Fairtrade seal for the Campus of Art and Design Trier and the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld

[Translate to Englisch:] Der Campus Gestaltung ist jetzt Fairtrade-University: v.l.n.r. Prof. Harald Steber (Nachhaltigkeitsbeauftragter, Lehrgebiet Produktdesign/Packaging), Selâle Franger (Fachbereichskoordinatorin), Dennis Hill (Qualitätsbeauftragter), Susanne Krämer (Öffentlichkeitsarbeit), Jasmine Leinen (Student. Mitglied der Steuerungsgruppe Fairtrade), Prof. Jörg Obergfell (Mitglieder der Steuerungsgruppe, Transdisziplinäre Lehre), Prof. Dr. Matthias Sieveke (Dekan), Foto: Marc Hary

Currently, there are around 30 universities nationwide that have taken on the task of bringing fair trade into everyday university life. It is a commitment to human rights and more environmental protection in global trade and thus also an important contribution to the implementation of the university's internal sustainability strategies. It is all the more gratifying that this award from TransFair could now be presented in the anniversary year of the two campuses.

Fairtrade universities are role models for social responsibility at universities. Bringing more fairness to the campus - that is the goal of the Fairtrade Universities campaign. Whether coffee and sugar, a snack in the canteen or T-shirts for events - Fairtrade products can be used in many places. In order to receive the award, universities must meet various criteria that show that Fair Trade is promoted on campus. A committee made up of members of the student body, the administration and the university's catering businesses meet regularly to promote Fair Trade. Among others, Prof. Dr. Klaus Helling and the Green Office from Birkenfeld as well as Prof. Dr. Matthias Sieveke from Trier and the Sustainability Officer of the Campus Gestaltung, Prof. Harald Steber, have successfully started this initiative.

Planned lectures and studies on sustainability
However, the "Fairtrade University" award does not only apply to the gastronomic offer - regular networking meetings, further education, joint interdisciplinary and cross-campus events and lectures are also planned for the long term. For example, the joint online lecture "Slow Fashion - From Fast Fashion to Decelerated Fashion Consumption" by cultural manager and scholar Anika Neugart could already be held on 28 June 2021.

Study on the conception of the EffCheck product design with pilot application
The Environmental Campus Birkenfeld and the Design Campus have been commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment, Energy, Food and Forestry in RLP to expand the existing EffCheck funding programme to include the funding priority of product design from mid-July 2021. With the present project, another EffCheck variant will be developed and a pilot application will be carried out in 5-10 companies. The EffCheck Product Design advises companies on product improvements of an already manufactured reference product, on a product redesign or a product redesign along the life cycle. The principles of EcoDesign are to be incorporated as early as the product design stage. Prof. Dr. Klaus Helling from the Environmental Campus and Prof. Harald Steber from the Design Campus are in charge. They are working with the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management on the implementation.

[Translate to Englisch:] Auch am Umwelt-Campus-Birkenfeld freut man sich über die Auszeichnung: v.l.n.r. Dorit Schumann (Präsidentin Hochschule Trier), Claudia Hornig (Kanzlerin Hochschule Trier), Prof. Dr. Klaus Helling (Dekan und Nachhaltigkeitsbeauftragter), Luisa Schmidt (Green Office), Benjamin Strauß (Leiter Campus-Restaurant Culinaria), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutheil (Dekan), Prof. Dr. Stefan Diemer (Vizepräsident der Hochschule Trier), Foto: Jannik Scheer