Sustainability

We support students to run environmental campaigns and initiatives to champion institution-wide sustainable change relating to social and environmental impact on campus. We have some brilliant student groups engaging with sustainability. You can find them here. if you want to get involved!

Sustainability Officer

If you are a student group, do you have a Sustainability Officer role in your committee already? We recommend that each Student Group has one to ensure your group is as sustainable as possible. This is a great opportunity for someone in your committee to take on extra responsibility and support your group where it really matters. You can find out more about the role here.

Planning a Student Group Event? Make It Sustainable!

At Queen Mary Students’ Union, we are committed to embedding sustainability into all aspects of our operations and supporting you in doing the same. To assist you, we have developed a practical Events Sustainability Checklist. This guide is designed to help you plan and deliver events in the most sustainable way possible, from initial planning through to post-event follow-up.

By following this checklist, you can take small, practical steps that collectively make a significant impact - ensuring your events are both successful and environmentally responsible.

Find the list here

We ensure that our positive impact extends beyond campus through providing opportunities for students to volunteer and have a direct impact on the local environment and local communities as well as directly on campus.

Sustainability volunteering

We got a range of different sustainability volunteering opportunities, with the canal cleans being our biggest ones.

Our canal cleans are a great opportunity to make an impact right here and right now! The Students' Union (QMSU) has been leading a series of canal clean-ups along Regent’s Canal in Mile End for several years now make a significant contribution to improving our local environment and community. These initiatives, led and delivered by student volunteers and staff, focus on removing litter, improving biodiversity and raising awareness about environmental sustainability. You can read more about the impact our canal cleans have here.

Find out more ways on how you can get involved through our QMSU Volunteering portal here.

Reuse Fair

The Students’ Union and University run the Reuse Scheme every year, collecting donations of university essentials from departing students at the end of the academic year to be given away to new students for very little money at the Reuse Fair at the beginning of the academic year.

What a way to start the year sustainably.

Donating unwanted items to Reuse saves perfectly usable things from going to waste. This helps to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and protect the environment. It also helps new students transition into university and save money. The scheme has grown in donations and popularity since it started in 2017.

Here are some things you can donate:

• Clean and washed bedding (duvets, sheets & pillows)
• Clean and washed towels
• Clean crockery and kitchenware
• Unopened, non-perishable food
• Toiletries or cleaning products (full & unopened only)
• Stationary
• Electrical items
• Books
• Other useful items (e.g. clothes hangers)

Keep an eye out for new dates!

Not able to donate to the Reuse Fair this time? Fear not, read our handy guide below.

Reuse Fair Guide

Climate Action Week

This is a major flagship university and Students’ Union week bringing together our local community to explore and raise awareness of climate action week through creativity, collaboration and justice.

Climate Action Week is our annual flagship sustainability engagement event and a chance for students, staff and the wider community to come together to explore creative and collaborative responses to the climate crisis. There are workshops, talks, debates, volunteering opportunities, student group events as well as hands-on experiences that connect sustainability to every part of university life.

For updates and information please keep an eye out for our news and email updates!