(updated May 2017)
The Students’ Union has identified its most significant environmental impacts and is engaging its members in addressing them. This document provides an overview of the main environmental impacts of the Union’s activities and a summary of its commitment to addressing them.
The following table summarises the principle areas of activity, the aspects of them that have environmental significance and an outline of the impacts of those activities. It is not exhaustive and may be reviewed regularly as other impacts are identified for action.
No |
Activity |
Aspects |
Impacts |
1 |
Electricity Usage Lighting Air con Appliances Office electrical equipment |
Electricity usage: 745 t CO2/yr (Nov 2014- Oct 2015) (latest available reliable data) |
Resource depletion (fossil fuels): Release of greenhouse gases |
2 |
Heating |
District heating (gas and oil fired to supplement incineration rubbish) : usage c. 440 t CO2/yr |
Resource depletion (fossil fuels) ; Release of greenhouse gases |
3 |
Procurement
Equipment Fridges, vending catering equipment
Cellar cooling
Gas cookers |
Energy usage– during manufacture, delivery and disposal Use of ozone depleting substances Use of gas |
– resource depletion (fossil fuels), contribution to climate change: air pollution
Ozone depletion
-Non renewable resource depletion, release of greenhouse gases |
|
Goods
for resale
Sale of all non-food items Buying
prepared food and drink |
Energy and resource usage– during manufacture, delivery and disposal Energy and resource usage– during manufacture, delivery and disposal Energy and resource usage during manufacture, delivery and disposal |
Landfill: emissions of greenhouse gases, leachates. Visual impact EWF – emission to greenhouse gases, less visual impact
Resource use: Resource depletion, release of greenhouse gases, localised air pollution from particulate emissions and NOX
|
|
Cleaning Beer line General |
Use of chemicals Use of water Effluent discharge |
Disposal of hazardous waste Use of energy, effect on biodiversity, reduction in water table |
4 |
Water usage – domestic use e.g. toilets |
Tap water (heating) Using water |
contribution to climate change Energy use Effluent discharge Effect on biodiversity. Reduction in water table |
5 |
Maintenance and refurbishing the building |
Painting Materials use e.g. timber, plasterboard, carpets, lighting Fluorescent tubes |
unsustainable forestry; resource depletion; habitat loss; VOC’s from paints causing air pollution Waste disposal hazardous and no hazardous |
6 |
Printed materials – flyers, newspapers, posters, loyalty cards
|
Paper use Printing Internally – electricity use Externally transportation and electricity
Energy usage
Printing process
Distribution Disposal |
-Raw materials (paper) – unsustainable forestry, habitat loss, biodiversity, air pollution
– (paper manufacture, printing) contribution to climate change – Water usage: VOC’s from inks causing air pollution: contribution to climate change. – Contribution to climate change: air pollution. – contribution to climate change: land degradation |
7 |
Travel –business travel, visitors and members, safety bus |
Vehicle use Fuel use |
Resource depletion (fossil fuels) contribution to climate change; local air pollution As transportation Increased congestion |
|
|
|
|
Sheffield University Students’ Union reviewed and revised its overarching strategic document in 2012 and developed its Strategy to 2016. Within this it reaffirms ‘sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible’ as a core value and its Buildings and Facilities function leads on enabling this value through a set of priorities, goals and measures which are regularly reviewed.
The Union states in its Strategy 2016: We will maintain our commitment to work on environmental best practice and continue to run the organisation in an ethical and socially responsible manner.
Detail of the Strategy 2016 is on the website at: http://su.sheffield.ac.uk/sheffield-su/our-strategy-2016
Strategy 2034
At time of writing, the Students’ Union is in the final stages of signing off its 18-year strategy, which includes some ambitious sustainability targets on carbon, waste and encouraging sustainable diets. Watch this space.
Environmental Policy
The Students' Union notes:
1. Current unsustainable practices are creating severe problems for society as environmental and social limits are reached.
2. Sustainability is a positive vision advocating environmental, economic and social justice, through living our home and work lives in a way that benefits the environment, current social needs and future generations.
3. A 2013 HEA and NUS report found over 80% of students believe that sustainable development should be actively promoted and incorporated by UK universities.
The Students' Union resolves to: 1. Lobby the University to embed skills for sustainability throughout the curriculum to ensure graduates can contribute to a more sustainable world.
2. Support student groups (including, but not limited to Ethical and Environmental Committee and People and Planet) to get involved in sustainability issues and make full use of the Green Space.
3. Actively seek partnerships with local organisations which share our environmental agenda, and lobby other organisations to do the same.
4. Implement the Environmental code of Best Practice and ensure it’s updated, relevant and adhered to by the whole organisation.
5. Actively engage with the NUS sustainability strategy, implementing it where it strengthens our vision, and constructively challenging it where necessary.
POLICY HISTORY: Originally passed by Referendum March 2009 (3394 votes for; 235 against; 400 abstentions). It was renewed without amendment in October 2011. The above revised policy was agreed by SU Council in December 2014. This policy is due for review in November 2017.
As a crucial part of the Union’s Environmental Policy, a Code of Practice has been agreed that will:
Provide clear environmental targets and systems for everyone in the Students' Union to work towards
Spell out the specific ways in which those targets will be achieved
The University of Sheffield Students’ Union is governed by a constitution that sets out the aims, objectives, powers and responsibilities of the Union and its component parts. This document gives a clear role and authority to an Ethical and Environmental Committee (now renamed Sustainability Committee), empowered to campaign on and raise awareness of ethical and environmental issues and to advise the President on developments in ethical and environmental issues. A member of this committee is elected to the Student Council annually.
The constitution is on the website at: http://su.sheffield.ac.uk/make-a-change/how-your-students-union-works/constitution
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 333 SOUTH
POSITION PAPER ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION LTD FORESTS TO
WORK INSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS AND IMPACTS REF 2521
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