Fairtrade at Rhine-Waal University – An Interim Review
It has now been a year since Rhine-Waal University was re-designated as a Fairtrade University in October 2021. This accolade from Fairtrade Germany recognises the university’s ongoing commitment to fair trade. The renewal of the title was made possible in particular by the Fairtrade student group, which organised numerous fair trade events between 2019 and 2021 despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. In the 2021–2022 academic year, the group continued to offer a variety of events, both online and in person.
The academic fair year kicked off with Freshers’ Week, when Isabell Daniels and Elisabeth Frey welcomed new students via video, introduced the work of the Fairtrade student group, and invited them to get involved.
On 15 November, the students organised a clothing swap and flea market in Kleve to give students and others access to affordable clothing, while also promoting sustainable practices by preventing the disposal of used clothes, whether as “donations” or in the rubbish bin.
Activities continued with a “Sweet Night” on 2 December 2021, featuring cocoa products and insights into West African cocoa production, including the widespread issue of child labour caused in part by low global cocoa prices.
For Valentine’s Day, the group shared virtual roses on Instagram, highlighting that flowers imported from Kenya and other African countries are far more climate-friendly than those grown in heated greenhouses in Europe.
In April, the students participated in Fashion Revolution Week, exploring textile trade certifications and fair working conditions, and commemorated the Rana Plaza disaster of 2013, which claimed over 1,100 lives, mostly women, in a Bangladeshi factory.
Over the summer, they joined the “Make an Impact” day of the Start Glocal university project, running a stand to promote Fairtrade and the student group. In June, they held a batik workshop, allowing participants to create fairtrade cotton bags. The year concluded in July with a gathering at the Spoy, featuring Fairtrade ice cream.
Throughout the year, the group remained active on Instagram with their “Fair Friday” posts https://www.instagram.com/p/CWLWUmxguA1, sharing updates on sustainability and fair trade topics. “The Fairtrade student group raises awareness of fair trade at the university and beyond through campus events, regional activities, and social media,” praised Ingrid Hendricks, head of the Fairtrade University steering committee, recognising the students’ dedication.