After weeks of stormy weather, the sunshine made an appearance for the Sustainability Committee’s first-ever Sustainability Market! We wanted to make it easier for you lovely lot to make more eco-conscious choices, so invited a fantastic selection of local and sustainable companies to the market.  Companies included Preserve, Roots and Rope and Vintage Vera!

There was also a fine selection of plant-based food at the market, which provided everyone who attended with a whole load of food choices. Options included local favourites Smoked Vegan, Crussh, Gopal’s Curry Shack, Kabala Kitchen and more.

After the event, a massive 89% of you said that you would like to see more vegan food on campus and 44% were very likely to eat more vegan food after this event. Note taken! This shows the positive impact the event had on your attitudes to plant-based food! If you want to try out more plant-based food at home, we recommend the So Vegan website– it’s bursting with free, easy (and exciting) recipes for you to try!

We also had The Students’ Union’s very own zero-waste shop at the market, which showcased the products that you can buy on campus. Products range from recycled toilet paper to eco-washing up liquid, reusable cups and lunette cups! Did you know that you can buy a menstrual cup for just £10 (instead of £25) in our shop? Unsure about making the switch? Find out more about them here! 

Our very own Green Team and Sustainability Committee were also taking photo pledges. Pledges provided you with an opportunity to show your commitment to reducing your single-use plastic consumption, your efforts on buying fewer new clothes and trying to go vegan for a week! We even got the smoothie bike out and gave away free fruit from E Block’s Mr and Mrs Fruit&Veg - to heighten that Feel Good February feeling!

And the cherry on the (sustainable) cake, we were joined by The Centre for Music’s reggae DJ set – and an impromptu dance party!

However, we could not have done this without the tireless work of our 2019/2020 Sustainability Committee! Want to make your own event like this? Or maybe even your own campaign? Why not sign-up to be a part of our 2020/2021 Sustainability Committee and create the green change you want to see happen on campus! Email thegreenteam@uwe.ac.uk for more information, or check our The Students’ Union’s webpages here!