Students
Just some of the ways that students can get involved with sustainability and make a difference at Lancaster University.
ECOChallenge
Each year Green Lancaster host a competition between all nine colleges to come up with new and innovative projects that can improve sustainability on campus. The winning team will receive a £500 pot to split between the team and the runner-up team will receive £250 to split.
ECOChallenge
Student societies
Lancaster's Students' Union supports societies that offer a wide range of ways for our students to get involved with environmental sustainability on a practical level.
From helping to grow vegetables on our allotment, to fundraising for charities, to looking after the chickens at the ECOHub. It’s a great way to make friends and socialise too.
Societies
Student volunteers
Whether you have a love for food and gardening, recycling, or cycling, there are many ways to get involved with environmental projects and sustainability on campus.
Green LancasterSustainable Projects
Positive Change Week
Positive Change Week was a week-long celebration of sustainability and social responsibility at Lancaster University, held in December 2023. Students could join in with a variety of events and activities that showcase the amazing work being done by our university and its partners to address the global challenges we face. One example of events was a pop-up event with local plastic recycling company Relic Plastic who showed students how to make phone stands and carabiners out of plastic milk bottle tops.
ECOWoods
Formerly known as Forest of the Future, the project has grown to have a significant following of student volunteers who help maintain the natural landscape across campus and at Forrest Hills nearby. Volunteer staff and students have planted more than 4000 trees over the last 3 years to help build sustainable habitats and promote wildlife.
ReStore Lancaster
ReStore Lancaster is a new sustainability store concept where Lancaster University is working in partnership with St John’s Hospice. The shop is a combination of a charity shop with donated items for sale, alongside selling affordable and eco-friendly products to the campus community. Students can volunteer with the shop and in January 2024, they hosted a Sorting Saturday event, where students could learn more about volunteering with the hospice and gain points towards the Lancaster Award.
Don't Ditch It
The Don't Ditch It initiative is one of the longest-running and most widely recognised initiatives that students can get involved with. It's a household goods upcycling project that has long-established relationships with over 50 local and national charities. The project gives back to the community and reduces waste on campus every year. During 2022/23, the project upcycled 31 tonnes of household goods.
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Bike Hire
Our bike hire scheme launched in 2023, and offers Lancaster University students the convenience of cycling without the expense of owning your own bike, or the hassle of cycle maintenance. The bike scheme is designed specifically for Lancaster University students, with a range of bikes available for termly rental throughout the year.
Sustainability events
Take a look at ways you can get involved with our dedicated events calendar below. We rely on student and staff volunteers to help run most of our events so if you're interested in helping out then let us know.
More Events