The Sound Environmental Impact Awards is an accreditation scheme to help students’ unions do their bit for the environment. Now in its third year, more than a million students have seen environmental initiatives put in place in their unions through the awards.
Close call
Hosted by writer, comedian and broadcaster Hardeep Singh Kohli – best known for presenting on BBC's The One Show – this year's Awards were close, with just one point between the top three scoring unions.
Loughborough just pipped Leeds University Union and Newcastle University Union Society to the post by one point. Loughborough gained 646 points compared to 645 from Leeds and Newcastle. 79 unions took part in this year's event.
“The unions have really stepped up a significant level this year and have surpassed themselves," said Anna Heywood, Project Founder and Sound Impact judge
“It has been so exciting to see how unions have been doing everything they can to green all aspects of their operations and universities in a race to the top, and every point they have gained has been good news for the environment," added Anna.
Environment programme
Loughborough Students' Union continually strives to improve upon their already impressive environmental performance by aiming for ISO14001 accreditation, and installing a new waste compactor to add to their successful waste management programme.
But it's not just operational improvements that they thrive on. They have recently successfully lobbied their University to sign the People and Planet Green Education Declaration.
Chris Spencer the Building Service Manager at the union said: "I'm really pleased to see the improvement in all the student unions taking part this year, it's fantastic and winning for the third year was a shock."
"Our waste compactor has taken six term weeks to fill, which is amazing. This means that we've saved 17 lorry journeys!"
Katherine Middleton, Sound Environmental Impact Awards Project Manager said the Union deserved to win a third time. "Loughborough is really at the cutting edge of environmental performance for the sector. A deserving winner, I'm delighted that their hard work has paid off once again."
Further information:
Read more about the winners and the Sound Environmental Impact Awards.