Fairtrade
Loughborough was one of the first universities to become a Fairtrade university in April 2005. Both the students' union and imago have been the instigators for Loughborough to become a Fairtrade university and continue to work to renew the accreditation every year.
The students union and imago played a large part in assisting Charnwood in becoming a Fairtrade Borough in 2006 and now many of the local schools are looking to becoming Fairtrade schools which the university are supporting them in.
Loughborough University, imago services and Loughborough Students Union are committed to promoting, supporting and using Fairtrade, as well as understand it is a major part of our contribution within the global community.
Loughborough University, imago services and Loughborough Students' Union's committments include:
- Ensuring Fairtrade is sold by imago services and the Loughborough Students Union as an option in all campus shops, restaurants, bars and cafes as well as some vending machines wherever possible. The University and imago services will continue to expand its product range when it is able.
- Ensuring Fairtrade refreshments are served at all conferences, meetings and events.
- Promoting the Fairtrade mark in all appropriate publications and company leaflets including all promotional leaflets.
- Fairtrade storyboards / notices and posters will remain placed in all halls of residences and where products are being sold.
- Articles in student and staff newsletters on Fairtrade developments and on the university, imago services and students union website.
- Promotion of Fairtrade through continued events, particularly during the annual Fairtrade fortnight and the students union ethical and environmental week.
- Developing and maintaining a steering group to regulate Fairtrade activities both at the university and students union.
As well as selling products at the imago retail outlets student union shops we work together with promoting events for Fairtrade fortnight, have regular Fairtrade stalls in the atrium at the Edward Herbert building, promote Fairtrade events, film showings and talks from the Fairtrade foundation.
We have a Fairtrade steering group which meets by-monthly to arrange Fairtrade events and look at new Fairtrade products which we could promote. We always try to encourage new members to the group.
If anyone wishes to join the group please call 01509 234396. A representative from the steering group attends the Charnwood Action for Fairtrade (CAFF) meetings.
Raindrops for Life
As an initiative to support Fairtrade, imago in partnership with WEDC and The National Forest Spring Water Company promote the Raindrops for Life campaign through the imago, refresh and fuel spring water sold across the campus throughout all the imago outlets, refresh delivered service, fuel taste and dine outlets and is also used at Holywell Park, Burleigh Court and Burleigh Springs.
A donation from each bottle goes towards Raindrops for Life to provide water harvesting tanks in the Dhar region of India in conjunction with WEDC. We have, to date, provided seven water harvesting tanks.
