Campaigns and an exhibition raise awareness of fair trade in Jena

The city of Jena will retain its title as a Fairtrade City for the next two years. Fairtrade Deutschland e. V. has once again confirmed the designation, thereby recognizing the city’s long-standing commitment to fair trade, sustainable consumption, and global responsibility. The city, together with numerous partners, used the recertification as an opportunity to publicly showcase its commitment to fair trade through an exhibition and a hands-on event.

Award in Recognition of Long-Standing Commitment

The event kicked off with the opening of the exhibition “Fair Trade Connects—From Nicaragua to Jena” in the City Hall foyer. Numerous guests from city administration, civil society, and various initiatives and organizations gathered to celebrate the renewed designation and discuss the many facets of fair trade.

In her welcoming remarks, Kathleen Lützkendorf, the city councilor for Social Affairs, Health, Immigration, and Climate, emphasized the importance of this shared commitment:“This renewed award shows that fair trade is firmly established in Jena. This commitment is not borne solely by the city administration, but thrives on the dedication of many people—in associations, educational institutions, church congregations, businesses, and initiatives. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all of them.”

Numerous projects from recent years demonstrate just how diverse this commitment is. These include, among others, the “Möhrchen” booklet for elementary schools, the digital transformation map, the Fair Trade certification for daycare centers and schools, the fair-trade city coffee “San Jena,” and the long-standing city partnership with San Marcos in Nicaragua.

This partnership was also a focal point of the exhibition. It highlighted how fair trade, municipal development cooperation, and climate justice work together. The exhibition also highlights the structures of the Fairtrade movement and illustrates the connections between climate change and agricultural production in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It also illustrates how Fairtrade producer networks are supported in adapting to the consequences of climate change and how small-scale farmers worldwide are working to promote greater climate justice.

The day concluded with a communal cooking and film evening at the Foodsharing Café in Jena, organizedby fairwertbar e. V., which provided an opportunity to revisit the day’s themes while cooking, eating, and sharing ideas together.

Photo Exhibition

The photo exhibition will remain on display in the Rathausdiele through September 13, 2026, and invites visitors to explore the many facets of Fair Trade and its importance for sustainable and equitable development.

Another highlight of the opening was the presentation of an organic-certified and fair-trade coffee from Nicaragua, which was transported to Hamburg in a climate-friendly manner by sailing ship and then brought to Jena by bicycle as part of the “Fair Coffee Ride.” The initiative combines fair trade with climate-friendly mobility and brings sustainable supply chains to life in a tangible way. The tour wasorganized by Freiberger Agenda 21 e. V. and funded by Engagement Global with grants from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The 13-day bicycle tour passed through eight federal states and made stops at 15 locations—including Jena.

Fair Fashion as a Contribution to Sustainable Consumption

The following day, the participatory event “Fair Fashion, Join In!” at Stadtlab Jena focused on another aspect of fair trade. Together with the Eine-Welt-Netzwerk Thüringen e. V. and the UmsonstHaus im MobB e.V., the city invited participants to explore the social and environmental impacts of global textile production. Through short presentations, discussions, and interactive activities, participants talked about fair supply chains, sustainable consumption, and ways to make their own clothing choices more conscious.

The clothing giveaway organized by the UmsonstHaus Jena was very well received. Well-preserved garments found new owners, sending a practical message about resource conservation and the circular economy. The event made it clear that fair trade and sustainable consumption begin in everyday life and that everyone can contribute.

Chocolate Workshop for Daycare Centers Complements the Celebrations

Another offering as part of the celebrations marking Jena’s renewed designation as a Fairtrade City is an interactive chocolate workshop for daycare centers, which the City of Jena is hosting in November at StadtLab Jenain collaboration with the Eine-Welt-Netzwerk Thüringen e. V. (EWNT). During the workshop, the children embark on an exciting journey of discovery along the chocolate’s journey—from the cocoa plantations in countries of the Global South, through processing, all the way to local supermarkets. At various hands-on stations, they use all their senses to learn how chocolate is made and who is involved in its production. Topics such as fair trade, child labor, sustainable consumption, and global interconnections are also taught in an age-appropriate manner. The program concludes with a small chocolate workshop where children can make and design their own chocolate. The chocolate workshop playfully demonstrates how fair-trade products can contribute to better living and working conditions, while also raising awareness of the responsible use of food and resources.

Fairtrade as Part of Jena’s Sustainability Strategy

The city views this renewed designation as a mandate to further expand fair trade. Among other things, additional measures for sustainable public procurement are planned. Furthermore, the Fairtrade steering group is to be further developed into a close-knit network.

The Fairtrade Towns campaign supports municipalities in implementing the United Nations’ global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level. The Fairtrade Towns designation is therefore also anchoredas a concrete measure in the City of Jena’s sustainability strategy.