Sustainability for students: what you can do

"No one is too small to make a difference" – Greta Thunberg.

Students are at the heart of our sustainability work. Find out how you can get involved below.

Change our University

To date, students have secured the following changes at ARU: 

• A pledge to remain free of fossil fuel investments, now and in future.
• A switch from polystyrene containers to vegware containers in canteens, saving roughly 40,000 from landfill each year 
• An increase in the number of vegan options available in canteens
• The banning of helium balloons from campus

Contact the Sustainability Team, at [email protected] if you have an idea for a way to make our campuses more sustainable.

Join a society

Visit the ARU Students' Union website to view the full range of societies on offer here, or discover:

• Sustainability Society – Cambridge
• Sustainability Society – Chelmsford (new in 2024, details to follow)
• Wildlife Society - Cambridge
• Group for Environmental Management and Sustainability (GEMS) – Peterborough

Become a Sustainability Officer

Student-led societies at ARU offer the option to become a Sustainability Officer. Officers focus on:

• promoting good sustainable practices in their Society, eg create a to-do list with other officers including goals such as
• not using single-use plastic
• ensuring all waste is recyclable and recycled
• ensuring activities can be accessed by bike, walking or using public transport
• selling or donating all items that the society no longer requires
• engaging with other societies and the SU to exchange ideas and promote sustainable practices in all societies 

Attend a Global Sustainability Institute seminar

These lunchtime talks explore issues as varied as food, the fashion industry, health and wellbeing, nature and nature's value. Visit the GSI events page to find out when they are taking place.

Pick up a copy of So What? magazine

Read about the latest trends and developments in sustainability at ARU.

Get thrifty

The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a large contributor to environmental pollution. In Cambridge and Chelmsford, thrifting stalls offer an opportunity to reduce our impact, give clothes a new life and to also enjoy a bargain. Look out for details of upcoming events, which are advertised on campus.

Get involved with green projects and activities

Interested in planting trees, helping with a conservation area, or creating an edible garden on campus or nearby?

Whether you want to get involved with these exciting activities or have ideas to connect students with nature, we want to hear from you. Contact your Students' Union officer for more details.

At ARU in Writtle, there's a variety of opportunities supported by our Students' Union. These include hedgehog-friendly campus activities, sustainable careers events, litter picking loyalty scheme, and craft activities involving recycling. Contact the Writtle Students' Union officer to find out more.