University of Bayreuth Once Again Awarded the "Fairtrade" Seal

Since 2016, the University of Bayreuth has held the title of Fairtrade University, and this designation has now been re-certified for the next two years. This recognises the university as an influential societal actor and a driving force for globally fair and economically sustainable development. The university's commitment to Fairtrade is spearheaded by its internal sustainability office, GreenCampus, which is also responsible for ensuring compliance with the certification criteria. These include establishing a dedicated steering group for fair trade, offering Fairtrade products both at events and on a permanent basis, and organising educational activities about Fair Trade.

On campus, Fairtrade products are featured at events such as Summer Feeling and UNIKAT, as well as in vending machines and the cafeteria. Additionally, the coffee served in the canteens and the Glashaus café is fair trade. Even the clothing in the university shop bears fair trade certifications, and plans are underway to introduce fair trade footballs for university sports. The next goal for GreenCampus's Fairtrade group is to expand collaboration with the Kulmbach campus and the City of Bayreuth, which itself was recognised as a Fairtrade Town in 2024.

The aims of Fairtrade include improving the living and working conditions of people involved in production in developing countries. The Fairtrade seal guarantees, for instance, a stable minimum wage for workers and offers training on climate protection and adaptation to help them better address these challenges in their agricultural practices. The Fairtrade University programme has been in place in Germany since 2014, supporting higher education institutions committed to fair trade, social responsibility, and sustainable consumption.