Kingston University is among one of 25 higher education institutions that has achieved a Fairtrade University and College award.

In partnership with the Union of Kingston Students (UKS), the University has achieved its prestigious status after being audited for the academic years of 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Now in its fifth year, the decorated award is delivered in partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation, the National Union of Students (NUS) and Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK).

The award programme encourages partnerships between a university's student union, its sustainability and catering teams as well as academic staff and students.

The programme includes raising awareness and campaigning activities, and student's duties of volunteering as auditors after receiving training, which equips them with transferrable skills and experience in conducting audits.

Kingston University is among one of 25 higher education institutions that has achieved a Fairtrade University and College award (Kingston University)

Kingston University has been awarded Fairtrade University 1 star status, something Stephanie Todd, Operations Sustainability Manager at Kingston University feels reflects their successful collaborative efforts.

She said: "Over the past two years our Fairtrade Award Team has worked hard to raise the profile of Fairtrade here at the University. We have a civic responsibility to ensure we are supporting fair and equal trade."

The Fairtrade Foundation believes higher education institutions have huge environmental and social impacts on the world, and not only in the way they choose to reduce their own carbon emissions.

The Foundation encourages universities to influence the next generation of leaders by encouraging students to make environmentally and socially conscious decisions, and always have sustainability in mind.

Kingston University has committed a strong focus to reflect the Fairtrade Foundations standards, including, working to raise awareness with its students on issues ethical and sustainable consumption and increasing the availability of Fairtrade products on sale at the university.

Joanna Milis, Education Campaigns Manager for the Fairtrade Foundation added: "At a time when young people are forming their values and shaping their future careers, it is essential that they are presented with a wide range of narratives and opportunities to think differently about the world.

"We are one global community. Our decisions have far-reaching consequences, and only together can we tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet and its inhabitants."

Achieving Fairtrade University status is one of the many ambitious sustainability targets Kingston University has set itself in its 5-year Institutional Sustainability Plan, which can be accessed here.