Showcasing our 2024 Winners, Highly Commended and Finalists

The 2023 results showcase 20 Winner, 17 Highly Commended and 65 Finalists institutions. Read about their innovative and replicable sustainability projects, as well as their top 3 project learnings and project specific SDGs. We are extremely grateful to applicants for supporting the Awards ethos: promoting and encouraging sustainability good practice within the higher and further education sector and beyond.

Alison Robinson, NERC Deputy Executive Chair and Director of Business Delivery & Insight, part of UKRI and headline sponsor: “Congratulations to the winners of the Green Gown Awards. It is so great to see this exceptional set of finalists showing us what is being done across our sector to reach net zero. The quality of research and innovation alongside the passion and enthusiasm of all the finalists is inspiring. I look forward to following the progress of these projects as they help us all take climate action.”

Charlotte Bonner, CEO, EAUC, who deliver the Green Gown Awards: “The Green Gown Awards celebrate the most innovative and impactful work being done by those working in the post-16 education sector. The projects, initiatives and people showcased through the awards this year are, as ever, inspirational – it’s been a privilege to be part of the judging. I look forward to seeing them flourish in future and to using their examples to springboard further action for sustainability.”

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Finalists at a Glance (list view).
(Previous years' winners can be found here or on the Sustainability Exchange.)

2030 Climate Action

Sponsored by

Winner

The University of Manchester

Zero carbon without a net

Highly Commended

Keele University

The Smart Energy Network Demonstrator & Low Carbon Energy Generation Park

Highly Commended

University of Plymouth

Charting a course for Net Zero 2025

Finalist

Aberystwyth University

2.5 MW private wire solar array

Finalist

Bath Spa University

Bath Spa Phase 1 Decarbonisation

Finalist

Kingston University

Kingston University a whole-institutional approach to achieving net zero

Finalist

Maynooth University

The Road to zero – Maynooth University Grounds Department

Finalist

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

Green footsteps - our sustainability journey

Finalist

Oxford Brookes University

First UK university to retrofit new geo-exchange heating technology on campus

Finalist

Scotland's Rural College

SRUC's Climate Change Action Plan

Finalist

University of Strathclyde

Manufacturing a climate neutral future

Benefitting Society

Winner

Ayrshire College

Connecting Communities

Winner

Glasgow Caledonian University

Enabling student impact at Glasgow Caledonian University

Highly Commended

University of Birmingham

Creation of a River Cole Community Commons in Birmingham

Finalist

Aston University

Enactus Aston - Chance for change – Take the chance be the change. Sustain a plate!

Finalist

Nottingham Trent University

NTU’s sustainability in enterprise: Driving sustainable growth for Nottingham’s SMEs

Finalist

Robert Gordon University

Origin – the ability to sustain

Campus Health, Food and Drink

Winner

King’s College London

Feeding a changing world while minimising its carbon footprint

Highly Commended

Keele University

Keele University’s food and drink: Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do across campus

Creating Impact

Sponsored by

Winner

Shipley College

A large SDG impact in the smallest FE College

Highly Commended

University of the West of England, Bristol and Students' Union

Circular economy in action!

Finalist

Central & South Scotland College Partnership

Enhancing sustainability impacts by sharing resources between FE Colleges

Finalist

Dundee & Angus College

Breaking barriers and driving change: Where industry meets academia, magic unleashes!

Finalist

Fircroft College of Adult Education

Learning via propagation

Finalist

Heart of Worcestershire College

Small footprint – huge strides

Finalist

Myerscough College and University Centre

Sustainability to the FORE!: Using research and education to support the golf industry’s environmental journey

Finalist

Queen’s University Belfast

Queen’s Sustainable Lab Fund

Finalist

University of Chester

Uniting the arts and science to act on climate change

Finalist

University of Glasgow

Green Gowns & Second-Hand Suits

Digital Futures

Sponsored by

Winner

Askham Bryan College

Centre of excellence in mixed reality

Highly Commended

The University of Edinburgh

IT Reuse: Circular economy in action

Finalist

University of Salford

Virtual Peel Park: Using digital tools to create inclusive natural environments or outdoor spaces

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability

Winner

De Montfort University

Decolonising and Decarbonising DMU

Highly Commended

Anglia Ruskin University

Energy SHINES

Money for Good

Winner

Lancaster University

Wind Turbine Community Benefit Fund

Highly Commended

The University of Nottingham

Sustainable investments - positive impact

Nature Positive

Winner

Durham University

Enhancing biodiversity at Durham

Highly Commended

Swansea University

Buzz across the Bay

Highly Commended

University of Worcester

Protecting and enhancing biodiversity at the University of Worcester for over a decade

Finalist

De Montfort University

From grey to green – the transformation of a city centre campus

Finalist

The University of Edinburgh

Nature positive communities, campuses, and cities

Finalist

University of Derby

From dull green grass to beautifully wild – the story of our campus

Next Generation Learning & Skills

Winner

Anglia Ruskin University

Ruskin Modules: Collaboration for sustainable change

Winner

Glasgow Kelvin College

Fighting Fast Fashion

Highly Commended

University of Gloucestershire

An anti-greenwash framework to embed quality sustainability learning

Finalist

The University of Edinburgh

Case Studies in Sustainable Development

Finalist

Dundee & Angus College

Empowering Lives: Next-Gen Learning & Skills

Finalist

Queen’s University Belfast

Embedding green and sustainable chemistry and 21st century skills into the chemistry curriculum

Finalist

Schumacher College

MSc Regenerative Food, Farming and Enterprise: Soul, Soil, Society

Finalist

The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Earth Fellows: Student power in urgent climate research

Research with Impact - Institution

Sponsored by

Winner

University of Aberdeen

Regenerating Scotland’s hemp industry for health, climate, and a green economy

Highly Commended

University of Leeds

Investing in the future - Gair Wood

Highly Commended

University of Lincoln

Reversing the impact of coal for a climate positive future

Finalist

Myerscough College and University Centre

Effectively applying tree biology to an increasingly urban world

Finalist

University of Aberdeen

Making ends meet - transforming the readymade garment industry by amplifying the voices of those affected

Finalist

University of Oxford

Oxford University Research Archive Climate Research Collection

Finalist

University of York

Improving sustainable palm oil conserves biodiversity and reduces carbon emissions in the tropics

Reporting with Influence

Sponsored by

Winner

University of Plymouth

The University of Plymouth is committed to taking action to reduce its impact on the environment.

Highly Commended

University of Worcester

This report demonstrates a comprehensive overview of the university’s sustainability efforts, including its successes, challenges, and plans for improvement.

Finalist

University of Gloucestershire

Our Annual Sustainability Report communicates clearly to all stakeholders and makes the complex simple for non-expert readers, within and outside the University.

Student Engagement

Winner

Kingston University

The Kingston Sustainability Innovation Challenge

Winner

University of York

University of York Sustainability Clinic

Finalist

City, University of London (LEAD - 10 UNIS)

London Student Sustainability Conference 2023

Finalist

De Montfort University

The Daria Project

Finalist

Durham University

Greenspace Movement. Small acts. Big difference

Finalist

London South Bank University

Energy Advice Centre at London South Bank University

Finalist

The Students’ Union at UWE

Sustainable Periods Project

Finalist

The University of Nottingham

Conservation on campus - working together for a better future

Finalist

University of Bolton

The Student Sustainability Panel

Finalist

University of Cumbria

Law for Living - curriculum through partnership

Finalist

University of Glasgow

Student 2 Student Essentials

Finalist

University of Kent

Kent Community Oasis Garden. A collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability and wellbeing hub around growing food

Finalist