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

1. Sound Impact Awards – A model for engagement & action in students’ unions Jamie Agombar Ethical & Environmental Coordinator Anna Heywood Founder, Sound Impact Awards

2. 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

3. 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

4. Suppliers assessment and development • Code of Conduct • Screening process • Ethical & Environmental Accreditation • Contractual clauses • Promoting the best - Sound Ethical Choice • Supplier auditing • Constructive engagement

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

6. 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…

7. 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

8. Looking for something new – • a proactive agenda • A timely proposal from Anna • This time last year strategy was approved!

9. 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 . The Sound Impact Awards Encouraging, nurturing, rewarding and celebrating environmental best practice in students’ unions

10. 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

11. 20 Essential criteria • Environmental audit • Number of photocopies • Systems for hazardous wastes • Charitable reuse schemes • Printer and toner cartridges • PCs • Glass recycling • Mixed paper recycling • Stickers and posters • Lighting and equipment responsibility plan

12. <5% tungsten filament bulbs or strategy • Urinals or strategy • Staff induction • Lobbying • Active environmental policy • Commitment to continual improvement • Senior management commitment • Long term operating plan • Fairtrade • Copier paper

13. 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

14. 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

15. Feedback process has been beneficial in identifying strengths and weaknesses…

29. 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

30. 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?

31. Innovation preview 1) Reducing 2) Reusing 3) Recycling 4) Energy efficiency 5) Procurement 6) Campaigning 7) Community

32. 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…

34. Goldsmiths Students' Union • - Lug-a-mug • Student discount if • bring own mug • College onboard • University of York • Students' Union

35. 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!

37. University of Central Lancashire Students' Union - Pads made from scrap paper

38. 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)

40. 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 £246 • Cardboard 16.63 tonnes (20kg bales taken foc) – saving £686 • Glass 87.86 tonnes (saving after charges £2,100) • Total savings £3,035 • General waste 97.64 tonnes - costs £4,030

41. Billy Moynihan, SU Porter

42. 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

43. 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!”

44. 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…

45. Bournemouth University Students' Union

46. University of Central Lancashire Students' Union • - T5 tubes • Loughborough Students' Union • - Over 200 LED bulbs. 2.2W vs. 40W

47. 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