Global Passport

Stamp 6, Policy & Ethos: Part 4.

4.1. Sustainable and Ethical Purchasing Policy

Sustainably sourcing goods for the school is a direct way to make a local decision that has a global impact. Adopting a SEPP demonstrates a commitment to environmental sustainability, safe workplaces and performance standards for suppliers that include core labour conventions to the International Labour Organisation. Ideally the SEEP will pay particular attention to high-risk industries that schools purchase from, including textiles/ clothing and agricultural products (e.g. tea and coffee) and is implemented with all suppliers and promoted through the school community.

Below are some resources and practical school examples to guide you through implementing this stamp category:

Resources

WWGS Supports

WorldWise Global Schools (WWGS) are on hand through phone, email and visits to guide you developing a SEPP Policy. Each school is very different in terms of their capacity to influence procurement policies within a school. An easy place to start is with introducing Fairtrade products into your canteen and staffroom. Please contact us if you have any questions at all on this.

Ethical Purchasing Guide

This leaflet encourages and supports schools to adopt an ethical approach to its purchasing and consumerism practices. It provides an overview of what ethical purchasing is, offers a number of links for teaching resources to explore the global dimensions of ethical purchasing with students; gives a number of key ethical recommendations for schools and closes with a list of ethical purchasing resources and websites to support schools.

Becoming a Fairtrade School

Fairtrade Ireland takes you through the 5 goals you need to achieve in order to become a Fairtrade school. The website provides a short and clear set of guidelines in both English and Irish that explains how to become a Fairtrade School and calls for your registration to avail of additional supports.

Department of Education and Skills – Procurement

General information and guidelines on procurement in the Education and Training Sector.

Fairtrade Schools

Fairtrade fortnight is an opportunity to get the whole school community thinking about global justice issues around food and poverty. It explores the local to global issues and how Fairtrade can support farming communities to get fair and equal wages, conditions and supports. Click the link above for more resources and information to help you become a Fairtrade school.

Practical School Examples:

Here are some examples from the applications of Global Passport Awardees. These provide some great examples for what your school can do in this school category:

Moville Community College, Donegal

“Staff are now using Fairtrade projects e.g. tea, coffee, sugar. HE and Breakfast club have aspirations for same but more work needed on practicalities as local supermarket struggling to get suppliers. More research into school uniform needed. Trying to source Fairtrade footballs for PE also”. Diplomatic Global Passport Award Winner 2015

St Brendan’s Community School, Offaly

“The school has shown a commitment by adopting the SEPP in the area of Electricity (involvement for the last 15 months) and will continue to progress this environmental sustainable commitment in the coming years. CSPE week has also allowed students to assess our schools carbon footprint and how we as a community can improve our energy use. This commitment is also demonstrated in our involvement in the Green Schools.” Diplomatic Global Passport Award Winner 2015