The award is jointly delivered by the Fairtrade Foundation and Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK).  

To reach the required standard for the award, Queen’s had to achieve 11 mandatory criteria, which included actions from Procurement, Campus Food and Drink, Queen’s Student’s Union, and our staff and students.  

This is an accreditation that is reviewed every two years and identifies Queen’s as a University that has made a commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade, with Queen’s first becoming a Fairtrade University in 2006.  

Brian Horgan, Head of Campus Food, Drink and Retail at Queen’s University Belfast said: 

“This award demonstrates the importance we put behind Fairtrade and provides a foundation for us to develop our support across Fairtrade and other ethical areas that we can influence.  

“Congratulations to everyone involved, working cross-departmentally to achieve this award emphasises the importance of partnership working within Queen’s and showcases what we can achieve when we come together.”  

Sara Lynch, Head of Sustainability at Queen’s University Belfast said: 

“Being recognised as a Fairtrade University highlights our commitment to treating people fairly and protecting the environment — a commitment that aligns with our vision for a more just and sustainable future, as outlined in our Net Zero Plan. 

“This recognition reinforces our pledge to lead by example in key areas such as climate action, equality, diversity and inclusion, and sustainable procurement, while actively contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” 

At Queen’s, we’re passionate about sourcing the very best produce from local suppliers for our kitchens and as much as possible, we source produce locally and from the island of Ireland, in addition to ensuring we provide as many Fairtrade products as possible in our hospitality offering.  

• Find out more about Fairtrade at Queen’s.