Environment and Sustainability ideas at Student Voice Festival 2024

Here is a summary of some of the innovative and fresh ideas from OU students about how we can improve our work in environmental sustainability at the OU:

1. More detailed help and advice on what to do with hard-to-recycle items such as module textbooks. One of our Environment and Sustainability Working Group members also suggested sharing places to donate students' used textbooks
2. Similarly, another student suggested a tree planting scheme to offset books printed
3. Setting up a donation scheme where students who get upgraded IT equipment can donate to schools to utilise and prevent this equipment going to landfill
4. Students were keen for the OU and Students Association to use Fairtrade suppliers for any in-person events as well as using recycled materials for any freebies given out (we will be prioritising this in our planning for our Conference)
5. Students discussed their courses and how they would value the addition of environmental information in the curriculum (such as adding sustainability information to modules' study skills sections). Students studying environmental sustainability-related courses truly value the skills and information they are learning in their courses 
6. A suggestion that really piqued attention was a long-distance, nationwide form of student activism to raise awareness of environmental concerns among people in their local community (taking inspiration from How Bad Are Bananas, students doing something lighthearted like displaying a banana in their window!)

This new and exciting society is for students, former students and staff at The Open University who are passionate about protecting the environment and sustainability.

The society is eager to welcome new members and is also looking for students to join the committee where a range of roles are available.

Read more about the OU Environmental Sustainability Society and contact them via their society page on our website.