This is the third consecutive year Beds SU has picked up this award due to the efforts of its staff, officers and students in addressing key sustainability and environmental issues, as well as working to embed positive ‘green’ change at the University of Bedfordshire.

Beds SU is one of only 40 students’ unions in the UK to have been awarded this year. Michael Alawaye, Beds SU President, said: “It’s great to hear we’ve achieved this status for our efforts in embedding good environmental practices at the University.

“Students – not just at University of Bedfordshire but across the country – are demanding that institutions do their part to reduce their impact on climate change and the environment, however this can only be achieved with the support and efforts of both students and staff.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support and hope you will continue to help us in our future sustainability work.”

Students’ unions in the UK which excel in implementing and embedding good environmental practices, while expanding their engagement with sustainability to address social and political issues, are rewarded by NUS for their efforts on an annual basis.

Key ‘green’ work carried out by Beds SU this year includes:

• Reducing the use of plastic packaging waste within SU venues by working with suppliers to provide more environmentally friendly options.
• Working with course reps to bring about discussion on sustainability and our impact on the environment into the classroom.
• Forming an internal sustainability committee that works to see sustainability objectives embedded across the Union’s work. The committee also oversee key project work and events and works closely with the University and students to embed awareness of environmental issues across our campuses, the curriculum and further afield.

The award-winning NUS Green Impact programme is predicted to be one of the largest, most successful student-led sustainability scheme in the world.

The programme allows for the collaboration of SUs across the country and has seen positive, wide-reaching planet-friendly results to date. For further information visit: http://greenimpact.nus.org.uk