Past, Current and Upcoming campaigns
Waste and Recycling...
As of this year all flats on campus have been provided with recycling bags so that students can separate their waste and take it to the newly installed recycling bins near the accommodation blocks.
Although there is still improvements to be made, actually having a recycling system is a big step as a few years bag it was non-existent. The introduction was a big step and a lot due to lobbying by the SU over many years.
Next steps will be the replacement of the bins near the towers due to increased demand and the extension of the system to offices and University buildings over time.
Also, we will continue to push for the overall reduction of waste across the University including the extension of the ‘No-Waste’ schemes and generally more re-use.
Energy, Carbon and Climate Change...
The University is in the process of doing a carbon audit as part of developing an overall carbon reduction strategy.
The Union has already taken steps to decrease its energy use by amongst other things improving the efficiency of lighting in its venues, putting in lightings sensors, a more efficient ventilation system and other things. The Union has also signed up the 10:10 scheme to reduced carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010 and is in the process of putting together a proper strategy to achieve this and to plan carbon reduction for the next few years.
We will continue to work with the Union and the University to reduce energy use and carbon emissions as well as raising awareness of the issues amongst students and reminding people to do their bit to save energy individually be it turning off the lights or using public transport.
Fairtrade and Ethics...
The Union was instrumental in gaining Fairtrade status for the University and all shops and restaurants on campus now serve Fairtrade tea and coffee and other Fairtrade products. The Union is in the process of renewing the Fairtrade status and constantly seeking to raise awareness about the purpose of Fairtrade and ethical consumerism. Look for the signs saying ‘Sound Ethical Choice’ in the campus shop to be happy that what you are buying has been made free from exploitation either of humans or the environment. Also look out for local products which are better ethically and for the environment because they have travelled less food miles.
The Union will be running event during Fairtrade Fortnight to raise awareness about where our food comes from.
Socially Responsible Investment...
The University currently invests its money through a company called Charishare which puts the money it invests into a variety of companies some of them with poor ethical records like Shell, BP and British American Tobacco. The Ethics and Environment Committee ran a very high profile campaign to get the University to adopt and Socially Responsible Investment Policy that only invests in companies with an ethical records. In response, the University set up a working group which the Union has been involved in to work on this issue. The Union may need to restart the campaign at some point if the University is resistant to changing its investment strategy to a more ethical one.