News

Green League success

Published 11 June 2013

The University of Brighton has once again been placed among the top universities in the country for sustainability.

Brighton was ranked 5th out of 143 universities and higher education institutions in the People & Planet's annual Green League, published today.

The university was awarded its highest-ever points total which earned a First Class honour from People & Planet, the student network which campaigns to protect the environment and which produces the UK's only independent ranking of universities for environmental and ethical performance.

Sue Mchugh, the university's Director of Finance and who leads on sustainability, said: "We are extremely pleased that People & Planet has again recognised the tremendous amount of hard work that staff and students have invested in making the University of Brighton a more sustainable institution.

"We are committed to sustainable development, operationally and educationally, and to helping safeguard our planet for future generations.

"Protecting and renewing our shared natural and built environment is the greatest challenge facing our planet and all universities have an important part to play in meeting this challenge. Our aim at Brighton is to be a truly sustainable university in everything that we do."

She added: "Every year the Green League requirements get tougher but our efforts mean we are continually scoring more points.

"Every area of the university is involved in the effort and every area is improving, including all faculties, and all central departments, working together in a joined up approach. All are essential and all deserve to be congratulated for their efforts."

Hannah Smith, People & Planet's Green League Manager, said: "The University of Brighton has made an impressive move to the very top of People & Planet's Green League and this year's performance only confirms their position among the pioneers leading the higher education sector's transition to a low-carbon future.

"Everyone at Brighton can be particularly proud of their sector-leading approach to sustainability in the curriculum, their c-change campaign to engage staff and students, and their ethical investment approach, congratulations."

The University of Brighton scored 57 points out of maximum 70, an increase of three points from last year.

The university environmental team left to right: Ed Bending, Abigail Dombey, Dorinda Kealoha and Rebecca Melhuish.

Abigail Dombey, the University of Brighton's Environmental Manager, said: "We're thrilled to maintain our place as one of the top five most sustainable universities in the country. We've been busy over the last year, recruiting a new environmental team, and introducing our c-change campaign, which we hope will help shape the culture of the university. We have a huge amount of high level support for sustainability issues at the university, and we're working to engage everyone across the university, staff, students and visitors, and show that the university takes sustainability seriously."

Examples of the university green successes

c-change

c-change is the University of Brighton's bespoke carbon reduction campaign, especially designed to engage, inspire and support staff and students to cut carbon, both at university and also in their personal lives. c-change is about creating a cultural shift – making carbon cutting behaviours the social norm. c-change is the overarching brand for all carbon reduction activity at the university and is underpinned by peer-to-peer learning and imaginative communications that engage and step outside the normal campaign parameters.

Since its launch c-change has worked to highlight different aspects of carbon reduction and sustainability in general, and has led a range of broader sustainability projects including textile recycling, reusing unwanted possessions in halls at the end of the student year, and the introduction of a successful c-change champion scheme.

Sustainable Food

The university's Sustainable Food Policy (pdf) includes more use of Fairtrade-labelled products, a commitment to using seasonal and locally-grown produce, reducing reliance on bottled water, using only free-range eggs, organic milk and buying fish sourced from sustainable stocks. The policy encourages waste reduction, sourcing and procuring more energy-efficient production equipment, and the investigation into and trial of food waste recycling. For more information email hospitality@brighton.ac.uk.

Find out more about sustainability at the university.