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Sustainable Impact

Through education, investment, and research, we aim to drive sustainable impact that extends beyond our campus, empowering students, staff, and partners to contribute meaningfully to global sustainability goals. Our initiatives are centred around the following areas:

  • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): We are working to embed sustainability across the curriculum to equip students with the skills and knowledge to address complex global challenges. Our ESD initiatives include curriculum mapping and integration, working groups, and carbon literacy training to facilitate critical thinking and problem solving, ensuring graduates are prepared to make a positive environmental and social impact in their careers and communities.
  • Responsible Investment Policy: Aligned with our commitment to environmental and social responsibility, our Ethical Investment, Responsible Procurement and Sustainable Construction frameworks guide all investment decisions to ensure they are ethical, transparent, and aligned with sustainability principles. This policy emphasises divestment from fossil fuels, investment in renewable energy, and adherence to social responsibility standards, supporting a sustainable and resilient economy.
  • UKRI Sustainability Concordat: As a signatory of the UKRI Sustainability Concordat, we are committed to improving the environmental sustainability of our research practices. This commitment shows that we minimise the environmental impact of research activities, support sustainable research infrastructures, and encourage a culture of environmental stewardship within our research community.
  • Climate Action Barometer: Our Climate Action Barometer serves as a vital tool for monitoring and reporting our climate-related initiatives, progress, and emissions reductions. By tracking key sustainability metrics, we ensure accountability and transparency in our climate goals, providing the university community and stakeholders with regular updates on our progress toward net zero emissions.
  • Research for Sustainability – SDG Report: Our research efforts are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising interdisciplinary projects that address pressing global issues. The SDG Report highlights our contributions to sustainability research, from climate resilience and biodiversity conservation to sustainable infrastructure and social equity. Through impactful research, we aim to drive solutions that benefit society and the planet.

Clothes Swap: 5th March

The Environment team are hosting a clothes swap event on Wednesday 5th March from 12-6 at The Hub (next to SU shop, Horlock Court). To mark both International Womens Day and Climate Week, this event will bring colleagues together for some recycled fashion fun: bring your old clothes either on the day or to Maxwell, […]

Bike maintenance workshop a wheel success

On Tuesday February 11, University students and staff took place in a free bicycle maintenance workshop as part of Go Green Week 2014. Cycle mechanics from the National Cycling Academy in Whitefield came onto campus to pass on invaluable skills and techniques for keeping a bicycle in good shape. Puncture repair and chain maintenance were […]

Fossil-Free Friday gets (and gives) some love at Uni House!

On Valentines Day, Friends of the Earth ran a ‘Fossil-Free Friday’ event at University House, to mark People and Planet’s fossil fuel divestment campaign. Students and staff wrote Valentines Day cards to local MPs to refuse donations from the fossil fuel industry and spoke to FoE volunteers about the current fracking plans at Barton Moss near […]

Greening SURF

Guest post by Dr Vicky Simpson, SURF The Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures (SURF) has always regarded sustainability as a key focus of its work. The SURF Centre is committed to reducing its environmental impact and helping to make the planet more sustainable and responsible. In November SURF signed up to participate in […]

Achieving Bronze: Green Impact workshop tips for those who missed out!

We’re almost at the end of Go for Gold Week, and today’s workshop ‘How to Achieve Green Impact Bronze’ by Sophia Perkins of the NUS deal with a number of Green Impact’s aims: bringing people together, discussing challenges and finding solutions. For those unable to attend, here’s a summary of the contents: Working the workbook: […]

Go for Gold week is coming!

A new year always brings winds of change (at least, good intentions in that direction!) and Green Impact is gusting ahead. Seventeen student project assistants have been trained and matched with a team, some doubling to assist larger teams such as GreenLibrary. Ten teams have formed and signed up to our online workbook, with another […]

A successful launch for Green Impact!

Green Impact launched last week to a crowded Council Chamber and got off to a flying start! We were particularly pleased to see so many students attending: many have applied to become Green Impact Project Assistants, who we hope will be an asset to assist teams on their Green Impact journey, gaining vital employability skills […]

Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 Review

A big ‘Thank You’ to everyone who took part and supported this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight activities and the wider Sustainability Month. This year’s theme was ‘Take A Step’ for Fairtrade to get people to think further than simply buying Fairtrade Products. Millions of farmers in developing countries are trapped in poverty because they don’t receive […]

#gogreensalford get involved!

Find out how to travel, study, work, eat and live with less impact on the environment, save money on bills and help the local community at #gogreensalford #gogreensalford, beginning Monday 11th February will see a variety of events and activities around the University campuses to show how individuals can take small steps to reduce their […]

A New Life For Old Pants!

A big congratulations to Clare and Bec for winning the Highly Recommended award for Student Initiatives at this year’s Green Gown Awards. The black tie award ceremony was held at Birmingham University’s Great Hall and it was great to see so many people from different Universities and Colleges from around the UK. The event was […]