Green Impact Awards

Continuing what has been an outstanding year for achievements in sustainability for the University, this year’s Green Impact awards ceremony has taken place celebrating the work of staff and students. There were 15 Green Impact teams across the University this year.  Each team worked on a specific project during the year, working alongside a student Green Impact Project assistant.  Students and teams were matched at a ‘Speed Dating’ event in October 2019.  Teams were audited by student volunteer auditors who were trained and supported in the process by Students Organising for Sustainability UK (the sustainability arm of NUS), and awards ranged from Bronze through to Platinum.

Here is a full list of this year’s awards.

NUS Green Impact Bronze Award:

Worcester Business School – Project on studying the commuting habits of students

School of Science and the Environment – An ambitious project in it’s first year on improving biodiversity of red-listed farmland birds with feeding and to improve bird populations

Communications & Participation – Focused on many different ideas such as purchasing an electric pool car for the team and installing composting bins in the department

NUS Green Impact Silver Award:

Cleaning Team – Successful ‘Ban the bin campaign’ to remove personal bins to improve recycling on campus

Campus Services, Waste – Sourcing new, ethical mattresses for the accommodation team

Lakeside Campus – Planted over 200 trees with staff and student volunteers

Student Services – Created a Carbon Footprint calculator for all staff to track their carbon emissions

The Hive – Provided an electric bike for the department to travel for meetings and replaced recycling bins to encourage better recycling.

HR – To establish a policy & procedure to encourage staff, as individuals and in teams, to volunteer in the community

NUS Green Impact Gold Award:

Finance Department – Had 3 projects on creating eco bricks, reducing paper use and engaging with local primary school with Go Green Week

Vice Chancellor’s Office – Raised funds for 3 toilets for international community charity through reselling books and charity bake sales

Security Team – When on their morning and night patrols, would leave notes on people’s desks across all campuses to encourage people to turn off equipment

Worcester Students’ Union – An enhanced outside space made from recycled materials for students to relax in

SSES Academic Support Unit – Health and Wellbeing campaign, with staff attending mindfulness training and developed ‘5 ways of wellbeing’ for all staff

NUS Green Impact Platinum Award:

Aramark – Eco to Go scheme – a new reusable food container in Aramark outlets on all campuses, with the aim of reducing single-use plastics used by 15% in the first year after its introduction. Allows alternative packaging to be available for those who would like to use it. The scheme comes with an app, allowing close monitoring of uptake

NUS Green Impact Special Award:

In addition, two students and one member of staff received special awards for their outstanding work.

Student Leadership Award

Georgie Sherrard – Green Impact Project Assistant

Student Sustainability Award

Gabija Svedaite – Green Impact Project Assistant

Environmental Hero

Remy Bentley – Communications and Participation Team