Sustainability at LUU
Sustainability at LUU
LUU's Sustainability Strategy
Here at LUU we’re continually working to make everything we do as sustainable as possible. Against the backdrop of a global climate crisis, we believe it is essential that, as an organisation, we do everything we can to contribute towards a more environmentally sustainable way of life.
That’s why we’re embedding climate-friendly design as one of our core guiding principles. Every decision we make is informed by how we can enrich our environment and empower our students to do the same.
LUU is here to make sustainability accessible to all our students, and there’s many ways you can make an impact here on campus. Learn more about our initiatives, resources and opportunities to get involved below.
Did you know that last year we collaborated with Chilly’s – the design-led reusables brand you probably already know about? Students were given the opportunity to create their own designs, and you can now purchase a limited edition bottle featuring the winning design. All proceeds will go towards LUU’s Sustainability Fund.
SOS Sustainability Skills Survey 2021-22
Students care about sustainability. View the most recent research into students’ experiences of teaching and learning on sustainable development.
Fairtrade survey
Share your thoughts, experiences and opinions on Fairtrade to be in a chance of winning from a bundle of Fairtrade products.
Fresh Start Sustainability survey results
Take a look at what our students said about sustainability in LUU (March 2023).
Green Impact Excellence 2022/23
“The work that Leeds University Union has done on GISU has been outstanding this year! The staff and sustainability reps have been keeping themselves very busy by working on a variety of projects such as community composting, swap shops, signage and comms, and gardening for mental health. This year has also been their most successful Climate Week campaign to date and have already started planning for next year! Not to mention, the support they are giving to societies through sustainability training and activity funding. I honestly can’t wait to see what 2024 brings for LUU, it was a pleasure to meet Beth, Emily and Maria! Keep up the good work!” – Green Impact
LUU Acts For Earth
There’s loads of work towards our sustainability goals taking place throughout the year, across each of our departments – some student-facing and some behind the scenes – but to make it more visible we’re bringing it all together under one big campaign: LUU Acts For Earth.
The campaign is all about keeping our student members (and ourselves as a Union) informed, involved, and always improving when it comes to our environmental sustainability work. Our aim is for each and every one of you to be aware of our sustainability initiatives, to get involved, and to feel empowered to make positive changes in your own lives – ultimately enabling us to make a bigger impact as a community.
Tag us at @LeedsUniUnion on social media to let us know your #ActsForEarth, we’d love for you to share your progress.
Climate Week
Climate Week 2023 took place on 27 – 31 March. With a whole week of events, including workshops, conferences, fairs, and quick green initiatives like litter-picking, a plant giveaway and a clothes swap shop, it was a great success.
This year we wanted to empower all of our students to take sustainable action, big or small.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to the climate action, and the desire to disengage is a natural feeling we all experience. But sustainable action doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There is so much we as individuals can do to positively impact our environment and our community, while still championing the need for systemic change.
Sustainable action must be inclusive and accessible. This Climate Week also highlighted the intersectional nature of injustice and support students struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
What can I do?
As your Union we know that to empower students to make a difference, we have a responsibility to make behaviour changes as easy and accessible as possible for you.
There are plenty of ways we’re doing this, from sustainability initiatives on campus, to support for starting environmental campaigns. It even extends to our plant-based food and drink options on campus, or more sustainable products in our outlets.
Societies and volunteering
Societies are a great place to start if you’re looking to get involved with like-minded people interested in sustainability. Just search our online directory – there’s bound to be something for you. Or, if you don’t see any groups that offer what you want, you’re free to set up your own new club or society.
Have you seen the plants in our very green LUU lobby? Plant Society takes care of those. They also hold regular plant swaps, macrame workshops, terrarium workshops, as well as visits to incredible gardens and glasshouses around the country.
Did you know that we have a Green Action Food Co-op where you can pick up ethical, low-waste food essentials? This society is all about taking practical action on environmental, social, and political issues.
Sustainability Reps
As an LUU Sustainability Rep, you have the opportunity to take action on an issue you are passionate about, by leading your own sustainability project with support from the Exec and the LUU team. You can also play a crucial role in our delivery of big campaigns such as Climate Week, and advise on policy through our Better Forums process – making a lasting impact on LUU during your time as a rep. This is a great opportunity to develop your skills in project management and campaign delivery, gain insight into how a large organisation operates, all while making a tangible impact on our environment and community.
How to apply:
As an appointed rep, you can find apply for the role on our jobsite, at the start of the academic year. Have a look at most recent Role Description for 2022/23 here.
Sustainability reps 2022/23:
Ben Harris – Food waste and Recycling
Amy Stubbins – Connecting with Nature for Wellbeing
Jodie Rhoden – Fast Fashion and the Circular Economy
Polly Boor – Student Engagement with Sustainability
LUU Litter Picking Scheme
You can now borrow litter picking equipment from LUU to help you or your club or society to organise a local litter pick. You just need to email Emily at e.noble@leeds.ac.uk to arrange picking up and returning of the equipment.
Come along to our monthly group litter pick and get a free coffee and a cake for your hard work!
Plastic recycling at LUU
LUU is home to a Terracycle ring carrier recycling point for staff, students and members of the public.
Ring carriers – the stretchy plastic that holds multipacks of cans together – are highly damaging to the environment, both in terms of single-use plastics and harm to wildlife who can become caught in the loops. Every ring carrier we collect will be sent back to Terracycle and turned into new plastic products – all you need to do is drop them off at our collection point in Old Bar.
You can also recycle soft plastics at Co-op. Co-op accepts the type of plastic you can squish without it snapping back to its original shape, e.g. not plastic tubs but plastic bags.
Chewing gum recycling bins
We now have chewing gum recycling bins, provided by Gumdrop Ltd. Find them in three locations: the main entrance to the foyer, across from the night bus waiting area; the entrance beside Waki Maki/Green Action Coop; and the back entrance to Common Ground.
The bins themselves are made of recycled chewing gum. Once full, Gumdrop will collect the gum to recycle it into notebooks, pencils, and even shoes.
Talk to your student representatives
Student Exec
LUU’s lead Exec Officers for sustainability matters are Emily Tabern, your Union Affairs and Communications Officer, and Hannah Catterall, your Wellbeing Officer. Find Exec contact details here.
Student Reps
If you’re not sure exactly who to talk to, send an email to our Political Engagement team and they’ll help link you to an appropriate Rep. They can also provide direct campaign advice and support.
For sustainability issues and initiatives on campus and in the local area, talk to a Sustainability Rep.
For sustainability and your school or course, look for your Course and School Rep in Academic Representation.
For sustainability and intersectional or liberation issues, talk to a Liberation Coordinator.
If you want to develop your club or society, talk to the Activities Exec for your area.
Finally, why not check out nationwide group Students Organising for Sustainability, part of the National Union of Students, to discover more about their climate activism, research and events?
Share your ideas
LUU’s Ideas process is how we make students’ ambitions for a better Union, University or city a reality. Ideas are voted on at our Better Forums, where any idea that passes becomes a policy commitment for LUU to pursue within the next 4 years. See the results of the previous Better Forum here.
Browse LUU’s current active policy and find out how to submit an idea to be considered at the next Forum in June.
Student Sustainability Advisory Board
The Student Sustainability Advisory Board exists to guide LUU’s thinking on all things sustainability, advising our activity and championing sustainability-focused policies and campaigns. It also approves grant funding applications for the Sustainability Fund.
The Board is composed of student volunteer board members, Sustainability Reps, University of Leeds Sustainability Team staff, and is led by Exec Officers.
The board is currently full. Check back next academic year to express your interest.
Keep up to date
To keep up with LUU’s general communications, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter by filling in the form below.
If you want to keep up to date with the University’s sustainability opportunities and initiatives, sign up for newsletters run by their Sustainability Team via their website, or discover more about sustainability at Leeds through the University’s Sustainability Service. Remember, if there’s more you think could be done, we can help you campaign and hold the University accountable.
