PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NEWS

  

News

27 February 2014

City and university gain Fair Trade designations in Helsinki

Helsinki has become the seventh Finnish city and the University of Helsinki the fourth Finnish university to earn Fair Trade designations thanks to their policy of procuring Fair Trade products. “The City of Helsinki has paid a great deal of attention to sustainable development and ethical principles in its procurement over recent years. We are pleased to be conferred this designation,” said Helsinki Mayor Jussi Pajunen.

University of Helsinki Chancellor Thomas Wilhelmsson spoke of the impact Fair Trade can have when embraced widely, “We seek to make fair trade a common cause in the entire university community. The cause unites the students, the staff, the caterers and our partners. Together we can advance social justice on the global arena.”

Janne Sivonen, Executive Director of Fairtrade Finland reflected that the majority of Finns are in favour of Fair Trade purchasing. “According to a study we commissioned, nearly 80 percent of Finns consider that public funds should not be used to purchase products that have been produced by using child labour or by violating worker rights in some other manner.”

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