Through participating in Green Impact Students’ Unions (GISU), SUs demonstrate how they continue to lead on sustainability initiatives.
47 Students’ Unions participated in the programme this year and showed great ambition and commitment for sustainability, with 38 SUs being audited and an impressive 21 SUs (55% of participating SUs) awarded ‘Excellent’.
Campaigns which aim to lobby institutions to divest from fossils and declare Climate Emergencies continue to be popular. The curriculum has also been a significant focus again this year, with an increasing number of SUs inducting course/student reps on sustainability, and some other campaigns have focused on period poverty, eco-friendly menstruation products and period inclusivity.
Students’ Unions have also shown how they have adapted to the digital environment by continuing to virtually engage students on sustainability. For example, The SU, Bath University ran Plant Your Vote campaign during SU Officer Elections in Semester 2. The aim was to plant 1 tree per every 10 votes cast in SU Officer elections and to raise awareness of sustainability and local conservation charities; University of Westminster Students' Union have been running Fairtrade Fortnight Campaign. The fairtrade space in the SU shop to buy fairtrade goods is a permanent fixture. This is where the shop only stocks fairtrade items, another shop has been opened. Most of their commercial spaces are ethically sourced, vegan-friendly, and sustainable They also have plans to do a new sportswear tender, that will be all fairtrade and meet the requirements.
Other SUs have progressed sustainability by focusing their time on developing strategies and policies, for example City of Glasgow College SA have created a new environmental policy that will ensure every decision made at the SA involves an environmental risk assessment.
It was great to have 17 participants at the virtual GISU Support and Networking Day in December and over 100 staff and officers from participating students’ unions join SOS-UK led GISU webinars this year which focused on the topics of, food & farming; sustainable food and carbon targets and all webinars included best practice being shared from a range of SUs.
We are also delighted to announce the winners of the GISU Special Awards
- Highest Scoring – The Students’ Union at UWE (472)
The sustainability committee led a campaign called Action on Sustainability, exploring a range of different topics, including sustainable fashion, diversifying the climate movement, education for sustainability, sustainable food, climate activism and the Fossil Fuel Free Careers Campaign. Lots of great activities were ran through social media to engage students and support learning for sustainability.
- Highest Scoring from the Nations – Swansea University Students' Union (380)
The SU has demonstrated a strong dedication to its Beach Cleans. Being outside as opposed to being in a library has been found to have a favourable effect on wellbeing. They have also collaborated with the local community to clean up the park, such as collaborations with "Smile Plastics," where every plastic collected was utilised to manufacture furniture. They intend to have a lot more in the coming academic year.
- Most Improved – Chester Students’ Union
The Student Leadership Awards winners have now been announced - see who they are here!
Congratulations once again to all SUs that participated in GISU this year and are bringing about some impressive outcomes for sustainability! You can view our full SU offering here! We will be sending further details on the 2022-23 GISU offering in mid-August.
Full list of GISU awards 2021-22
Aberdeen University Students' Association – Very Good
Aston Students' Union – Excellent
Bangor University Students’ Union – Excellent
Beds Students' Union – Very Good
Bucks Students' Union – Excellent
Chester Students' Union – Good
City of Glasgow College Students' Association – Excellent
City, University of London Students' Union – Excellent
Dudley Students’ Union – Good
Glasgow Caledonian University Students' Union – Excellent
Greenwich Students’ Union – Working Towards
Hertfordshire Students' Union – Very Good
Huddersfield Students’ Union – Good
Leeds Arts Union – Excellent
Leeds Trinity Students' Union – Excellent
Leeds University Union – Excellent
Liverpool Guild of Students – Excellent
Northumbria Students’ Union – Good
Queen Mary University of London Students' Union – Excellent
Reading University Students' Union – Good
Roehampton Students’ Union – Excellent
Staffordshire University Students' Union – Excellent
Stirling Students’ Union - Excellent
Strathclyde Students’ Union – Excellent
Students' Union at Bournemouth University – Excellent
Swansea University Students’ Union – Excellent
The Students' Union at UWE – Excellent
The SU, University of Bath – Excellent
The Union, Manchester Met – Excellent
Ulster University Students' Union – Very Good
Union of Kingston Students – Very Good
University of Exeter Students’ Guild – Good
University of St Andrews Students’ Association – Working Towards
University of West London Students’ Union – Good
University of Westminster Students' Union – Very Good
UWS Students' Union – Good
University of York Students' Union – Excellent
Worcester Students' Union – Excellent