It’s been another exciting year for Green Impact Student Unions! This year, 19 students’ unions and students’ associations have taken part, creating lasting change for sustainability through innovative actions, projects and campaigns. Eight teams achieved an excellent award - testament to the hard work of those in the student movement moving towards a sustainable future.  

The GISU programme uses a comprehensive online toolkit framework of 47 criteria that enables union teams to plan and track their sustainability action. The toolkit supports 13 out of the 17 SDGs, taking a holistic approach to sustainability, addressing issues from poverty within students' communities, to climate action, responsible procurement and more. The toolkit covers eight union/ association specific areas, ensuring sustainability work can be embedded across the whole organisation.  

Some highlights this year include:  

• 127 sustainability campaigns took place  

• 19 SUs/SAs have committed to trade justice and ethical consumption

• 18 Unions have sustainability substantively included in their strategic plans  

• Over 50 elected officers and staff members shared knowledge, expertise, and built their sustainability networks through our events

‍Special Award Winners

Highest Scoring: The Students Union at UWE

The Students Union at UWE have achieved the highest score for their outstanding commitment to sustainability, with their auditor describing their work as ‘some of the most impressive sustainability work I have ever seen’. One of their highlights this year was their work on anti-sexual violence in a challenging context. The auditor was also particularly impressed with the way sustainability is embedded throughout the organisation, within strategies, engagement with reps and conversations with the institution. A big congratulations on achieving this award for two years in a row!  

‍Highest Scoring Runner-up: Stirling Students’ Union

Stirling Students’ Union blew away their auditor this year with how much great work they are doing. This year, the team have worked hard on exciting biodiversity plans, which includes a wonderful community wildflower meadow. Another highlight for Stirling is implementing an award-winning Ethical Careers Policy, a truly impactful piece of work. They have worked on a variety of Sustainable Development Goals, which includes projects addressing issues in student housing and food poverty. We are excited to see how all this wonderful work continues to grow.  

‍Highest Scoring Winner (small/ specialist): Fife College Students' Association

Fife College continue to be an exemplary institution who achieve big things as a small organisation! This year they have given students the chance to get ‘hands-on’ with nature through tree planting, biodiversity audits and building bug hotels. The SOS-UK team have also been impressed with their work on student wellbeing and a strong approach to food waste and food justice. Congratulations to the team at Fife College SA!  

GISU Choice Award: Stirling Students’ Union

The GISU team has been so impressed with Stirling this year! Not only have they gained an enormous number of points, they have been fantastic at sharing their knowledge and expertise with other Unions and Associations. Their approach is helpful and friendly, a great example of work on goal 17, ‘partnership for the goals’.  

Student Leadership Award Winner: Aoife Phillips, The Students' Union at UWE 

At the start of this academic year, Aoife started the Plant-Based Universities Campaign at UWE. The campaign calls on universities to transition to 100% just and sustainable plant-based catering. She inspired other students to join her mission and currently has a passionate core team of 9 students and a wider team of 21 students. See an exert from the Student Idea, on inclusivity below: 

''As plant-based food is halal and kosher, it is also inclusive of all major faiths and religions, and nutritionally sound, meaning such a transition at UWE would aim to be at no detriment to any particular group. A plant-based diet is approved by both the British and American Dietetic Associations for all ages and stages of life. The diet “could reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers”. 

We aim to work with neurodivergent individuals to create an inclusive and diverse menu that caters to all dietary needs and requirements. Students can still bring whatever food they like onto campus as it is not a complete ban or boycott. Instead, it is an opportunity for leading research institutions to align themselves with what the science is saying and act as a catalyst for change.'' 

Student Leadership Award Runner-up: Krish Daryanani, Liverpool Guild of Students 

Krish has truly made a huge effort to be involved with volunteering and social action to help people. In the Merseyside area, Krish is on the Race Equality Panel of the Combined Authority, advising them on how to make the area more inclusive. He was on the Merseyside Youth Commission from October 2023 to January 2025, which concluded by publishing a report of recommendations for the PCC. He represented the commission on BBC Radio Merseyside too. He is also a School Governor for Clifford Holroyde, a SEN school in Liverpool, and a Trustee for the Mersey-Weaver Scouts; both involving a lot of engagement with young people.  

As an environmentalist, Krish is a young advisor on a DEFRA project exploring how to improve access to nature for young people who suffer from poor mental health; they have conducted workshops with experts and will be writing a report with Natural England soon.  

Student Leadership Group Award Winner: Edible Campus Student Group, Lancaster University Students’ Union  

Edible Campus has had a remarkable year, taking on various sustainability projects, including adopting ECOEats, selling homemade chutneys and jams from ECOHub produce, making bat boxes with other societies, and rebuilding the ECOHub with new garden beds for future use. They have also launched an irrigation project to conserve water and reduce landfill waste.  

Their student composting initiative is of particular note. It provides compost bins for collection, cutting plastic waste and carbon emissions. Replacing beds with recycled plastic planks also prevents plastic pollution. The bug hotel has attracted diverse insects and birds, enhancing biodiversity. The irrigation system, designed from reused components, efficiently conserves water and minimizes waste.  

Student Leadership Group Award Runner-up: Student Sustainability Advocates, Aberdeen University Students' Union 

These 4 Student Sustainability Advocates have shown outstanding commitment to raising awareness of the climate emergency amongst the student community, as well as making a significant contribution to deliver the Student Climate Assemblies, while also making a positive physical impact on campus. 

The volunteers have also been vital in advocating for the inclusion of sustainability modules and topics within academia. With a vision on interdisciplinarity, these students are passionate to embed sustainability in the curriculum across all degrees and schools at UoA. They have also been key in the organisation of Student Climate Assemblies and have many more plans in the pipeline.  

Sign up for GISU 25 – 24!

We are pleased to announce the next annual cycle will be launched on the 28^th of July. Next year you can expect:

• Peer to peer learning and networking  

• Access to templates, case studies and guidance  

• Webinars on various sustainability themes

• Audit and conversation with SOS-UK sustainability experts  

If you have any questions, please email gisu@sos-uk.org and you can sign up here!  

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