Be Sustainable

Green Impact is our sustainability engagement programme and is run internationally by SOS-UK. It’s a simple, fun and flexible way for departments to improve their environmental performance and promote sustainability at the University, whilst receiving recognition for their efforts and impact.

Taking part benefits the University, including providing opportunities for students to gain valuable skills by volunteering as Green Impact Auditors.

Find out more about Green Impact

Each year we run a series of events and activities over four weeks called Go Green Salford, incorporating Go Green Week and Fairtrade Fortnight. We aim to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability and encourage positive change amongst our students, staff and the local community.

Here's what we've been up to in the past few years - click on the links to find out more:

• Go Green Salford 2020 included an exhibition from Fashion, Image, Making, Styling students, winter tree identification walk, litter pick, tree planting with City of Trees, recycling roadshows, bike maintenance workshop, Fairtrade smoothie bike pop-ups and a sustainability special of the DSAS quiz.
• Go Green Salford 2021 involved a range of online events and content on topics such as urban nature, cycling, food waste, sustainable fashion, single use plastic, carbon footprint, responsible consumption, and climate science. We were joined by a number of Salford students and staff, as well as by external guests.
• Go Green Salford 2022 included a series of Instagram live streams, a wildlife surveying workshop, two zero waste pop-ups, a sustainable fashion event - Salford Swap Shop, litter picks, online and on-campus talking events, and a tour of the Salford Tree Trail followed by a visit at the "You Belong Here" exhibition at Salford Museum & Art Gallery. The month of events ended with Eyes Peeled for Nature 2022 - a programme of theoretical and practical events focused on nature and wildlife, including a BioBlitz: 24h of wildlife surveying session in Peel Park and Crescent Meadow. 
• This year, for Go Green Salford 2023, we focused on in-person engagement, running 24 events in four weeks which were attended by over 100 people. Once again, we collaborated with students, staff and local community members to organise a series of sustainability-themed activities. These which included community gardening sessions, litter picks, guest talks, nature walks, free cycling maintenance, art workshops and installations and wildlife surveying.

If you've got an idea for an event for Go Green Salford 2024, please get in touch.

We have established a Green Campus Group, which is open to staff, students and the local community. The purpose of the group is to share information and engage with the University community about the current and future use of outside spaces at the University of Salford and how they will and could be developed and enhanced. You can find out more in the Green Campus Group Terms of Reference. We have set up a Microsoft Teams group, which you can join using this Green Campus Group on Teams.

Looking to get involved in volunteering out in nature?

• We have a Community Growing Space on campus, which you can help us grow and maintain. If gardening's your thing, please get in touch for more information.
• With Peel Park on our doorstep, why not get involved with activities there? They hold regular volunteer sessions and events – check out Friends of Peel Park on Facebook for more information.

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus campaign aims to turn university campuses into habitats where hedgehogs can safely live and thrive. It’s a chance for our community to come together to make real changes for the local wildlife. 

Anyone can join the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Working Group - it's open to all staff and students, regardless of department, age, level of knowledge or ability. There are opportunities to become a Hedgehog Ambassador or Champion, as part of which participants receive CV references and digital badges. 

Find out more on our Hedgehog Friendly Campus webpage.

Staff and students who cycle to the University, or are thinking about it, can join the Cycle User Group Teams site, where you can share tips, routes and ask any related questions.

Climate or eco-anxiety is distress relating to the ecological crises we are facing and can be connected to many emotions - anger, worry, despair, fear, guilt and shame to name a few. It can be hard to navigate these feelings or to talk about it in the fear of burdening someone else with our concerns. Sometimes we need hope and other times we just need to talk to someone that is feeling the same way which is why we’re bringing our first Climate Café to the University of Salford.

A Climate Café is a simple social gathering where we can talk about our thoughts and feelings about the climate emergency. Climate Cafés are bounded by confidentiality, although they are not therapy sessions. We invite you to take part in a warm, hospitable conversation where you can reflect on your feelings without being bounced into action. This is one way of coping with the challenges facing us all.

Find out more and book to join us here.

The Environmental Sustainability Team have collaborated with the USSU a number of times to educate our student community about sustainability. The USSU have supported projects such as the Salford Swap Shop, shared sustainability-related content via their communication channels, and developed their own Environmental & Sustainability Promise (currently under review, updated version to be published in Summer 2023). 

You can find out about the Students’ Union’s sustainability-related volunteering opportunities through their volunteering system.

There are also student societies that involve elements of sustainability, such as the Wildlife Society.

The Environmental Sustainability Team have funded and supported a number of student-led projects, including the Salford Swap Shop, Salford Climate Cafe, as well as several wildlife and sustainable art workshops.

If you have any idea for a project or event which we could help you run, please contact eps-sustainability@salford.ac.uk.

The Environmental Sustainability Team work with academics to provide student briefs for live projects or dissertations and also deliver guest lectures and workshops. Let us know if this is something you would be interested in for any of your modules. You can find out more on our Education for Sustainable Development page.

Our interactive environmental sustainability induction is now available. All new starters should and existing staff are strongly encouraged to complete this. The course will be available in your modules menu on the e-learning platform (University staff login required).

Check out our 10 tips to be sustainable on campus:

1. Travel sustainably – could you walk, cycle or use public transport to get to University? Or could you use our car share scheme as a driver or passenger?
2. Think before you print – it takes nearly half a litre of water to produce 1 sheet of A4 office paper! Could you access materials online or use projector facilities? If you do need to print something, print double sided and two pages or more on one sheet and avoid printing in colour.
3. Use reusable crockery, cutlery and water bottles and use a reusable cup when buying hot drinks – by doing so you can save money on your drinks at Salfood outlets and at the Students’ Union.
4. Reuse non-confidential scrap paper, envelopes, bags and anything else that could be used again, either in the same or a different way.
5. Recycle right – cans, tins and plastic bottles (no other plastics) go in the green mixed recycling bins, paper and thin card in the blue paper recycling bins and other items in the general waste (including coffee cups, plastic yoghurt pots etc.). Our recycling page details what to do with other items such as electronics and books.
6. Switch off non-essential lights, screens, computers and other electrical items when not in use (Ricoh printers should be left on as they need to communicate remotely and they do go into a low energy mode). Think about specialist equipment and also other ways to save energy and water, such as only boiling as much water as you need in the kettle.
7. Buy responsibly and sustainably - Is the purchase really necessary? Could you fix your current item? Could you borrow or rent something instead? Could you reuse items rather than buying new goods? If you do need to buy new items, could you get something made from recycled content or that is energy efficient? Consider whole life cycle costs including disposal.
8. Eat green – evidence shows that eating a more plant-based diet is better for the environment. Could you have more vegan or vegetarian meals? Also think about buying local and seasonal produce or Fairtrade products
9. Look after and enjoy green spaces – being outside is good for you in so many ways and we are lucky to have Peel Park on our doorstep. If you are particularly interested in the outside spaces on campus, then join our Green Campus Group
10. Get involved and help spread the word! Join in with initiatives on campus and talk to others about the importance of living sustainably. If you are a member of staff, could you embed sustainability into your teaching? If you are a student, could you do piece of work that incorporates sustainability?