Environmental sustainability at Solent

We encourage all members of our university community to be environmentally and socially responsible citizens and understand that they can make a difference and effect positive change.

The annual Student Switch Off competition in halls of residence sees first year students take simple actions to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint. In ten years of supporting Student Switch Off, we’ve reached over 20,000 students, trained 90 students as ambassadors, and saved 680,344 kWh of electricity – equivalent to boiling a kettle to make 12 million cups of tea! – and avoided over 300 tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted to the atmosphere.

Students also participate in the popular ‘Solent Sorts It’ competition each year, with teams in the halls of residences winning prizes for reducing the amount of waste they produce and recycling effectively.

The annual campus ‘Blackout’ event involves teams of students and staff working together to minimise energy use by switching off all non-essential equipment in offices and teaching rooms across East Park Terrace on a Friday evening. By monitoring the reduction in energy use over the Blackout weekend, we can demonstrate that individual actions add up to make a real difference to the University's carbon footprint and utility bills.

Biodiversity

We're making space for nature across all our sites. The University’s Biodiversity Action Plan, created in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, guides our work to protect, enhance and create new habitats for wildlife.

Our Ship Handling Centre at Timsbury Lake is a haven for protected species including otter, water vole, great crested newt and eight species of bat. The site is medieval in origin and has a biodiverse mix of ponds, streams, woodland, aquatic marginal vegetation, scrub and shrub. Over 30 species of ancient woodland plants have been recorded. A conservation management plan is in place and we carry out routine habitat management and species monitoring.

The native wildflower meadow at East Park Terrace, provides pollen and nectar-rich habitat for a range of invertebrates and was awarded Highly Commended in the national Bees Needs Awards. In autumn and winter, meadow areas left uncut create shelter for overwintering insects and a food source for our resident flock of goldfinches and other seed-eating birds.

Our contract partner, Sodexo Education Ltd provides a catering operation on campus that's helping to deliver our environmental and ethical commitments. In 2020/21, Sodexo introduced its new Foodiverse concept to the University, putting local communities and sustainability at the heart of the food served on campus. Foodiverse champions plant-based dishes and reusables and works with local suppliers to provide local sourced produce. And it supports students and staff to continue adopting positive eating habits that are good for health, wellbeing and the environment.

Sodexo has achieved Soil Association Food For Life Gold Award for the food served at the East Park Terrace campus and holds the Good Egg Award, using only free-range eggs which ensure higher welfare standards for laying hens. We serve Rainforest Alliance certified coffee on campus and are MSC certified, ensuring that all fish and seafood on our menus is responsibly sourced.

In partnership with the Solent Students’ Union, the University has implemented a Fairtrade Policy which is reviewed on an annual basis. Fairtrade products are available for sale in all campus shops, and Fairtrade foods are used in all cafés and restaurants.

Drinking water refill points are located across campus as part of our commitment to reducing single-use plastics. Click on the map and then on the tap icon for a description of where the refill point is located in the building. The water point at Main Reception in Andrews Building is also a Refill station on the national Refill App.

Find out more about catering at Solent University and our certifications and awards here. Read our Sustainable Food Policy here.