Sustainability Action Groups
The Sustainability team at the University coordinates five internal action groups which are open to all students and staff to join.
Each group meets online every two to three months to shape sustainability projects to deliver across the whole year. When necessary, Action Group proposals are cascaded upwards to the Sustainability Committee, which is chaired by a member of the University’s Senior Executive Team (SET).
Travel & Transport
With a focus on sustainable travel to and from the University and across the wider community, the Travel and Transport Action Group promotes and facilitates access to sustainable transport options. Recent initiatives of this action group have included the delivery of bike repair & maintenance sessions on campus and contributing to the design of the travel survey.
Food, Waste & Resources
The Food, Waste and Resources Action Group coordinates a range of initiatives including an annual campaign to donate items to British Heart Foundation (BHF) during the student move out period. The group also delivers campaigns to raise awareness of recycling, share practical ideas to reduce food waste, and minimise waste generation. Recently, this action group also contributed to the development of the University’s Sustainable Food Policy.
Biodiversity
The Biodiversity Action Group gets involved in monitoring wildlife and improving spaces for wildlife on campus (such as our resident hedgehogs). The group organises BioBlitz nature surveys and actively participates in the annual City Nature Challenge to find and document local wildlife. Projects to build and install bird houses and bird feeders, develop wildflower areas and increase biodiversity on site are delivered throughout the year.
Sustainable Procurement
Working towards reducing the environmental impact of the goods and services the University buys, the Sustainable Procurement Action Group helps improve organisational procurement choices. This group is working on promoting reuse of equipment, furniture and items through the Warp It platform. It is also working on developing guidance on embedding circular economy principles within all purchasing decisions.
Energy, Emissions & Water
The Energy, Emissions and Water Action Group delivers the annual Christmas Switch Off campaign to save energy when the University is shut down for the holidays. It delivers Carbon Literacy training throughout the year to empower staff and students to undertake emission reduction actions. Recent projects by this group have also included a Digital Spring Clean Up event to reduce University’s digital storage and the installation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) planters at Exton Park site.
Whether students and staff want to join existing projects or would like to propose other sustainability projects that are not mentioned above, the Sustainability team would love them to join the relevant action group(s) and actively participate.