trade at events & meetings Serve up Fair Trade coffee, tea and other products in offices, at events and through catering Reach out to campus outlets Work with vendors and food service providers to offer at lest two Fair Trade products at each outlet on campus Build your team The Fair Trade committee provides leadership and direction for your campaign Before 2012, there were few Fair Trade products sold on campus besides Fair Trade coffee. In 2013, when the discussion began to make LMU a Fair Trade University, Sodexo did its part in attempting to bring more Fair Trade products to campus. To meet the standards to be a Fair Trade University, there must be at least two Fair Trade products in each campus outlet. Starting with goods such as coffee and chocolate bars, Sodexo began to offer more Fair Trade products on campus. The biggest challenge at first was that there were not many “Sodexo approved” companies that offered Fair Trade products. Now that pre-approved companies are creating more Fair Trade products, Sodexo is able to bring these products to LMU. In the spring of 2014, once LMU became a Fair Trade university, the number of Fair Trade products more than doubled on campus. Now LMU has many Fair Trade products including ice cream, honey, and granola bars. 5 Steps to Becoming a Fair Trade University In 2012, Sodexo began to incorporate Fair Trade products on LMU’s campus. A few short months later, the Fair Trade committee formed with student activists and supportive LMU staff members. Working together, LMU, students, and Sodexo began to accomplish the steps necessary to become a Fair Trade University. Now that these various milestones have been met, and LMU has been a Fair Trade University, more goals need to be set to ensure that there is continuous Fair Trade improvement at LMU in the years to come. Once a school has achieved their goal of becoming a Fair Trade University, it is important that the school sets other goals to ensure that Fair Trade continuously improves and expands on campus. The rubric above shows five areas involving Fair Trade on a campus and gives explanations for what would be a “fair”, “good”, and “excellent” rating for each category. Any work involving Fair Trade is a great step in the right direction therefore, this rubric is intended to help schools note how they can improve upon the efforts they are already making. LMU falls mostly in the “good” category with some areas as “fair” . All stakeholders are committed to continuing this partnership and making sure that LMU remains a Fair Trade University. Moving forward, the LMU Fair Trade Committee can see where there is room for improvement and set goals for this next year. 2012 Sodexo switched all coffee on campus to Green Mountain – A Fair Trade coffee company 2013 January 2013 Fair Trade committee formed at LMU Spring 2013 Committee accomplishes task of building their team Fall 2013 Committee accomplishes task of reaching out to campus outlets Fall 2013 16 Fair Trade products sold on campus Fall 2013 Committee accomplishes task of sourcing FT at events and meetings Fall 2013 Committee accomplishes task of committing to FT education 2014 February 18, 2014 Committee accomplishes task of passing a FT resolution Spring 2014 43 Fair Trade products sold on campus Spring 2014 LMU becomes the second Jesuit University to obtain Fair Trade status Spring 2014 Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf coffee cart opens on campus with “University Blend” Fair Trade coffee developed for LMU, now distributed nationwide Fall 2014 47 Fair Trade products sold on campus Fall 2014 Committee receives $475 grant 2012 * The blue boxes indicate where LMU falls on this rubric Fall 2013 LMU hosts Fair Trade conference Look for These Logos on Products: Loyola Marymount University • Accomplishments • Hosted the annual Fair Trade conference in the fall of 2013 • Challenges • Ensuring that all offices/departments on campus offer FT coffee and tea • Incorporating FT into an academic setting • Opportunities • Incorporate FT into curriculum • Offer Alternative Break trips focused on FT • Improved advertising on campus Sodexo • Accomplishments • When bringing CBTL to campus, they required the company to offer a FT coffee product – now CBTL offers the University Blend across the nation • Challenges • FT produce difficult to bring to campus • Only able to offer products that are through pre-approved companies by Sodexo • Opportunities • As companies focus on producing more FT products, the more FT products Sodexo is able to bring to campus Students • Accomplishments • The FT committee received a $475 grant in the fall of 2014 to focus on educating and recruiting first year students on Fair Trade • Challenges • Keeping students engaged year after year • Spreading FT information to student groups across campus • Opportunities • Focus on recruiting freshmen to join the FT committee • Partner with other Fair Trade Universities in the area to do events Purchasing Policy Student Coordinator Campus Ally Academia / Research Extra Engagements Excellent A policy that incorporates even more 100% FT products on campus and includes a reporting mechanism to gauge impact A paid campus intern who has set hours each week to do Fair Trade outreach, plan events, and engage the university in Fair Trade education Multiple campus allies that work with the campus Fair Trade committee to host events, educate others, and give the committee support Fair Trade is encouraged to be discussed and used in class settings. Also there is an effort to do campus wide reports and research on Fair Trade Taking Fair Trade beyond the campus, by partnering with other schools to do events or helping other groups achieve Fair Trade status Good A policy in place that calls for incorporating a limited number of products (coffee, tea, chocolate) as 100% Fair Trade A head of committee/ president of the Fair Trade club on campus – they are the student point person for all things Fair Trade A department or group on campus that often will work with the Fair Trade committee to host events, educate others, and give the committee support An accurate count of how many Fair Trade products are sold on campus as well as some reports detailing Fair Trade activity on campus Partnering with other student groups and campus departments to do Fair Trade events. Such as: Greek life, first year students, etc. Fair No purchasing policy in place, just the passed resolution requiring a minimum of 2 Fair Trade products in each campus outlet A group of students who take on different tasks supporting Fair Trade on their campus No consistent campus allies – just the committee on campus and support from dedicated members throughout the campus General statistics that are gathered each year about Fair Trade on campus and submitted to Fair Trade Campaigns Fair Trade committee hosts a few Fair Trade events a semester on campus.