Engagement
We aim to embed sustainability within all decision making and service delivery. Achieving our targets requires each and every one of us, staff, students, and visitors to take action.
We run a number of initiatives, campaigns and activities to inspire behaviour change across the University, with the goal of embedding sustainability into everything we do:
Sustainability Action Groups
The University's Sustainability Committee is chaired by a member of the Senior Executive Team (SET) and is dedicated to inspiring its staff and students to bring sustainability into their activities and decision making.
The Sustainability Action Groups were established in 2024 as a way for staff and students to share their ideas and support the implementation of EcoCampus. Open to everyone across all courses, roles and/or previous experiences, members are welcome to actively contribute to creating a low carbon, sustainable community.
The five thematic Action Groups include:
- Energy, Emissions and Water (internal only).
- Biodiversity (internal only).
- Food, Waste and Resources (internal only).
- Travel and Transport (internal only).
- Sustainable Procurement (internal only).
Each Action Group meet on a bi-monthly basis to identify priorities, develop objectives, set targets, carry out action planning, deliver discrete projects and review progress.
Student representation
The representation of students across committees and planning groups is important for development across the university.
Alongside the Sustainability Action Groups, students can also be a Student Voice Rep (SVR) or be part of the Students' Union's Council - which includes the Environment & Ethics Officer role.
Student societies
Chester Students’ Union have two sustainability-focused societies, giving students the chance to get involved with eco-friendly activities within the University and local community:
- Evergreen society - csuevergreensoc@chester.ac.uk.
- Gardening society - csugardeningsoc@chester.ac.uk.
Dedicated to living happier, healthier, and greener lives together, the societies are a chance to get involved in eco-friendly activities, connect at meetings, and get involved in initiatives that help the wider community and environment.
Hedgehog Friendly Campus Campaign
Hedgehog Friendly Campus is led by students and supported by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. The project aims to make university sites a safe and attractive site for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are officially classified as vulnerable to extinction, so the project aims to make university spaces hedgehog friendly, as well as give people the tools to make their own spaces hedgehog friendly.
Activities can include building hedgehog houses, keeping feeding stations topped up and organising litter picks.
Email - hedgehogs@chester.ac.uk.
Carbon Literacy training
Carbon Literacy looks at how those within the University community can take positive climate action and contribute to the University's ambitious sustainability goals as an individual and/or part of a group.
Some courses embed Carbon Literacy training into their teaching as a module for their 1st year students. Staff and students (who do not have Carbon Literacy as part of their course) can also access the training through ad-hoc sessions which are offered by the University’s Sustainability team throughout the academic year.
Students who are Carbon Literate also have the opportunity to train to become Carbon Literacy Facilitators (CLF).
Email - carbonliteracytraining@chester.ac.uk.
Green spaces on site
Students and staff can also let their gardening skills bloom over time at the University's allotment and Community Hub garden spaces. From its humble beginnings in 2022, the Community Hub garden has welcomed partnerships with faculties through placements, student societies, University teams and charities – most notably Faiths4Change - to create a welcoming, natural space.
Established in 2024, the student-led Gardening society has also taken a leading role in maintaining the allotment space. Volunteers at both spaces are able to help grow plants and produce (vegetables, herbs and fruit), which are used for cooking sessions on site.
On-site swap shop
Established by our students, Chester’s on-site swap shop has been designed to help students and staff access affordable, good-conditioned "pre loved" clothing and fancy-dress costumes. Held every 2-3 months, the swap shop offers a happier, inclusive and more sustainable experience. In 2024-25 the project saved 393 items of clothing form landfill alone.
In June 2025 the Criminology society also hosted their first-ever book swap in collaboration with the Sustainability and library teams, with 88 books being redirected from waste streams.
Staff and students can get involved by:
- Donating costumes, clothing, accessories or books – to organise a donation collection.
- Students can volunteer for the Swap Shop throughout the academic year (internal only) - whether that’s with promotions, donation collections, administration and/or patching up fixable tears in costumes.
Email - csuevergreensoc@chester.ac.uk / sustainability@chester.ac.uk
Awards and achievements
People and Planet League
The People and Planet University League is the only comprehensive and independent league table of UK universities ranked by their environmental and ethical performance. Find out more about the People & Planet League Table.
Fossil Free Declaration
In April 2017, the University joined 48 other UK Universities in pledging our commitment to not invest in fossil fuel industries. So far, 116 universities have committed to divest from fossil fuels in some form.
In an effort to stay within the parameters of the Paris Agreement in 2015, we have confirmed our commitment to the Fossil Free Declaration, demonstrating our pledge to become a low-carbon economy. The University also set out its Socially Responsible Investment Statement.
Green Gown Awards
Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards - run by the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC) - recognises the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by Universities and Colleges. The University of Chester has entered and been winners, highly commended, and/or finalists for a number of awards:
For further details about our planned activities for the academic year, please read our Student and Staff Engagement Plan 2025-26.