In the second quarter of 2024, the University continued to make progress in its sustainability agenda, achieving the following milestones across its campuses.
Staffordshire University and Potteries Museum and Art Gallery joined forces to Make Plastic History
Staffordshire University, in conjunction with the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery (PMAG) led on a regional challenge to Make Plastic History! The project celebrated human history and its ingenuity in developing solutions to plastic pollution.
Supported by the British Academy, volunteers gathered microplastics from their favourite beaches to prevent them from being eaten by marine life or leach chemicals into the ocean to further pollute our world.
On Saturday 20 April 2024, the community came together at the Potteries Museum for a full day of interactive and educational microplastic activities, kicking off the start of our sustainable future.
Microplastic ‘hotspots’ identified in Long Island Sound
Forensic and environmental experts teamed up to develop a new scientific method to pinpoint microplastic pollution ‘hotspots’ in open water
A study by Staffordshire University, The Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean and Central Wyoming College trialled the technique in New York’s Long Island Sound.
Professor Claire Gwinnett from Staffordshire University explained: “Long Island Sound was a location of interest because it has lots of factors that can cause pollution.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent COP launched
On Monday 15 March 2024, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent COP launched their first project ‘Celebration of the Possible’, a conference to drive aligned sustainability.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent COP are aiming to create a shared roadmap to improve the future for people, place, and planet by using Doughnut Economics.
After the successful launch event which took place in The Catalyst building at Staffordshire University, the next steps of the project are to:
Create a Portrait of Place: Where they are now (A) to where they want to be (B), codevelop and share widely.
Map out a Roadmap of Possibilities: Getting them from A to B based on cohesive and collaborative action, amplifying what’s working and bridging gaps.
Wrap Around Support: The collective tools, resources, knowhow, and capacity they need to make it all happen.
Groundbreaking heralds new era for University student accommodation
Work has started on a £100m Student Village designed to transform the student experience at Staffordshire University.
The start of the ambitious two-year construction project was marked with an official groundbreaing ceremony attended by University leaders, project partners and students.
Due for completion in 2026, the new Student Village on the University’s Leek Road site will blend contemporary and sustainable architecture with its location close to the University’s nature reserve and the River Trent.
Putting Sustainability first. Targeting net-zero.
The project’s sustainability credentials include:
- 53% reduction in the primary energy demand and carbon emissions for the refurbished Clarice Cliff Court halls of residence.
- 36% reduction in carbon emissions over Part L notional building targets for the new Village Hub building.
- 32% reduction carbon emissions over Part L notional building targets for the for the new Student Village accommodation.
- 38% reduction in primary energy demands for the new Village Hub building.
- 36% reduction in primary energy demands for the new Student Village accommodation.
World refill day – Staffordshire University joins the refill revolution
On Sunday 16 June 2024, staff and students participated in the global campaign to prevent plastic pollution and help people live with less waste.
World Refill Day was an opportunity for the University to promote the benefits of moving away from single use plastics, encouraging staff and students to use the Too Good to Go app and Zero Waste areas of the Students’ Union’s outlets to reduce their food waste, and use re-fillable bottles and cups when purchasing drinks to ‘tap in’ to the following benefits:
Re-fillable water bottles and hydration stations
You can fill up reusable water bottles throughout the day at our hydration stations that are in buildings around campus. By using a reusable water bottle, you are eliminating more waste from being made, and saving money by drinking free water.
Re-usable coffee cups
You can buy re-usable coffee cups from all our campus catering outlets. The price includes a free fill of your choice and 2 x Loyalty card stamps, reducing the need for continued disposable coffee cup waste. What’s more, one tree is planted for each cup and they are BPA Free. Every time you use any reusable cup at a University outlet, you will also receive a 10% discount on hot drinks!