B001 – Baselines, Monitoring and Results
Within the last three years, the union has had some sort of methodical environmental evaluation
which either examined aspects of resource efficiency (electricity, water, gas, heat) or the issue of
recycling, and the union can demonstrate that is has taken one or more action(s) as a result. This
could be an internal piece of work, a review by a committee, something carried out by the
institution, or completed by external consultants.
B002
The union has formally identified, prioritised and documented its most significant environmental
aspects and environmental impacts within the last three years and has made the document publicly
available on the union’s website.
B003
If the union owns or rents one or more photocopier, it actively records the number of copies made
on all the photocopies that have a counter function at least monthly, and has set reduction targets
for the upcoming year.
B004 - Waste
The union has formal systems in place to ensure that hazardous wastes and, if applicable, used
catering oils are segregated for suitable disposal, and relevant staff are aware of the correct
procedure for disposal.
B005
Either the union does not have a retail shop, or, if it does, it has replaced standard plastic bags for
customers with a more sustainable version and/or the union charges for bags, uses the money raised
to support sustainability initiatives and communicates that it is for environmental reasons.
B006
Either the union has banned plastic bags from Freshers’ Fairs, or it has actively discouraged its
exhibitors from giving away plastic bags.
B007
The union has a scheme in place to collect used printer and toner cartridges for donation to charity
reuse scheme from both internal sources and actively from students.
B008
Either the union does not have any bar(s), or, if it does, the majority of the waste bar glass
generated in its bar(s) is recycled and all customer-facing bins are well labelled.
B009
The union has a well-labelled recycling scheme in place for waste paper and has waste paper
collection boxes in the majority of the offices and by all photocopiers and printers.
B010
The union has made printing from the majority of PCs to one or more networked printer, and/or
photocopier, duplex by default.
B011 – Electricity
The union has energy-awareness stickers, notices or posters in place encouraging staff to switch off
lights in all offices and communal facilities such as kitchens and single-occupancy washrooms.
B012
Either the union does not have any banks of three or more light switches, or all banks of three or
more light switches within the union have been labelled to identify which lights each switch
operates.
B013
Within the last 12 months, the union has invited all staff to feedback ideas for saving energy.
B014
The union has an up-to-date written lighting and equipment responsibility plan covering all the main
facilities within the union and the plan is embedded within the roles of operational staff.
B015
The union has a formal shut-down procedure for vacations where staff are reminded of their
responsibilities in advance of the shut-down or the union organises a shut-down event.
B016
Less than 5% of all of the light bulbs/tubes throughout the union (excluding specialist rig lighting in
entertainments venues) are tungsten filament bulbs, or the union has a demonstrable strategy for
achieving the target within the next 24 months, or within the last 6 months the union has actively
lobbied the institution to replace tungsten filament bulbs within the union with more efficient
various.
B017
The union has a minimum efficiency specification list, updated within the last 12 months, that sets
procurement specifications for at least three of the following:
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IT equipment, including printers
Kitchen equipment, including dishwashers
Glass washers, kettles, urns (excluding fridges)
Lighting fittings and bulbs, including desk lamps
Motor vehicles
Refrigeration equipment (domestic and commercial)
Televisions and screens
Ventilation systems
B018 – Water
All urinals managed by the union are fitted with water saving devices that are working.
B019 – Campaigns & Initiatives
The union has led its own awareness raising environmental event and/or actively supported the
institution’s environmental event.
B020
The union has actively lobbied/encouraged the institution on at least two separate ethical or
environmental issues within the last 12 months.
B021
The union’s website has a section on environmental issues (such as recycling, energy efficiency, or
Fairtrade) that specifically references what the union is doing in relation to that topic. It includes
links to the websites of relevant environmental organisations and promotes Snap it Off!
B022 – Student Officers, Staff & Team
There is a demonstrable commitment to environmental good practice from senior management
within the union.
B023
All new staff and sabbatical officers are formally inducted on relevant environmental issues within
their role, such as recycling policy and procedures, individual responsibility for conserving energy,
switching off appliances, etc.
B024 – Policy & Commitment
The union has an active environmental policy, or the union has at least one active policy on a specific
ethical or environmental issue. Within one of the above, the union must reference a formal
commitment to continual improvement of its environmental performance.
B025
Environmental issues are mentioned in the union’s long-term operating plan.
B026 – Procurement
If the union serves tea or coffee, all tea and coffee currently served is Fairtrade or a brand where an
equivalent robust commitment to ethical trading is displayed.
B027
All white A4 or A3 size copier paper bought by the union for internal use is made from at least 75%
recycled paper, or is made from NAPM accredited recycled paper, or is made from pulp from
certified sustainable sources.
B028 – Union Challenge
Within the last 6 months, the union has actively and successfully supported one of the following
national days of action and can show how they have worked across the students’ unions
members/departments to organise it:
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Snap it off
Blackout
Silver
S001 – Baselines, monitoring and results
The union has identified and documented key areas for improvement of environmental performance
within the last three years and has made the document publicly available on the union’s website.
These should include some, if not all, of the union’s most significant environmental aspects and
environmental impact.
S002
The union has an active system in place to monitor and record the number of business miles
travelled on official union business in motor vehicles and public transport, including both trains and
planes if applicable. The union uses this data to identify and reduce its carbon footprint.
S003 – Waste
On an ongoing basis, the union is taking suitable practical measures to ensure that it meets its duty
of care requirements with regard to waste management.
S004
The union houses a collection scheme aimed at students for at least three of the following
on constant basis:
 Batteries
 Books
 Clothing
 Mobile phones
 Postage stamps
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Shoes
Spectacles
S005
The union has a recycling scheme in place for at least two of the following:
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Aluminium
Steel cans
Plastic bottles
Cardboard
Glass
S006
The union has created plans to deliver and/or support a recycling and reuse campaign in student
halls and/or other student accommodation at the end of the academic year.
S007 – Heating
Either the union has not used any patio heaters in the last 12 months or, if it has, any patio heaters
used are now restricted by percussion switches to no more than 10 minute intervals and have
awareness notices that state they are bad for the environment.
S008 – Transport
If the union provides or contracts out minibus driving training, the training includes efficient driving
techniques.
S009 – Student Officers, Staff & Team
The union has a greening team made of three or more people that lead on your Green Impact
Students’ Union submission. The team must include at least one staff member, one manager and
one sabbatical officer.
S010
Environmental considerations are referenced in the job descriptions of all new staff and/or in the
standard terms and conditions of employment.
S011
If the institution has an environmental manager, or similar, the union has proactively developed a
good working relationship with the post-holder.
S012
The union’s constitution includes an environmental committee or assembly, and the group has met
at least twice within the last 6 months and/or the union has some sort of informal internal
environmental taskforce that has met at least twice in the last six months.
S013 – Campaigns and Initiatives
Either the institution has not signed up to Green Impact Universities and Colleges (GIUC) and the
union has lobbied them to do so, or the union has actively supported the institution in delivering
GIUC by completing five of the criteria specified in the Union Support Form.
S014 – Procurement
Either the union does not use any bottle-fed water coolers or all the union’s bottle-fed water coolers
are supplied by Aquaid, in so doing supporting Pump Aid and Christian Aid.
S015
If the union buys fresh eggs for use in catering or for sale in a retail outlet, all the fresh eggs bought
are free-range.
S016
Either when purchasing food for the majority of meetings or events, the union ensures that it
includes at least two of the following or the union has lobbied the institutions internal catering to
provide at least two of the following:
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All of the eggs are free-range or Freedom Food certified
Food to be delivered using minimum packaging
Organic certified produce
MSC certified produce
Recyclable packaging
Seasonal produce
The majority of meat is free-range or Freedom Food certified
The majority of food provided is vegetarian
Locally produced (grown and made within in a 50 mile radius)
S017 – Energy
Either the union has an auto-power down energy system such as ‘Nightwatchmen’ for powering
down the computer, or if it doesn’t, the union has lobbied the institution to get a system for union
computers.
S018 – Education for Sustainable Development
Either the union does not work with HE students or it has successfully promoted either the NUS HEA
annual survey to its students or the employer’s survey on graduate skills to the careers service.
S019 – Union challenge
The students’ union has ensured at least one of their events, or actively supported on event, in the
last 12 months met at least 15 of the criteria stated in NUS’s Sustainable Events Checklist and can
show how they have worked across the students’ union’s members/departments to organise it.
There is also a bonus criteria list in which Students’ Union have to reach a certain amount of points.