Sound Impact Awards – A model for engagement & action in students’ unions

Jamie Agombar Ethical & Environmental Coordinator

Anna Heywood Founder, Sound Impact Awards

NUS Services

• The commercial arm of the NUS• A highly successful purchasing consortium…• …consultancy and programmes. Ents and NUS Extra• Part owned by the NUS; part owned by 224 shareholder Students' Unions• A not-for-profit democratic company led by student volunteers

Ethical & Environmental Committee• One of three committees• Established 1995• 4 students, 3 staff: elected at NUS Services Convention• Ethical & Environmental Coordinator since 1996• ‘…at the Heart of the company’

Remit• 45% time suppliers• 45% time greening Unions• 10% time ensuring we practice what we preach

Suppliers assessment and development1. Code of Conduct2. Screening process3. Ethical & Environmental Accreditation4. Contractual clauses5. Promoting the best - Sound Ethical Choice6. Supplier auditing7. Constructive engagement

Greening Unions• Communications and networking• PET recycling project• Environmental Audits • Carbon Academy• Sound Impact Awards…

The origin - a tale of two journeys

Anna’s journey• Degree at Northumbria• Disillusioned by use of polystyrene packaging in Union• Internal campaign stalled• Excited by Student Media Awards• Approached NUS to run an awards scheme• NUS shared with NUS Services…

E&E Committee’s journey• Ten environmental audits each year

- Some brilliant practice- Common bad practice- For some unions it was a tick-box exercise- It would take us 20 years to audit all our members! - Fast moving agenda

• BBN a successful model- An accreditation scheme- Winners and glitzy awards ceremony- Plays on competitive nature- Process acts as an action plan- Positive coverage for the movement

• Looking for something new – a proactive agenda

• A timely proposal from Anna• This time last year strategy was approved!

The Sound Impact Awards

Encouraging, nurturing, rewarding and celebrating environmental best practice in students’ unions

The Sound Impact Awards is run by NUS Services, the commercial arm of the NUS. It is run in partnership with NUS, People & Planet, EAUC, HEEPI and The Ecologist magazine.

The main sponsors are The Co-operative Group and Office Depot .

Methodology• Self-assessment workbook• 20 Essential criteria, 149 optional bonus criteria• All aspects of environmental issues• Evidence trail and audit process• Constructive feedback• Working Towards; Bronze; 5 x Silver; 3 x Gold• Awards ceremony• Best practice booklet

20 Essential criteria1. Environmental audit2. Number of photocopies3. Systems for hazardous wastes4. Charitable reuse schemes5. Printer and toner cartridges6. PCs7. Glass recycling8. Mixed paper recycling9. Stickers and posters10.Lighting and equipment responsibility plan

11.<5% tungsten filament bulbs or strategy12.Urinals or strategy13.Staff induction14.Lobbying15.Active environmental policy16.Commitment to continual improvement17.Senior management commitment18.Long term operating plan19.Fairtrade20.Copier paper

Year one• 51 workbooks returned • 48 HE, 2 FE, NUS• 15 audits; top ten plus 10% random sample

- Auditors inspired by innovation and effort…- Average change -14- Problem criteria: C.150E and C.151

Green Claims Code

• 30 Unions gained Accreditation (59%)21 classed as Working Towards (41%)

• Average score 184 = 128 bonus marks!• Range 48 to 318• Has made a difference!• Useful sector statistics

- 92% have RAG societies that raised over £150 for charities last academic year

- 11% have targets in place to reduce their environmental impacts

• Feedback process has been beneficial in identifying strengths and weaknesses…

UnionScore on

submission 2006/07

Bonus marks (C.169)

Audit changes?

GRAND TOTAL

20 Essentials?

Standard

Leeds University Union 153 5 n/a 158 NoWorking towards

Accreditation

Score summary for Sound Impact Award submission 2006/07

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Next year…• Raising the bar• Key target 75 = 1/3 of our membership• Sector targets?• Another 10 already • UCLan on record as going for Gold• Loughborough started researching wind turbines

Similar models• Green Gowns• P&P Going Green league table• CT Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme • BitC CR and BiE indexes• Others?

Other applications?• Universities / Faculties?• Schools?• SMEs?• Football league?• Others?

Innovation preview

1) Reducing2) Reusing3) Recycling4) Energy efficiency5) Procurement6) Campaigning7) Community

1) Reducing• University of Essex Students' Union

- Customers have to ask for carrier bags- 5p charge as a disincentive- Number given out/day reduced from 1,100 to 200 - All carriers are biodegradable

• Bournemouth University Students' Union…

• Goldsmiths Students' Union- Lug-a-mug- Student discount if

bring own mug - College onboard

• University of York Students' Union

2) Reusing• University of York Students' Union- Two E&E Officers & the Bike Doctor- Abandoned bikes repaired and sold through auction- Last year 270 bikes and £2.5k charity- Half money to Africa - Recycling, charity and encouraging cycling!

• University of Central Lancashire Students' Union

- Pads made from scrap paper

3) Recycling• Loughborough Students' Union

- Cardboard recycling - University couldn’t help- Bought own baler, now recycle for University!- Was 3 x 1100L bins lifted six times per week. Then 2.

Now 1 three times per week. Saving £669/week.- Cardboard £35/tonne. £1,060 income from cardboard

every two months- Landfill tax shocker. £21. Was £3/year, now £8/year

to 2011.- Income from recycling will soon exceed cost of refuse- Also bale plastic (two types – mixed and wrap)

• University of Sheffield Union of Students- Established glass recycling - Savings used to employ two staff- Sorting and public highway- September 2006 to February 2007

Paper 5.98 tonnes (taken foc) – saving £246Cardboard 16.63 tonnes (20kg bales taken foc) –

saving £686Glass 87.86 tonnes (saving after charges £2,100)Total savings £3,035General waste 97.64 tonnes - costs £4,030

Billy Moynihan, SU Porter

• Keele University Students' Union- Exemplary paper recycling scheme- Mesh metal bins in all offices, labelled, emptied twice

a day. 300kg per fortnight

• Kent Union - Plant a tree for every 100,000 pieces of paper used

4) Energy efficiency• University of Bolton Students' Union

- Energy Efficient mascot called Eddy- Receptionist drew by hand- “Meet Energy Efficient Eddy, He is always ready, He lights up to show you the way, But if you leave him on all day, He will soon be DEADY!”

• Brighton University Students Union- Carbon footprint campaign- 700 energy saving light bulbs sold at 50p each- Free bike checks - Energy efficiency advice stalls - A showing of An Inconvenient Truth at The Earthship- Stage two being planned…

• Bournemouth University Students' Union

• University of Central Lancashire Students' Union- T5 tubes

• Loughborough Students' Union- Over 200 LED bulbs. 2.2W vs. 40W

• Loughborough Students' Union- Monitoring electricity consumption- Gas consumption data showing 20% reduction,

achieved by adjusting boiler clocks and regularly making sure TRVs are set low

- Reporting - Sara Carter, E&E Officer

5) Procurement• Union of UEA Students

- Steam removal of chewing gum, not chemicals

- Julia Orpin, Premises Managerwith green cleaning products

• Edinburgh University Students' Association - Organic café- Local food, local music- Opened by Hugh Raven, head of Scottish Soil

Association

• University of Bath Students' Union- Recent refurbishment of SU shop- Organic paint- Rain-forest friendly wood- HFC-Free fridges

6) Involvement and campaigning• Kent Union

- Staff development day for E&E issues - Guest speakers - Departmental plans

- Work and at home• University of Central Lancashire Students' Union

- People & Planet campaign against VC’s limo…

• University of Wales, Lampeter Students' Union- James Camps, Environment & Commercial Services Officer- Lobbying University over halls - Met with MP and involved media

7) Community• Edinburgh University Students' Association

- Themed charity parties to raise money for MSF, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Prospect Burma, Amnesty International & Comic Relief

- During Fairtrade Fortnight, 'Big Cheese' party became the ‘Fair Fromage’, donations to Action Aid

• York St John Students' Union - SSHH! campaign - “Pick it Up” campaign fronted by Pick it Up girls - Litter bins on campus have Pick it Up Logo. - Community clean days- Annual community barbecue

• Liverpool Guild of Students - Community Action beach cleans and community litter picks