Maddie Black
Big impact, real change and students at the heart of it all. That’s what sustainability has looked like at your Students’ Union this year.
Big impact, real change and students at the heart of it all. That’s what sustainability has looked like at your Students’ Union this year. We know that UWE students care deeply about the planet, and this year, the work we’ve done together has been award-winning.
We’ve continued to lead the sector, achieving the top ‘Excellent’ rating in the Green Impact awards for the eleventh year running, and securing Responsible Futures accreditation again.
But what does that actually mean for you on campus?
Sustainability shouldn’t be expensive. Our Placement Uniform Swap Shop at Glenside where students can swap, donate or loan out healthcare uniform has already saved healthcare students over £8,800 this year, helping you get placement-ready without the price tag.
“I have been really stressed as I did not receive my uniform on time, and my placement starts next week! My lecturer told me about this and I feel so relieved.”
“The sleeves on my tunic have been way too tight and have made it hard and uncomfortable for me when on placement – this size feels so much better, thank you so much.”
Meanwhile, at our City Campus hub, the Community Corner at Bower Ashton Students’ Union keeps climbing from strength to strength. It has become part of students’ everyday habits, coming in to access the free teas and coffees or to see what is on offer in the larder or in the swaps. This year, we have given out 712 items of clothing, 1,226 condoms and over £1,483 of cost-of-living provisions from the Community Larder.
“This is my favourite place in Bower. I can't help but come here and have a look, I get such great stuff”. “Thank you for this it has saved me a lot of money”.
Have you tried the new ‘Lendable’ cups yet? We’ve teamed up with the University to trial a frictionless way to enjoy your coffee without the single-use waste.
We’ve also expanded our plastic-free period product scheme to 96 locations across all campuses, saving 98kg of plastic and making sure nobody is caught short.
Through our Sustainable Period Products trial, we have estimated that we saved 130.78kg of plastic per year. If students carried on using these products over 5 years, then this would mean 653.9kg of plastic saved over this time.
“I chose the reusable pads to replace the disposable ones I had been using since it's more sustainable ... I find that I feel a lot more positive when using the reusable pads.”
The best part of our sustainability work is that it’s led by you. We now have 41 Sustainability Officers across our sports clubs and societies, and our Greener Futures programme is bigger than ever. Whether it’s the Lacrosse Society raising nearly £150 at a Fairtrade Bake Sale or the Sustainability Committee getting stuck in at the Frenchay Community Garden, you are proving that small actions lead to massive change.
This is sustainability in action, practical, student led and making a real difference every day.
Want to get involved? Join the Green Team or chat with your society’s Sustainability Officer to see how you can make a change for people and the planet.