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News from the Sustainability Steering Group

13/12/2019

The University has established a new Sustainability Steering Group to drive forward its new strategy in this area.

eco-friendly

The group meets monthly and is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor with members from across the University, including representatives from Estates and Facilities (Energy and Catering), Procurement, External Engagement, Strategic Planning, and each of the three Faculties. There is also representation from the Students’ Union and the group is working on getting further student involvement.

The aim is to work towards an interim Sustainability Strategy for 2019/2020, then a ten-year strategy to fit in with the new Strategic Plan which will run until 2030. Discussions at the first meeting included where the University is up to now, some of the initiatives being looked at by Catering around reducing plastic and food waste, biodiversity and how we can include or embed sustainability into the curriculum.

One of the key actions was for representatives from the Students’ Union and Catering to meet to discuss how unsold food from our outlets could be safely provided for students in need, and this has been taken forward. Catering Services are now identifying areas on the campuses where unsold food can be left for students in need to collect at the end of the day that complies with health and safety requirements.

The second meeting opened with an update from the first Sustainability Advisory Group meeting including areas of concern and ideas. The meeting then focused on Curriculum with a discussion about how to embed sustainability into the curriculum. The group also looked at the theme of Campus, and Catering colleagues shared some new reuseable water bottles which will be on campus in the new year. There was also a discussion around a plastic free pledge and how Microsoft 365 Teams could be used by staff to reduce paper and travel.

Membership of the Sustainability Steering Group:

  • Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
  • Vickie Warren, External Relations and Sustainability
  • Jennie Coates, Strategic Planning
  • Stuart Rutty, Estates and Facilities
  • Steve Cocks, Estates and Facilities
  • Fiona Ward, Procurement
  • Matthew Flower, IT Services
  • Phil Dearden, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences
  • Lynn Besenyei, Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • Michelle Crosbie, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing
  • Kirsty Dorward, Department of Student and Academic Services
  • Conrad Jones, Students’ Union
  • Ayokunle Falana, Students’ Union

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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