Sustainability at Bangor University

Sustainability at Bangor University August - November 2018

Sustainability in a nutshell Sustainable development has been defined in many ways, but the definition that is most often quoted is from ‘Our Common Future’, also known as the Brundtland Report published in 1987: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

It also offers many opportunities, as former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said: “Sustainable development is an exceptional opportunity – economically, to build markets and create jobs; socially, to bring people in from the margins; and politically, to give every man and woman a voice, and a choice, in deciding their own future.”

Sustainability is the ultimate long-term goal which is achieved through sustainable development.

Put simply, sustainable development means improving our quality of life without damaging the quality of life of future generations. It is important to Wales is leading the way with sustainability, with all of us, that sustainable development is achieved. the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015), This involves each of us as individuals, and careful the first legislation of its kind in the World. planning at local, regional and global levels.

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About the Sustainability Lab The Sustainability Lab is a high-profile focal point, leading on sustainability within Bangor University. In August 2018 it became part of Corporate Services alongside Planning, Governance and HR, reflecting the importance of sustainability in terms of strategic planning, business intelligence, compliance issues, policy development, operations and partnerships. The Director of Sustainability reports to the Director of Corporate Services who also holds the role of University Secretary. The Campus Environmental Performance Team is co-ordinated by The Sustainability Lab.

Long term

Prevention

Integration The Sustainability Lab aims to: • Embrace and promote the five ways of working to achieve Wales’ wellbeing goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals • Ensure the highest standards of environmental performance (maintaining our ISO14001 accreditation) • Contribute to a curriculum that reflects the University’s commitment to sustainable development and global citizenship

Collaboration

• Promote sustainability in research, business and enterprise activities • Promote an ethos of ‘Welsh is for everyone’ and normalising experience of living in a multi-lingual environment • Promote integrated reporting to communicate success • Collaborate with the other Universities in Wales, leading on the development of RCE-Cymru (the internationally recognised Regional Centre of Expertise for the Well-being of Future Generations)

Involvement

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Environmental Management at Bangor In October 2017 a Campus Environmental Performance Team (CEPT) was established to co-ordinate environmental management at the University, including the roles: • Campus Waste co-ordinator (from the Sustainability Lab) • Campus Energy, Water and Transport co-ordinator (from the Sustainability Lab) • Campus Bio-diversity co-ordinator (The Treborth Botanic Garden Curator) • Campus Legal compliance co-ordinators (from H&S) A further two roles have since been added to the team: • Campus Communications co-ordinator (from the Sustainability Lab) • Campus Learning co-ordinator (from the Sustainability Lab)

CEPT also works closely with staff within PACS to ensure a comprehensive and joinedup approach to environmental management across the University estate.

We successfully transitioned to the new, updated ISO14001:2015 standard in October 2017, having previously been accredited under the old ISO14001:2004 standard.

This has been followed by a root and branch review and overhaul of the Environment Management System ensuring that the documentation is fit for purpose.

A wholesale review of our waste management procedures, including reporting of waste data, was initiated during the 2017/18 period and is still ongoing.

A number of other groups are also convened to help promote sustainability initiatives: • Sustainability Task Group (STG) is the strategic group, chaired by a PVC, which meets quarterly • The Sustainability Implementation Group (SIG) meets monthly • Sustainability Think Tanks are held monthly discussing topical issues with staff and students and held in the Students’ Union • Environmental co-ordination (ENCO) group brings together staff from Property and Campus Services to work with (CEPT) • Student Waste and Resources Action Group 4

What is ISO14001:2015

ISO 14001 is the international standard that provides a framework with specific requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It is a voluntary standard that gives internationally recognised certification.

The International Organization of Standardization (ISO) defines an environmental management system as “part of the management system used to manage environmental aspects, fulfil compliance obligations, and address risks and opportunities.” The framework in the ISO 14001 standard can be used within a plando-check-act (PDCA) approach to continuous improvement.

Benefits of ISO 14001:2015 Accreditation Using ISO 14001:2015 has many benefits. It externally validates our work and helps us to: • Improve resource efficiency • Reduce waste • Drive down costs • Provide assurance that environmental impact is being measured • Gain competitive advantage • Increase new business opportunities • Meet legal obligations • Increase stakeholder and customer trust • Improve overall environmental impact • Manage environmental obligations with consistency

ISO14001:2015 and Senior Management Commitment The newly released ISO14001:2015, which we progressed to in October 2017 expects the University’s top management to understand and engage with the EMS. The expectation is that a good environmental management system takes a more holistic view of the organisation and key stakeholders. This requires a new way of working and new levels of leadership. It is no longer sufficient for us to have a one-page policy that is the sole responsibility of an environmental manager. If we are to maximise the benefits of the new standard we will require leadership throughout the University.

In 2019 we will be collaborating with HR to organise familiarisation sessions for senior leaders.

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Environmental Performance Data 2017/18 (full details available on our website)

THIS IS WHAT WE SAID WE’D DO

THIS IS WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2017/18

We will reduce annual energy associated greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) by 3% each year

• Emissions/m2 of operational floor area fell by 17%

We will achieve a 40% reduction in energy associated greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) by 2020, (based on 2005/06 base year)

• Total energy use is now 26% lower than during the base year; associated carbon emissions have fallen by 39%

• Emissions/staff and student FTE fell by 16.0%

• Emissions/m2 of operational floor are now 51% lower than in the base year • Emissions/staff and student FTE are now 50% lower than in the base year

We will reduce total annual water use by 2% per year

• Total water consumption was 10% lower than in the previous year and 13% lower than the baseline • Consumption per m2 of operational floor area fell by 10% from the previous year and 29% from the baseline • Consumption per staff and student FTE fell by 9% from the previous year and 28% from the baseline

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We aim for Zero pollution incidents on campus

• There were no pollution incidents at the University during the 2017/18 academic year

We will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill

• Recycling /diversion from landfill during the year was 66% compared with 43% the previous year

We will reduce emissions associated with business mileage

• Emissions of CO2 were 50% lower than base year and 19% lower than the previous year

Environmental Performance Data 2017/18 THIS IS WHAT WE SAID WE’D DO

THIS IS WHAT WE ACHIEVED IN 2017/18

As part of the ongoing Re:Fit project to reduce energy use in buildings across the University, works to install 62 Solar Photovoltaic panels on the roof of Brambell Building has commenced

• The panels are anticipated to generate more than 14,000kWh of electricity per year, reducing the annual cost of running the building by nearly £2000 and reducing CO2 emissions by 2 tonnes per year. In combination with the other measures being installed as part of the Re:Fit project, the University is expecting to be able to cut its energy use by more than 28%

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Environmental Performance Data 2017/18

A series of environmental improvement objectives and targets are set within the EMS in accordance with the ISO14001:2015 standard.

These objectives and targets are reviewed, amended as required, and approved by STG on an annual basis as part of the Annual Management Review.

The Objectives and Targets are set according to the environmental management priorities set out in the Environment Policy and cover energy use, carbon emissions, water use, pollution prevention, waste production, business travel, procurement, awareness & engagement and biodiversity.

Waste in DETAIL We are committed to minimising waste to landfill - recycle / divert from landfill 50% of all municipal waste generated by the University

2016/17

2017/18

44%

66%

diverted from landfill

diverted from landfill

The breakdown of waste diverted from landfill in 2017/18 is as follows: • 2% Reuse

• 49% Recycling (including AD and composting)

• 16% Energy recovery 8

2018/19 we are currently surpassing last year’s diversion, recycling and reuse rates

Waste related activities 2017/2018 • Waste Management/Recycling training sessions delivered to Campus Life Coordinators, Staff and Student Wardens, and to students living in Halls (this was optional) • Attended the International Students’ Fair with an information stall and recycling game • Delivered BU Waste Management Think Tank.

• The first Waste Awareness Week (WAW) was held between 2nd October – 6th October 2017 • BU supported and participated in the Recycle for Wales Food Campaign • Delivered the End of Term Reuse and Recycling Drive in Ffriddoedd, St Mary’s and Garth • A Lab plastic pilot was organised (unfortunately it wasn’t delivered as there were unforeseen issues, but these will be addressed again in 2019) • A hard plastic pilot scheme was organised and delivered in Treborth Botanic Garden • Operational activities reviewed – bulky waste is now being sorted and recycled by our waste contractor, more food waste caddies are being delivered across campus • BU Waste Management Policy created and published on website • Work has commenced reviewing catering material purchased/used/sold at the University • Signage produced for sanitary waste, which was causing a problem • Waste tender invitation created and published

Waste August – November 2018 • Waste Management/Recycling training sessions delivered to Campus Life Coordinators and to Staff and Student Mentors (formerly known as wardens) • Halls App has been reviewed and amended to ensure more informative recycling data is gathered by all Student Mentors regularly • Waste Awareness Week (#WAW18) delivered from the 29th September – 5th October 2018 • Delivered BU Waste Management Think Tank including feedback from #WAW18.

• Preparation for the Eco Office roll-out in February has commenced • Provided site visit to waste tender applicants • Became signatory to New Plastics Economy Global Commitment (an Ellen MacArthur Foundation initiative) • Evaluated waste tender submissions and provided feedback • Set up a Student Waste & Resource Action Group (SWRAG) 9

The Sustainability Lab and EU-funded projects The horizontal principles or cross-cutting themes (CCTs) are issues that touch on general sustainability principles such as democracy, equality, environmental awareness and good governance. They require action in multiple fields and as such need to be integrated into all areas of the European Funding programmes and be addressed in the dialogue on development of the programmes. For the 2014-2020 programmes, the CCTs are Equal Opportunities and Gender Mainstreaming, Sustainable Development (which refers exclusively to the Environment in EU terminology) and Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion.

There are two aspects to the CCT commitments – internal to the operation and external i.e. in relation to anyone else benefiting from the funding. More detail can be found on our website.

SEACAMS2 CASESTUDY

ISPP CASESTUDY

The Sustainability Lab team has been working with the KESS2 project (and its precursor) since 2012, and sustainability is embedded into the project. The Sustainability Lab runs Sustainability Workshops for all KESS2 PhD and Masters students across the eight HE institutions in Wales, challenging students, their supervisors and company partners to demonstrate how their research contributes to the Well-being of Future Generations Act as well as the Welsh Government’s Grand Challenge Areas.

As a result of the KESS2 workshops in Bangor, PhD students have set up a ‘Wellbeing Research Group’ which is now a multi-disciplinary group including research staff in Bangor University. The workshops will now also be offered as part of Bangor University’s Doctoral School programme.

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RCE Cymru The Sustainability Lab team collaborated with colleagues across the Higher Education Future Generation Group in Wales (Chaired by Bangor University’s Director of Sustainability) and with the Wales Audit Office Good Practice Exchange to re-launch RCE Cymru (the Regional Centre for Expertise on Well-being of future generations) which is now part of a global network run by the United Nations University in Tokyo. We secured funding from BU’s ESRC Impact Accelerator Account for two events in 2018, one in Bangor in September, and a second high profile event in Cardiff in November where RCE Cymru was

formally launched by the Future Generations Commissioner The following circles of interest are already active: • • • • • •

The Circular Economy Healthy Universities and Colleges Resilient Communities Teaching and Learning Social Prescribing Language and Culture

Communication is a cross-cutting theme

A selection of key activities planned for the next reporting period (December – March) Waste

Sustainability #Carnifal

• Award waste contract (December)

We’ll be building on the success of the inaugural 2018 Sustainability Carnifal with another month -long extravaganza of ordinary events in February 2019, celebrating and drawing attention to all the sustainabilityrelated activities that are in our calendar all year round.

• Update website pages with detailed documents • Roll out the Eco-Office and new recycling communication (February) • Continue to focus on the waste hierarchy working with catering and procurement (long-term)

We are working in partnership with colleagues across the University, in particular, UNDEB, Campus Life, Halls, Catering, Pontio.

Everyone is welcome to join in.

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Event highlights BANGOR CLIMATHON One of 100 similar events around the globe. It was an event for individuals, students, community groups, entrepreneurs, businesses, innovators, policy makers…anybody/everyone who has an interest in doing something practical about climate change.

This wasn’t about whether climate change is something we ‘believe’ in or not, the question was, do we understand what’s happening with the climate and how any changes will impact Bangor City and the people of Gwynedd, Ynys Môn and beyond?

Our target audience was those who would prefer to try to do something about the future rather than ignore the facts or feel helpless.

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What was it like?

Pontio was filled with activities, from top to bottom: In the ‘WHITE BOX’ on the second floor, there was an opportunity to do something completely different through a creative interpretation of Climate Change.

Participants created short stop motion animations of their poetry with poet Martin Daws and the Sustainability Lab’s Gwenan Griffith In Undeb’s ‘Room of Requirement’ back to back Climathon motivational talks and discussion sessions ran throughout the day, all captured on video by Mathew Owen from the School of Music and Media Studies.

And on the fifth floor in the Coworking Space the Climathon Challenge took place. This was

not for the faint hearted! Around fifty participants in teams of four or five to set off on a marathon innovation journey: • they selected a climate change related problem • they worked through a facilitated process to develop a feasible, viable, desirable and sustainable solution, • they pitched their idea to a panel of judges The teams with the best ideas will be supported to take them forward with help from partners such as TŷGG Co-Working, Big Ideas Wales, Business Wales, B-Enterprising, Be The Spark.

The ideas not being pursued were uploaded to the Climathon Climate-kic database for others to take forward

Beach Clean 50 Students 30 bags collected

Event highlights

349 Halls flats visited 200 students received recylcing advice

Waste Awareness Week

# WAW18

Bangor University ran its second ever ‘Waste Awareness Week’ (WAW) between Saturday the 29th September and Friday the 5th October 2018. The campaign was launched to share ideas and raise awareness about the importance of resource efficiency both in the University and in Bangor City, to reduce our environmental impacts both locally and nationally and to encourage our students to become responsible global citizens.

The Sustainability Lab worked in partnership with Campus Life, Halls of Residence, Student Housing, Catering, the International Office, Gwynedd Council, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and British Heart Foundation Cymru (BHF) to run an exciting range of WAW activities and

events during the week. These included a beach clean, waste awareness visits in student halls and private accommodation, waste career talks, a campus cleaning event, an information sharing day, recycling quizzes, a debate night, a film night and an eco-craft night, along with other smaller idea-sharing events.

336 Private acc. visited 147 received recyling advise 46 recylcing containers delivered

We once again partnered with Makerere University in Uganda to deliver WAW across continents. This year’s theme in Makerere was ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Plastics’ and activities included strategic messaging, Think Tanks, community outreach to primary school children, a social media campaign, and collecting and sorting plastic waste for sustainable disposal.

21 Attended Waste Career talk 7 New CIWM Members

60 Attended Info. Day 49.8K Online Engagement

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