Sustainability at University: How to Help Build a Greener Campus and Community

Hope smiling and leaning on a railing in an indoor setting.

Hope Lambert

History BA(Hons)

Hi! I'm Hope, a first year History student at Huddersfield and in this blog I will share ways I live an eco-friendly student life as well as share some of the green initiatives we have on campus.

Becoming an eco-aware student

When I first started University, I wasn’t sure if I could continue doing as many eco-friendly actions as I used to, but I soon realised that, in a way, I had more opportunities.

By choosing accommodation near campus, I could walk to University, around the town and easily commute home by train instead of by car. I also got into the habit of using reusable water bottles and coffee cups, being mindful of using the recycling bins around campus.

What can you get involved in?

There are also great initiatives and activities to take part in either during Green Week or throughout the year, such as the tree-planting events, which I’m incredibly looking forward to going to in February and March 2025.

Have you also always wanted to get involved and play a part in supporting climate action? Here are some of the initiatives at uni and examples of lifestyle adjustments that I make:

Shopping second hand

Fast fashion and unsustainable manufacturing pose a huge challenge to environmental protection as they account for a significant portion of global carbon emissions. To combat this, we should reduce the demand for cheaply made clothes and reuse good-quality items. I often do this by shopping for and selling clothes and accessories on the app Vinted, which is another way of shopping second-hand. It’s an alternative to scrolling on the apps of big brands, and you can get good-quality items for cheaper prices.
While there are many charity shops around Huddersfield, our Students' Union also hosts second-hand stalls and vintage fairs frequently, which is a great opportunity to explore more collections of second-hand items.

Transport

Campus is located at the edge of the town centre, a mere few minutes walk away from both the bus and train stations. This offers a great opportunity to use public transport more regularly, if possible, which reduces your carbon footprint.
Another option is cycling, which is another mode of transport that minimises your impact on the environment.
The campus also has some bike parking areas and facilities that can be used by everyone at the university.

A scenic view along a the Huddersfield narrow canal at the University of Huddersfield with a weeping willow on the opposite bank. Old and modern buildings flank the riverbanks under a partly cloudy sky.

Biodiversity

The University is a ‘hedgehog-friendly’ campus, with a HudHogs group dedicated to ensuring that the grounds can be a sanctuary for the endangered animal and encouraging staff and students alike to take steps to support this.
We have a very green campus, with the Huddersfield Narrow Canal passing through and offering green spaces and woodlands at its banks. The existence of such green spaces encourages biodiversity, as insects and local wildlife can reside in safer habitats.
There are several tree-planting events throughout the year, which is a fantastic opportunity to spend an afternoon in nature and contribute to a shared goal.

A goose rests by a the Huddersfield Narrow canal at the University of Huddersfield surrounded by lush green trees and a park bench in the background. — There's plenty of biodiversity on-campus from resident ducks and geese along the canal as well as plenty of woodland wildlife running through the south side of campus.

Reducing waste

There are several initiatives across the University to encourage this, such as all catering outlets on campus offering 20p discounts for customers who bring in their reusable mugs. There are also many water refill stations to be found to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles bought.

Some other ways I reduce waste are always having a reusable shopping bag in case I go into the shops for something and having a reusable water bottle and food containers. Investing in such items ensures you are not constantly using plastic bags or food wrappings.

Fairtrade catering

Our campus catering team works closely with the Sustainability team to source Fairtrade products and ingredients, which is more ethical for local communities and the environment. Fairtrade products are sold in the shops and cafes across the campus; make sure to check the packaging for the logo!

To find out more information about the University's sustainability measures and how you could get involved too, take a look at our webpages: https://www.hud.ac.uk/sustainability/

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