Overall the awards were split as follows:
3x Special Awards winners
3x Gold Standard winners
6x Silver Standard winners
29x Bronze Standard winners
29x Unions Working Towards Accreditation
Helping Students’ Unions do their bit for the environment
Ranging from Keele to Kent, Dundee to Derby, the Sound Impact Awards is an accreditation scheme to help Students’ Unions do their bit for the environment.
From recycling glass and energy efficient light bulbs in the Union building to hosting tea dances and swap shops in the community – only those Unions that meet the twenty one essential criteria gain Bronze Standard and above.
The nine greenest Unions received prestigious hand-made sculptures made from recycled window glass. Three more Unions received Special Awards - for innovation, the most improved score and meeting community based eco challenges.
These were supported by main sponsors The Co-operative Bank and Office Depot and media partners The Ecologist Magazine headed by environmentalist Zac Goldsmith.
Gold winners - what the auditors had to say
Loughborough Students’ Union
A Union to inspire us all, and a truly committed team of officers and staff. The Union has embraced projects big and small to reduce environmental impacts.
They are particularly commended for investment in recycling, energy efficient lighting and heat extraction technology in place of patio heaters, but really there are too many plus points to mention them all.
Edinburgh University Students’ Association
Open and friendly relations between University energy manager, Union staff and officers has led to efficiently run buildings, fantastic awareness campaigns.
And investment in well designed buildings improvements including a state of the art heating and ventilation system. They provide organic and local catering for students and have robust environment policy in place.
Leeds University Union
A mixture of great projects, good facilities and strong policy impressed the auditor. Have great recycling facilities for all who use Union building, a strong Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy and solar power for the nursery.
The Union has a locally sourced vegetable Co-op shop run by volunteers. They carbon offset student activities and large scale events, and the Union is dedicated to further reducing the impact of student societies’ travel.
Have also banned plastic bags in Union Shop. Information on how to reduce individual environmental impacts is readily available to those who use the building
The Silver Winners
University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union
Northumbria Students’ Union
York St John Students’ Union
Kent Union
Sheffield Hallam University Union of Students
University of Sheffield Union of Students
Special Awards
The Ecologist Community Challenge Award - University of Bradford Students’ Union
One of a handful of Union’s to enter four categories for the Ecologist Community Challenge Award, this is a Union known for volunteering commitment and has shown exceptional drive to complete the four challenges with high scores in all four.
The Office Depot Green Innovation Award - The University of Manchester Students’ Union
Office Depot judging panel were impressed by the focus on raising standards using innovative technology and processes. The Manchester Academy refurbishment is a highly commended and exciting project.
The Co-operative Bank Most Improved Union Award - Cardiff University Students’ Union
A Union that has made an impressive number of changes to raise their score by over 200 points from last year (251 to be exact)!
The Union has moved from Working Towards Standard to Bronze Standard as a result of the changes put in place over the last 12 months.