Yeah! We have it here! Just came out of the EMS oven! Newcastle University has a fully functioning Environmental Management System implemented!

After years of preparation, and a 4 day environmental audit by NQA, our Environmental Management System (EMS) has been awarded Platinum EcoCampus and registered with ISO14001. Thanks to all of you for your collaboration and effort in making this happen. This is a fantastic achievement for staff and students across campus and, recognises the progress that the University has made in embedding sustainability across its operations.

The EMS journey started in 2008 when the institution registered with EcoCampus and the EMS has been under development ever since. EcoCampus is an environmental management system award scheme specifically aimed at the Higher and Further Education sectors. It takes institutions to implement their EMS step by step with Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards along the way, and Platinum as a finale. The University has made steady progress through accreditation, achieving bronze in September 2009, silver in October 2010, Gold in August 2011and now Platinum and ISO 14001 in July 2012, becoming the UK’s second university in achieving it.

On the third week of July, we received a visit from Margaret Rooney, NQA environmental auditor, who came to examine our EMS. Apart from the paperwork evaluation, we took her to visit some sites across the campus and interview staff. She was highly impressed with our laboratories, maintenance depots, research centres, recycling schemes and biodiversity projects. She showed a lot of interest in the Environmental Coordinator (EC) network and was very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet & chat with some of them. Margaret commented on how much she enjoyed her experience auditing at Newcastle University and, strangely for auditees, we enjoyed it too! As a matter of anecdote, we would highlight the fact that, in the middle of the audit, Daniel and Sean left everything and went to the rescue of a family of lost ducklings that were being bullied by crows. You can check it all in the, as far as we know, first EMS audit recorded live on Twitter so far.

As already said, this is a great achievement for NU community however, the EMS journey doesn’t stop here. Now that we have a fully functioning EMS, we have to work on improving it. We had great feedback from the auditor, with no non conformities raised, but we still have plenty of initiatives in mind and opportunities for improvement to implement before next year’s audit so…let’s get down to the business!! Thank you all very much and keep up the good work!

The Green League Report 2012, published by People and Planet, strives to find a route to achieve a sustainable higher education sector. Particular emphasis falls on the importance of Vice-Chancellors (VC’s) in driving forward sustainability initiatives within their institutions, and thus the sector.

People and Planet called on VC’s to renew their commitment to a greener higher education system by signing The Green Education Declaration, which:

• Welcomes the introduction of sector-wide carbon reductions targets for the higher education sector
• Reaffirms their commitment to achieving institutional carbon reduction targets and sector-wide targets of 43% by 2020
• Commits to integrating education for sustainable development into the curriculum
• Urges the government to work with the sector in developing a strong vision and strategy for a low-carbon sector
• Calls for adequate resourcing to enable the sector’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future

The scheme has experienced early success, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Brink being the first VC in the country to sign the declaration in June 2012. Further pioneers include University of West England and Cardiff Metropolitan University.

 Newcastle University also received a First Class Award from the People and Planet Green League (2012) which assesses the implementation and success of University environmental policies, carbon reduction schemes and ethical performance.

Celebrating success!
The third annual Environment Awards were the highlight of Newcastle University’s ‘Celebrating Success’ event on 31st May 2012. Held in the courtyard, guest, nominees and supporters were wined and dined with sustainable nibbles and offered an opportunity to mingle and share ideas.

Clare Rogers, Director of Estate Support Services, welcomed those in attendance and alongside Professor Chris Brink, Vice Chancellor, acknowledged and praised the efforts of the nominees and the wider university for their invaluable contribution towards reaching the University’s Sustainability targets. Professor Brink then presented prize winners with a leaf shaped award made from recycled glass

Newcastle University is steaming forward with a number of successes being highlighted, namely:

• Achieving a Gold Eco Campus Status (Platinum is on the way…)
• Winning a First Class Award from the People and Planet Green League
• The implementation of various, successful Biodiversity projects by Newcastle’s Sustainability Team
• Launch of the Commonwheels pay per/hr, on-campus, Peugot iOn car share

Awards were presented within the following categories:

Outstanding Individual Contribution– Mr David Walker, Estate Support Services.

David is in control of the Building Science Yard and is responsible for the recycling of old (and not so old) furniture, wooden pallets etc, he works tirelessly, and with enthusiasm, in all weathers, to ensure that we recycle as much as possible. He is also responsible for the operation of the Food Composter, and has worked hard to get it running efficiently and it is producing good quality compost that is so much in demand from local gardeners that he sometimes has to ration it.

Outstanding Group Contribution to reducing the University’s Environmental Impact – this was awarded to the NU Malaysia and IT staff. Dr Vanessa Hammond, Faculty of Medical Sciences Head of Administration received the award on behalf of the winners and John Hogan will be delivering to them in Malaysia later in the year.

In order to support ‘Earth Day’ which is observed on 22th April each year all over the world, the Library and IT Services team at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed), led by Senior Library Manager, Levas Mejus, decided to hold an Earth Day Exhibition on the NUMed campus . The Library staff were responsible for searching and retrieving information from the internet for articles, facts and activities on Earth Day celebration to be display during the exhibition. IT staff were responsible for designing the poster and made some arrangements for the exhibition area.

On Monday, 23rd April 2012, NUMed staff and students were encouraged to dress in “GREEN” to show their support of the Earth Day Celebration. There were gifts for those who came to visit the exhibition. The gifts made from the recycle materials (DIY buttons and bookmarks) and buttons were the favourite gift on the day.

Best Environmental Initiative– “The Big Clear-Out Team” from Accommodation and Hospitality Services scooped this award.

The initiative was to increase awareness in the importance of recycling with International postgraduate Students living in Leazes Terrace and to assist the site in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill in the weekly collections. This has resulted in a 100% increase in mixed recycling on a weekly basis and a reduction of 3 landfill lifts per week. They are keen to promote the importance of the recycling and are always keen to come forward with new ideas.

Green Impact Team Awards – certificates and pot plants were presented to the following teams, who strive to improve the sustainability within their precincts by working through an online workbook to gain award levels for various areas of sustainability (Bronze, Silver, Gold).

• The Estate Support Service Mean Green Impact Machine
• Teamo Verda from the School of Modern Languages
• The Library Green Group
• The Wombles, Leazes Terrace
• King’s Gate Ecoteam
• Merz Court
• ‘The Precinct’ from the School of Geography, Politics & Sociology, Institute of Health & Society Ecoteam and Devonshire Building Ecoteam

And last, but not least… Student Intern Awards were received by Hannah Howarth, Hannah Wright, Jennifer Lowery, Jonathan Kidd and Lisa Crossey.

Student Interns work alongside Newcastle Univerisity’s Sustainability Team and work on a variety of projects including: monitoring and checking environmental procedures, creating an easily accessible Environmental Policy document, developing communication materials for recycling campaigns, improving the team’s social media presence and assisting with development of a paper reduction campaign.

After a wonderful ceremony, enjoyed by all, the fourth annual Environment Awards (2013) promises to be an event to look forward to.