Sustainability Newsletter - June 2024

Our Sustainability Newsletter is brought to you by UEL's sustainability team. It aims to keep staff and students updated with the latest sustainability news, events and tips! 

We hope the contents of the newsletters are useful and engaging. Have you got a sustainability story, campaign, or idea that you want to be included in the newsletter? Fill out this form and we will be in touch!

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Explore our new Sustainability Map

Where can you refill your water bottle on campus? Which of our buildings have solar panels? Where is our Community Garden located, and how can you get involved? Explore our new sustainability map to learn about UEL’s sustainability initiatives and find our facilities!

The map includes information about sustainability at UEL across all three campuses, including: 

  • Travel and transport facilities 
  • UEL shuttle bus stops
  • Cycle storage, showers and cycle maintenance kits 
  • Community Garden
  • Water bottle refill stations
  • Solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) panels
  • The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability (RDCS)
  • Waste facilities and FreeCycle Hubs

If you have any questions, please email the sustainability team.

View our new Sustainability Map

Sugarcrete® secures European Commission funding

The Sugarcrete®️ project has been selected as one of 69 winners of EU Worth Partnership II funding. The collaboration will receive 10,000 euros, 50 hours of coaching, and will get to participate in an exhibition and an online design event. 
The Sugarcrete®️ project is a collaboration between the UEL MArch Architecture programme and the Sustainability Research Institute at the University of East London with the support of Tate & Lyle Sugars. 

Its primary focus so far has been research into producing low-carbon alternatives to bricks and concrete. Bagasse is combined with sand-mineral binders to produce Sugarcrete®️ bricks that have a carbon footprint six times smaller than the traditionally made clay versions.

It’s a huge honour to be selected for the funding and we see a lot of promise in this research for sustainable material for construction.

Learn more about Sugarcrete®️

Choose to refuse single-use plastics for Plastic-free July

Plastic Free July is a global movement that provides resources and ideas to help you reduce single-use plastic waste. Choose to refuse single-use plastics this July and find great alternatives that can become new habits forever! 

Plastic facts:

  • Only 9% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled 
  • Plastic can take up to 1,000 years to break down
  • Sir David Attenborough told us during Blue Planet 2 that “we dump eight million tonnes of plastic into the sea every year”.

Plastic-Free July:

  • Plastic Free July® is a registered charity which helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution
  • The movement has inspired 100+ million participants in 190 countries 
  • Ready to take the change? Get involved

At UEL, our #DitchTheDisposable campaign means you can enjoy discounts at catering outlets for bringing your reusable containers. 

#DitchTheDisposable campaign update

In October 2023, UEL launched our #DitchTheDisposable campaign, aiming to reduce waste and advance our sustainability goals. 

  • The campaign asked all UEL staff and students to pledge to #DitchTheDisposable cups and food containers, and swap to reusable alternatives!
  • The campaign was launched in partnership with our catering partner Aramark. 
  • The campaign offers discounts on campus to incentivise using reusable cups and food containers. 

From October 2023 to May 2024, at campus food outlets...

    • 51%

      51%

      of meals were sold in plates or reusable containers

    • 49%

      49%

      of meals were sold in disposable food boxes

    The #DitchTheDisposable campaign has helped to reduce campus waste, but there is still more work to be done! Bring your own reusable cup and food container to campus to save money, reduce waste and help the environment!

    What discounts are available? 

    Discounted food:

    • £0.25 charge for using a takeout container (on top of the advertised price)
    • Using a plate will cost the advertised price 
    • £0.15 discount for bringing a reusable food container 
    • Reusable food containers can be purchased for £5 (one-time cost) or you can bring one. 
       

    Discounted drinks:

    • Starbucks & Munch: 10p discount off hot drinks with a reusable cup 
    • Costa: Buy 5 drinks to get 1 free with a reusable cup 

    Upcoming events

    Transforming Cities with Green Spaces workshop – 1 July 

    • Location: The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, Hackathon Space (Room No. RD2.04), Second Floor
    • Join the Sustainability Research Institute's exciting workshop on 1 July, ‘Transforming Cities with Green Spaces: Benefits, Justice and Personal Reflections’ 
    • Learn about promoting and preserving urban blue and green infrastructure, focusing on domestic gardens
    • Open to researchers, council authorities, local communities and garden enthusiasts
    • Register now (closed)

    External events

    Image captionDr Bike runs a workshop on campus

    How can you get involved?

    Have you got a sustainability story, campaign, or idea that you want to be included in the newsletter? Fill out this form and we will be in touch!

    Have you got any ideas for sustainability on campus? Let us know in our Sustainable Suggestion Box.

    If you have any questions or ideas, email us at sustainability@uel.ac.uk