Sustainability

At the University of Brighton we believe we must respond to the imperative of sustainable development. We realise that a community of our size has a significant impact on our shared environment. Every one of us has a part to play in order to better conserve resources and reduce pollution.

We define sustainability as one of our core values, which we resolve to continually research and put into practice, demonstrated by our coming second out of 150 universities in People & Planet's University League 2016.

The university has been awarded £2.98m to deliver the Green Growth Platform, a strategic five-year project designed to support growth among regional SMEs working in environmental and low-carbon sectors.

Jonathan Chapman, Professor of Sustainable Design, has pioneered the concept of 'emotionally durable design', challenging the notions of a throwaway society. You can watch his well-attended inaugural lecture here.

Fairtrade

The University of Brighton and its Students' Union were awarded Fairtrade status in 2007. The award was renewed in 2009 and marks our continued commitment to making a wide range of Fairtrade products easily available across all university sites, and to raising awareness of the Fairtrade ethos amongst students and staff members.

Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for farmers in the developing world. Too often it's the weakest and most disadvantaged farmers who are most at risk from today's fluctuating market prices that often fail to cover even basic production costs. Fairtrade prices help ensure a stable income for these farmers, and are a long-term investment into social and economic development projects. Fairtrade prices are pivotal in building a sustainable future for the local community.

The university and Students' Union are uniquely placed to make a real difference. Thousands of people pass through our doors every day, and every one of these people is a potential ambassador for Fairtrade.

The aim of achieving Fairtrade status is widely considered to form an important part of the university’s commitment to promoting and developing awareness of and engagement in sustainable development.