Ethical Purchasing

The Canadian Federation of Students-Services offers a number of programs and services in order to meet the unique needs of students and to help students’ union save money. By combining students’ unions’ promotional material orders from across the country, we can achieve economies of scale.

By purchasing in bulk, we can buy high-quality materials at substantially lower prices than any campus organisation could secure individually. By dealing directly with manufacturers, like the Single Mothers’ Cooperative of El Salvador, the Canadian Federation of Students brings workers and purchasers closer together so that we know exactly how our materials are made.

Fair Trade and Union-Made

Through this service, students’ unions like the GSAÉD directly impact the shape of the promotional materials industry. When we purchase union or cooperatively made materials, other companies feel obligated to offer products that are made under ethical conditions and respect workers’ rights to organize.

Sweatshop-Free Campuses

Holding a sweatshop-free event or adopting a sweatshop-free purchasing policy is an easy way to reduce the impact on the environment and promote ethical labour standards. This service provides students’ unions with union and cooperatively made materials to ensure that our campuses are sweat-free.

With certain minimum order sizes, the GSAÉD can purchase mugs, water bottles, pens, highlighters, lanyards, buttons, t-shirts, tote bags, and notebooks, with or without customised artwork.

If you would like to place an order on behalf of your departmental students’ association, or for questions or inquiries about the ethical purchasing service, contact the student life & equityCommissioner at studentlife.equity@gsaed.ca