Targeted, effective environmental management
Targeted, effective environmental management
Our environmental management system continues to be certified to the international standard ISO14001.
We have clear targets and plans to reduce water and energy use, cut waste generation (including food waste) and support biodiversity. Take a closer look at the positive steps we’ve taken, right across the university.
Minimising waste across hospitality and catering
We’re still adjusting to the lasting ripples caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, plus restricted supply chains and rising food costs caused by the war in Ukraine. But now, more than ever, it’s vital that we’re actively exploring smarter ways of sourcing and purchasing. Here are some of the practical ways we’re doing this.
We continue to offer china crockery in key outlets, along with bring-your-own cups in all UWE Bristol outlets on all our campuses.
We’re finding ways to encourage students and staff to fill up their bottles from the free water points on site.
We’re working with Too Good to Go to redistribute surplus food and avoid unnecessary food waste.
Food miles better
We’ve recently worked with a student entrepreneur, Jamie Taylor and his company Greener Goods, to produce goods that we could use in our kitchen, making transportation near to zero carbon. Jamie and his team use aeroponic technology to grow and supply micro herbs and baby leaf plants in our salads and sandwiches. A deliciously sustainable innovation and example of what can be done to address the climate crisis.
Food miles better
We’ve recently worked with a student entrepreneur, Jamie Taylor and his company Greener Goods, to produce goods that we could use in our kitchen, making transportation near to zero carbon. Jamie and his team use aeroponic technology to grow and supply micro herbs and baby leaf plants in our salads and sandwiches. A deliciously sustainable innovation and example of what can be done to address the climate crisis.
Food miles better
We’ve recently worked with a student entrepreneur, Jamie Taylor and his company Greener Goods, to produce goods that we could use in our kitchen, making transportation near to zero carbon. Jamie and his team use aeroponic technology to grow and supply micro herbs and baby leaf plants in our salads and sandwiches. A deliciously sustainable innovation and example of what can be done to address the climate crisis.
Reducing water consumption
Absolute water consumption has reduced 1% from the baseline year (2018/19) and 2% from 2020/21 – despite additional buildings and construction work taking place on site. We’re also reducing water consumption through active leak management, using data to identify changes in consumption patterns across all UWE Bristol sites.
Championing circularity
At UWE Bristol, we understand that the circular economy is central to sustainability.
Our Circular Economy Plan provides a framework for applying responsible consumption principles and increasing material circularity, reducing waste and its associated carbon footprint.
As part of this plan, we set ourselves clear, ambitious targets circular economy targets:
- An annual 3% reduction in relative waste quantities against a 2018/19 baseline (not including construction waste)
- A recycling rate of 70% by mass of all waste to be recycled by 2022
- A reuse rate of 10% by mass of all waste to be reused by 2022.
We’ve achieved the 3% annual reductions in the first two years of the plan (0.5% reduction in relative waste quantities – against 2020-21 data), but there is still considerable progress required to achieve the recycling and reuse targets.
We’re achieving a 55% recycling rate excluding construction data and a reuse rate of 2.1%.
Putting sustainable fashion centre stage
How free teaching resources are helping young people to make sustainable choices about the clothes they buy and wear.
Putting sustainable fashion centre stage
How free teaching resources are helping young people to make sustainable choices about the clothes they buy and wear.
Putting sustainable fashion centre stage
How free teaching resources are helping young people to make sustainable choices about the clothes they buy and wear.
Reducing. Reusing. Repurposing.
- Food waste campaigns in our halls.
- ‘Big Give’ campaign encouraging donations to the British Heart Foundation (BHF) through network of collection banks. 21.4 tonnes collected in 2022 end of year campaign.
- Clothing swap shops in the Students' Union and Sustainability Hub on Frenchay campus.
- Reusing furniture and offering it to community groups and charities.
- Donating laptops to digitally deprived communities.
- New sustainable events guide with advice on events consumables.
Smarter moves
We’re supporting Students on the Move – a partnership with University of Bristol, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste, to improve the management of waste and surplus materials generated when students move out of private accommodation.
Smarter moves
We’re supporting Students on the Move – a partnership with University of Bristol, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste, to improve the management of waste and surplus materials generated when students move out of private accommodation.
Smarter moves
We’re supporting Students on the Move – a partnership with University of Bristol, Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste, to improve the management of waste and surplus materials generated when students move out of private accommodation.
Better for people, better for the natural world
To make sure that we deliver quality green infrastructure that benefits people and the natural world, we’ve adopted the Building with Nature (BwN) standard for all future development proposals.
By applying this rigorous standard, we’ll have a positive impact on community wellbeing. We’ve already implement BwN standards in the planning phase of key externally focused estates projects, including E Block cladding, W Block future space expansion, the Restoration Garden and our student accommodation.
Managing our landscape and increasing biodiversity
This year, we’ve incorporated – as high priority - features such as a green wall, additional waterbodies and pollinator-friendly planting and gardens, into the planning of our grounds and estates projects. We have a number of new and enhanced green spaces expected to be delivered within the next 12 months.
Come and have a look at everything we’ve done:
