One of the Union’s objectives from its strategy was to work towards our improvement in University Green League. Part of that work included taking part in the NUS Green Impact scheme. The NUS Green Impact is an environmental accreditation and awards scheme that is undertaken by students’ unions, universities and community colleges. It helps recognises new work and continuous changes made by these institutions to make their campuses greener.
Headed up by our Commercial Services Manager, a team of staff reviewed current practices and implemented changes at the Union to the scheme’s criteria in order to better measure and reduce our environmental impact. 28 criteria were completed in total for our submission this year, including:
- Switching A4 paper at the Union to 100% recycled material where possible
- Conducting a waste audit of the Union Building with the help of College’s Soft Services Department to help us highlight ways in which we can improve our recycling efforts
- Introducing a new green campaign in the Union Shop and Shop Extra to encourage our customers to reuse bags
- Supporting student-led campaigns on environmental issues, including Fossil Free Imperial
- Taking part in NUS’s Snap It Off campaign , highlighting buildings on campus with their lights left on
- Documenting these changes in a new Green Impact section on our website
After an audit of our work by the NUS, we have been awarded the Bronze Award, which is a great achievement. Schemes that were started for this year’s Green Impact are continuing, and plans to develop work to gain the Silver Award have already been set in motion.
For more information, visit the Green Impact area of our website .
