Green Gown Awards 2019 - Nottingham Trent University - Winner

Our Team

Team NTU “Embraces Sustainability” supporting staff and challenging students to tackle the global and local! 

NTU Embraces Sustainability institution-wide. Third in People & Planet, fifth in UI GreenMetric, LiFE Index (Gold) with one Purple and two Green Flags!

Whether it’s having more City cycle than car parking spaces, replacing 10 single-use plastics, using gamification or practical sustainability challenges, we embrace positive action for sustainability in a fun and meaningful way.

Our robust sustainability governance model has high level, interconnected sustainability fora for academic schools, research, operations and the SU, each chaired by an Exec member. Our Sustainable Development and Green Academy Teams work with these to align ambitious decisions and strong actions. All students connect deeply with one or more SDGs and 5,000 achieved our Sustainability in Practice Certificate.

Social sustainability matters too: our flagship Success for All programme optimises student outcomes and addresses disparities – we’ve closed the BAME attainment gap with 83% in graduate-level employment. Sustainability is working for good at NTU! 

Top 3 activities

• First university ISO14001 certified, minimising footprint in carbon, waste, transport, procurement, construction whilst enhancing biodiversity.  
• First university worldwide to embed SDGs throughout curriculum with dedicated Green Academy. 
• Global research: our pioneering vertical ‘container farms’, designed alongside Chinese University, produce perfect growing conditions.  

Top 3 impacts

• 99% waste diverted from landfill; 46.4% carbon reduction; 8,000 trees planted; recycle ALL disposable cups 
• “Pack For Good” partnership filled 60,000 BHF charity bags, raising £800,000 with students’ donations.
• 31,256 sustainability/wellbeing staff actions taken in 7 months; from active travel to mindfulness.

2 reasons we believe we should win

• NTU’s team is Institution-wide, with governor and executive-level focus on sustainability encapsulated within our “Embracing Sustainability” strategy strand. 
• Our holistic approach delivers environmental and social impact; closing BAME and WP gaps for a fairer, more just society.  

Videos

• Green Gown Awards 2019 - Nottingham Trent University - Outstanding Leadership Team of the Year (click to hide)