1. Sustainability and the SU 2015/16
Alex Mitchell

2. This year has been a good year
Student cycle safety and awareness campaign.
SU review (waste and lighting)
Divestment and student activism
Green Impact and our results
Snap it off
SSWG, SEED and ESD
Democracy and Union Council Commitments
BIG Wins!

3. Cycle Safety Serviced over 50 student bicycles
Over 300 sets of lights given away, with plenty left over
A significant reduction in the amount of students cycling without lights in the winter evenings
Awareness raised
Great fun and easy to do
Likely to repeat it next year

5. SU reviews
New Union Food Market proved problematic in terms of waste management
Best practice was suddenly lost through doing something new
Mixed recycling was apparent in food waste bins
Staff uninformed
Training for new and current staff included waste management
Best practice was spread through our commercial services
Waste management now maintained at acceptable levels

6. Divestment and Student Activism
Divestment involves a mixed bag of feelings and opinions
The clear failing from this year is that Leicester Uni has not divested
Students have invested time and money into campaigning for this change
One student has attended several meetings and has had good correspondence from Senior members of university staff
The University are listening, considering changing to a Sarasins bundle concerned with sustainability
To be continued…

7. Green Impact Our biggest success of the year
From stickers on lights, to providing training to staff on composting. From an electricity audit to Fairtrade coffee we have done it all
Many are new initiatives in the SU such as a battery bin collection point
Recycling has been clearer and more streamlined for students (coffee cups)
The great relationship between the SU and the environmental team was commended and has been a driving force for good this year.
Overall the remote audit was very positive and in my view a success
Gold?

8. Snap it Off Part of the Green Impact initiative
Eyes turned towards the whole of campus
A single day of action = 30 shameful photos, all uploaded to the NUS website for scrutiny
Only 2 have been dealt with since
For our efforts the NUS awarded us with a photo of the month for March 2016.
Since our success more students from other SU’s have been taking part in the website

10. Photo of the month (resolved)

11. SSWG, SEED and ESD
The student sustainability working group was set up and it is a roaring success
4-5 student groups in October, now up to around 10
Meeting style so students can get experience of bringing ideas to a table
SEED project has been used to fund student activity around sustainability
Through this we have increased biodiversity, promoted sustainable menstruation, conducted our own research and making jam
Education for sustainable development starts with the curriculum but it doesn’t stop there. Students educating their own peers through their activities can be just as effective as a lecturer
All projects will be continuing into next year, (to be continued)

12. Democracy and Legislation
We have seen this year more sustainable proposals come to Council than ever before
Divestment, food waste, recycling, plastic bags, moon cup sales
Apart from moon cups which is yet to be discussed, all of these proposals have passed and are Union Commitments for the next 3 years
Sabbatical Officers can come in and out with certain interests, it’s a luck of the draw. Through this process, Officers are mandated to carry out task ands finish groups on ideas that are policy.

13. BIG Wins
The NUS will be parading the innovative idea of the SSWG by the environmental team around other SU’s as best practice
We have achieved Green Impact Gold?
2nd place in the NUS HEA survey with our highest ever result
Green concerns and sustainability back onto the agenda where it belongs with the University considering a Director of Sustainability in senior management within the University.

14. Thank you
Any Questions?