Since 2004 the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland. With sustainability moving up the agenda, the Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within tertiary education.
The Green Gown Awards are administered by the EAUC and are governed by a cross agency steering group. The judging panel are representatives of sector organisations, which changes yearly.
As the ethos of the Green Gown Awards is to ensure the lessons and examples of good practice are shared within the tertiary education sector. We work hard with the partners of the Awards to ensure this information is disseminated far and wide, by sharing the case studies from applicants and prize winners throughout each awards season.
Click here to find out more about the Green Gown Awards
The Awards were brought to Australasia in 2010 and are delivered by our partners ACTS. The Awards are open to all tertiary education institutions in Australia and New Zealand.
The Australasian Awards are managed by ACTS and governed by a cross sector steering group. ACTS is a non-profit member based organisation representing higher and further education institutions within Australia and New Zealand. ACTS aim to inspire, promote and support change towards best practice sustainability within the operations, curriculum and research of the tertiary education sector.
The International Green Gown Awards were established in 2014 and bring together our regional winners as well as the wider global audience.
Recognising exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by the world's universities and colleges, the International Green Gown Awards set the bar and put every learning institution at the heart of delivering the UN Global Goals.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme, The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), L’Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), International Association of Universities (IAU) and the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI).
If you are interested in delivering the Green Gown Awards in your region please contact us.
Enactus Nottingham is an initiative within The University of Nottingham where students are given a platform to create social enterprises focused around solving large economic,...
Actually bananas are not that bad when you consider their carbon footprint!
This project was designed to support students seeking careers with a sustainable focus. A series of events were run throughout the year to provide information about career options
CU Social Enterprise CIC is a social enterprise set up by Coventry University to help staff and students of Coventry University set up social enterprises of their own.
Sustainability is one of London College of Fashion’s core values and staff and students across the college, as well as external partners, have been inspired by...
Since 2008, the University’s holistic approach to environmental management has enabled staff and students to come together and deliver significant and quantifiable...
Since 2007 the university has been addressing sustainability across the whole institution; sustainability is cited in the Strategic Plan as a core value of the University.
Sustainability is about making changes and inspiring a new approach to the way we live in the world, use its resources and interact with the rest of the ecosystem.
In order to bring all of Durham University’s environmental initiatives and activities together, the name and concept of ‘Greenspace’ was devised in 2010....
DESIGN+MAKE was a collaborative pilot project with the charity Art Against Knives. It engaged hard to reach young people (18-24) that were potential victims or perpetrators of...
The University of Leeds is responsive to the needs of its stakeholders and wider community. They asked the University to make a more positive impact on society
The sensitive and beautiful restoration of historic Drake’s Place Gardens and Reservoir, and development of related activities, has been undertaken with - rather than for...
This is a campaign that encourages students at the end of the year to donate their unwanted items - promoting a reuse ethos and creating lasting partnerships across...
The project undertook demonstrations of off-grid options using solar PV-based mini/ micro grid systems at four locations in India.
The University opened a new energy centre hosting two ultra-efficient CHP engines to nearly double its self-generated electricity and heat
In 2014/15 investments of £2.1m have covered a range of technologies and buildings, including plant replacement (boilers and chillers), lighting upgrades including main campus...
Keeping Oxford Brookes University moving is a daily challenge. With 2,800 staff and 18,500 students, Brookes needs a clean, green and sustainable means of getting people between...
A 43% reduction in carbon emissions was achieved since 2009/10. This has resulted in a cost saving of £1,513,250 and carbon savings of 5,771 tonnes.
The street lighting infrastructure at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Campus included several hundred high pressure sodium (SON) lamps with ageing control gear.
Edinburgh College is adopting a holistic approach to sustainability and carbon reduction. The college developed its first Carbon Management Plan in 2014
Saving the planet, saving cash, shrinking the College’s carbon footprint whilst, at the same time, stimulating staff and learners’ imagination in terms of...
The Carbon Challenge is a completely self-funding competition which encourages a healthy rivalry to be the ‘greenest’ between the University’s various campus...
Crome Court is UEA’s newest and most energy-efficient accommodation block. The BREEAM Excellent project came in £800,000 under budget, and as one of the first projects in...
The Brighton Waste House is the first permanent carbon negative public building in Europe to be constructed from approximately 90% waste and surplus material
The Bright Building is a unique sustainable building using innovative construction techniques and technologies
In 2013, 50 Shakespeare St was a building on death’s door. It was built in 1887, damaged during the war and butchered by decades of use by the local council as a registry...
INSPIRE@UWTSD – an institutional approach to delivering sustainability through our culture, curriculum, campuses and community UWTSD aims to develop reflective...
The “Let’s Green SWC” initiative takes a holistic approach to sustainability across the institution by seeking to identify and address the impacts of...
Seen to be Green champions a Living Curriculum that is delivered in and beyond the classroom, using gallery and outdoor space and the café
In November 2014 Fife College opened its doors to the nation’s very first vented ‘green’ salon. A new and innovative approach to hairdressing, using all...
Coleg Sir Gar is part of the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David Group, which has created a radical dual sector offer to meet regional skills needs in South West Wales -...
Charles Sturt University (CSU) is committed to sustainability and is actively working to both reduce the impact of its operations and to act as a leader to engage staff,...
In 2010, TAFE SA Regional launched its GreenPrint for Workplace Education for Environmental Sustainability.
Northern Inland Sustainable Business Network (NISBN) is an exciting initiative aimed at providing practical and local assistance to business as they embark on the sustainability...
From an empty sandy space, and with only a volunteer staff member for support, a 600m2 community vegie garden has been thriving since 2007 at the largest on‐campus...
Orientation Week (O’Week) celebrations at the University of Adelaide attract over 15,000 students each year.
The Vocational Graduate Certificate in Education and Training for Sustainability (VGC ETfS) is the first nationally accredited VET course in education for sustainability in...
The Australian National University (ANU) has actively used its campuses and surrounding communities as interactive classrooms where students research and learn about...
Over the last three years RMIT University textile design academics have creatively explored and re-examined textile design practice through the ‘Curriculum Change to Embed...
Recently the community in the whole catchment (800 households), in collaboration with the regional council, is involved in a community‐led stream care project.
Victoria University has developed a number of initiatives to significantly and continually reduce water consumption across campuses and student accommodation.
NSI now provides advice and training to other TAFEs and universities to meet the challenges of today’s burgeoning green economy.
Since establishing its Sustainability Task Force in 2009 La Trobe University has appointed a Pro Vice Chancellor (Sustainability) and developed sound governance and management...
With nearly 6000 people practising recycling, reusing and reducing resources, Great Southern Institute of Technology’s Seeds of Sustainability project is flourishing.
Sustainable Development - Better managers and leaders for a better society.
UTAS Continuous Improvement exemplified by the Academic-Operations Sustainability Integration Program (AOSIP).
Going Green at Unitec! Launching its Environmental Sustainability Strategy in 2011 with an environmental fund for staff and a Going Green campaign to reinforce a culture of...
Waste Watchers – Bin Monsters Come Alive The “Waste Watchers – Bin Monsters Come Alive” programme, was a campaign designed to teach correct recycling...
Australian Environmental Law Moot The Australian Environmental Law Moot is a nation-wide mooting contest, open to all Law Schools across Australia. The Australian...
Humanitarian Engineering Research Programme – Sustainable Solutions Transforming Lives The Programme is an innovative education and research programme that engages...
The SWIM Team (Supported Wage Workers In Motion) To facilitate the inclusion of people with intellectual disability and learning spectrum disorders into its everyday...
Building sustainable communities by strengthening the wellbeing of individuals and families The Orchard Hills Farm programme includes the most vulnerable community members...
Waste Watchers – Bin Monsters Come Alive A campaign designed to teach correct recycling behaviours to students in response to high contamination rates in cafeteria...
Early Years Bush Connections The first Australian programme of its kind, Early Years Bush Connections, an adaption of the Scandinavian pedagogy, was created for pre-service...
The Matter of Landscape: Sustainable design strategies for RMIT City Campus A series of complimentary project-based teaching and learning initiatives across the RMIT...
Accountants: The New Climate Change Warriors Accounting students graduate with skills to mount a business case for sustainability initiatives such as energy savings, and how...
Print Procurement for a Sustainable Future The Print Procurement for a Sustainable Future project has enhanced, optimised and improved the imaging and printing choices for...
Moving the masses – a commuter revolution The University of Wollongong (UOW) has developed and implemented a significant Sustainable Transport Strategy to shift...
Deakin University has reduced its transport carbon footprint by 1346 tonnes CO2 eq, at a cost of $856,000, with the implementation of on campus and intercampus transport methods
The UWS social engagement and leadership program (SELP) is a unique multi-disciplinary volunteer program that runs annually over 4 weeks in Greater Western Sydney
Newcastle Hair & Beauty Academy at Hunter TAFE realised that their industry was in need of a “sustainability make-over”
The green program was developed to support Monash University’s commitment to sustainability by embedding green initiatives into the Monash workplace
Using creative approaches to free up thinking in an interdisciplinary undergraduate sustainability unit Creating Sustainable Futures, Deakin University’s first whole of...
Sprouting Seeds: growing and learning together Sprouting seeds: Growing and learning together at the Northern Sydney Institute, is about educating and inspiring the early...
The living laboratory: action-orientated pedagogy for a sustainable campus JCU’s Bachelor of Sustainability is one of only a few undergraduate degree programs in...
UTS Cleans Up! Leading the way in waste management and recycling In 2006 recycling at UTS was not working with recovery rates stuck around 25%. Against this backdrop UTS...
Peninsula Library – The Zero-Net-Carbon Challenge The Monash University peninsula library upgrade is a challenge we have undertaken to retrofit an existing university...
Print Procurement for a Sustainable Future Print Procurement for a Sustainable Future” has transformed the way the organisation prints, copies and faxes using smart...
Refrigeration and Lighting Retrofit This year WSI made further energy savings with two large retrofit projects. One being a large scale internal and external lighting...
Total Waste Management USC has introduced a new waste management process to all buildings on the Sippy Downs campus resulting in an average of 75 percent reduction in general...
Waste Innovation, from campus to community- using waste to engage & change behaviour Our engaging and expansive waste programme involved; students, staff and funders,...
Committing to Environmental Excellence Flinders university is committed to environmental excellence and the development of curricula and cross disciplinary research on...
Late Starter, Fast Runner – Collaborate to Innovate From catch up to innovation, UC may be a late starter, but has proved to be a fast runner in procuring a sustainable...
As the University comprises about 50,000 students and staff, the consumer choices we make on campus matter. When we achieved Fair Trade Accreditation in 2012, we became...
Students and staff working together to deliver a common goal: raising awareness of Fair Trade as a tangible example of sustainability in practice.
The project aims to make the Tasmanian University Union (TUU) the first 100% renewably powered student union in Australia, engage 1000 students per year through events and...
The JCU sustainability club is a highly active student group working to promote a sustainable lifestyle, connect and empower people to create change throughout JCU and the...
The student-run Tap It campaign sought to engage students and staff in refilling reusable water bottles rather than purchase single-use bottled water.
The matter of landscape links university operations, research, teaching and learning with community and industry engagement delivering stage two of the roof garden pilot project.
Growing at Griffith focuses on three innovative biodiversity projects that builds on Griffith’s commitment to maintaining environmental integrity on its campuses.
Thinking outside the rectangle: beyond the carpark for sustainable transport. In a few short years, implementation of the University of Tasmania’s sustainable transport...
The EcoCentre is a key element of Griffith University’s Griffith Science group and promotes an encouraging message that the knowledge, existing framework and resources to...
The Trickle Effect – Working flexibly with Aboriginal communities to build capability in resource efficiency. A state wide delivery of the Cert Iv Home Sustainability Assessment...
tate of the Tropics. Half of the world’s population and 67% of the world’s children under 15 years of age will be living in the Tropics by 2050, raising serious...
Youth Eco Summit – Linking and leveraging social responsibility and sustainability in GWS and beyond. The unique internationally recognised Youth Eco Summit (YES) held annually...
Give them wings and they will fly! Transforming VET Teachers into Sustainability Champions. Equipping Australian industries with employees who possess and can apply relevant...
Progressing sustainability via continuous pursuit of environmental excellence. The University of Auckland has come a long way since the early 1980s when we first started...
Doing the right thing – a holistic approach to sustainability. At Otago Polytechnic we believe in doing the right thing. Our goals are to have every graduate a sustainable...
Shaping Sustainable Cities. RMIT’s vision is to be urban in orientation and creativity, shaping sustainable cities and drawing inspiration from the challenges and...
Durack prides itself on being a leader in sustainability, and decided to embark on a project with staff and external stakeholders to develop a Sustainability Strategy.
The Green Gown Awards Australasia Winners’ summary 2014 provides a summary of the projects recognised by this year's Awards, the International Awards and the ACTS...
One of Nottingham Trent University’s strategic aims is to ‘provide a learning and working environment that inspires and promotes a culture of ambition, community and...
The Living Laboratory has allowed students from diverse academic backgrounds to create dynamic research projects, identifying solutions to the environmental sustainability...
An affordable and easy to administer bicycle loan scheme which is designed to promote cycling through minimising the barriers to staff and students
Plymouth University is delivering a model of sustainable catering which is founded upon local and ethical sourcing, increasing community access to healthy and fresh food, and...
South Devon College has developed/written its own in house system that allows it to link its learner database (EBS) to the system and scan learners ID cards at a point in its...
The University of Manchester’s 6 year vision specifically expresses the need ‘To embed environmental sustainability as a key priority across the full range of its...
UWS community gardens reduce carbon through food growing; provide a living laboratory for students; and a social space for UWS staff, students and surrounding communities
University of Edinburgh aims to contribute to the improvement of society as a whole by the creation of sustainable food systems
BaxterStorey have a duty to students and staff to continuously improve and build upon the level of sustainability demonstrated at the University of Gloucestershire’s (UoG)...