Students and sustainability

Reduce + Reuse = Save money

• Tip 1 - Carry a reusable cup/water bottle. You’ll be doing your part to cut down on single-use plastics, and you can save 20p on your hot drinks too, plus enjoy free water refills on campus! 
• Tip 2 - Bring a shopping bag to dodge that 5p charge every time you shop. 
• Tip 3 - Why not check out charity shops? They have great options for books, games, clothes and even furniture! 
• Tip 4 - If you have any pre-loved items you no longer need, consider donating them! You can find British Heart Foundation boxes conveniently located around the campus.

Recycle

At Oxford Brookes, we are committed to achieving ambitious recycling targets:

• Recycling rate target: 75% by 2025
• < 2% zero landfill

In Oxford, waste is sorted into 3 main categories: general waste, mixed recycling, food waste. There are also special recycling bins for hazardous waste, such as batteries and vapes.

Explore more

• What goes in each bin in Oxford

By 2040, our goal is to become a net-zero carbon organisation where only unavoidable emissions are offset. Every small step you take helps us get closer to our net-zero goal. Here are a few tips on how you can make a difference:

• Simply turn off lights when you are the last one to leave a room.
• Switch off appliances at the socket when they're not in use.
• During chilly UK winters, layer up and adjust temperature settings before opening windows.
• If you notice any leaks or maintenance issues, report them immediately to 01865 48 8888. Even a slow leak can waste hundreds of litres of water over a year.

Explore more

• Oxford Brookes carbon management plan
• More energy saving tips from Earthwatch

Choose ethical food 

Ethical food standards, like Fairtrade, ensure better prices and working conditions for producers. Brookes is the world's first Fairtrade University since 2003. On campus, you can find Fairtrade products such as coffee, tea, bananas, and chocolate. Look for the Fairtrade logo when you shop and make a positive impact with your choices.

Try sustainable diet

Farming animals is a devastating contributor to deforestation worldwide and generates about 15% of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

But no, it doesn't mean you have to give up meat. Making the choice to consume less animal products is one of the most effective ways to reduce your environmental impact.

Explore more

• Fairtrade Foundation
• Interested in transition to a plant-based diet temporarily? Veganuary is a good place to start.

Have you ever thought about the environmental impact of your transport? A few sustainable way of travelling in Oxford:

• Cycling - Oxford is a recognised 'cycling city', it is easy to cycle to almost everywhere in Oxford.
• BROOKESbus - get around with renewable energy powered BROOKESbus.
• Walk - find more travel routes on our Active Route website
• E-scooter - rent an e-scooters and get around easily with Voi, you can get a 20% discount as a student!

Biodiversity abounds at Oxford Brookes, we are busy supporting the wild side of sustainability. Did you know, Oxford Brookes is the first university in the world to install bee-centred Freedom Hives. You can see our tree-mounted hive and a ground mounted hive at Headington Hill campus. In 2024, new bee and bug hotels were established in our halls of residence as part of the ‘Halls go wild’ project. Find out where Air Bee 'n' Bees are located and visit them next time when you are passing by.

Wildflowers are planted across sites to promote flora diversity and attract local pollinators. Our Green Impact Swindon Campus team won the Environmental Improvement Award 2023 (a  Green Impact national award ) for their transformative rewilding project. The project not only supported biodiversity but also created a welcoming outdoor space for staff and students to enjoy.

You can find more biodiversity volunteering opportunities in Oxford on our Volunteer Portal.

There are a variety of options available throughout your modules to gain knowledge and skills to enable you to address sustainability challenges. 

• Ask your Programme Lead or subject co-ordinator for information about the modules on your programme which include areas of sustainability that interest you. 
• Use your dissertation as a force for positive change with Dissertations for Good.

Oxford Brookes subscribes to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). Your tutors look to include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and aspects of social responsibility across all programmes.