The University of Salford Students’ Union (USSU) exists to enhance students’ lives through effective representation and the provision of high quality services and facilities.

USSU recognises that its operations result in emissions to air and water, and the generation of waste. It is therefore committed to minimising the impacts on the environment of its operations by means of a programme of continuous improvement. Therefore USSU is committed to:

• Integrating environmental considerations into future business policy decisions;
  
  
• Identifying, prioritising and documenting the Union’s most significant environmental aspects and environmental impacts, and creating a plan to reduce these where possible;
  
  
• Work proactively with the University’s Energy Manager to reduce energy consumption in the premises occupied by the Union and ensure that any future developments of those premises are delivered with a view to minimising their environmental impact;
  
  
• Encouraging students and staff to switch off lighting and other electrical equipment appropriately to minimise energy consumption – through staff bulletins, appropriate signs in rooms, advice to student groups and general advice to students.
  
  
• Proactively reducing the volume of waste to landfill produced by the Union, and recycling as much as practicably possible whilst working with the University to ensure that University waste disposal/recycling arrangements take account of the needs of the Union;
  
  
• Monitoring, and seeking to reduce, paper consumption in photocopying, office printing, stationery and general printing expenditure whilst attempting to increase the proportion of paper used for printing, copying and publications sourced from recycled material or from sustainably managed forests;
  
  
• Supporting NUS Services’ Sound Ethical Choice programme aimed at promoting Fair Trade and sourcing goods for retail from suppliers graded A-C by NUSSL’s Ethical and Environmental Committee;
  
  
• Working pro-actively with the University, Local Authority and other Students’ Unions and the community at large to progress environmental initiatives and exchange best practice;
  
  
• Meeting and, where appropriate, exceeding the requirements of all relevant legislation;
  
  
• Ensuring all staff and officers receive the necessary instruction and training to enable them to understand this Environmental Policy and to contribute effectively to its operation;
  
  
• Using the website and Student Direct to promote environmental issues;
  
  
• Aiming to achieve a year on year increase in the Union’s score through NUS Services’ Sound Impact Awards, whilst maintaining the minimum expected standards to achieve a Bronze Award;
  
  
• Reviewing this Environmental Policy every two years.

Contact Us

What do you think about this policy?