Over 2,000 staff and 4,225 students representing 46 of the University’s departments took part in the scheme to see which could be the greenest. Their combined efforts resulted in over 1,000 sustainability actions being taken across the University.
The three winning departments, announced by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Clarke, at an awards ceremony in the Wills Memorial Building, are the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Clinical Sciences at North Bristol, and the Faculty of Science Office. Representatives from each of the three top-scoring departments received a gold award made from recycled material including car-window glass.
Seven departments met the silver-level criteria and 27 departments the bronze-level criteria. Each department was presented with an award made from recycled plastic. Five additional awards, made from recycled water- and gas-pipes and sustainably sourced wood, were given to departments that took additional actions outside of the scheme.
Over 100 staff, students and special guests gathered to hear the results of the scheme, launched in September last year, at the awards ceremony held last night [Thursday 21 May].
The Green Impact Awards initiative is an accreditation scheme for environmental best practice, based on 130 actions that will help the department to reduce its negative impact on the environment. The top three highest scorers receive a Gold Award. All departments were eligible to participate, regardless of size, remit or location.
Sarah Agarwal from the Institute for Learning and Research Technology was recognised as the overall environmental hero for actions including encouraging the use of fair-trade products, reducing the department’s waste and establishing a corporate responsibility group.
Martin Wiles, Head of Sustainability at the University, said: “The Green Impact Awards has proved a really positive way of engaging staff and students with sustainability issues. Making the University sustainable is a journey and this is a significant step forward in achieving our sustainability goals.”
Further information about the 2008/09 Green Impact Awards and winners is available on the Sustainability website.