University of Glasgow
Finalist
Green Gowns & Second-Hand Suits
Green Gowns & Second Hand Suits came from a personal desire from students at GUEST & GUFR to have a hub for borrowing our peers’ dresses, heels, or ties for one night and avoid the last-minute panic buy or long Vinted searches. If you feel that a tradition at your university, such as black-tie events, can be made more sustainable while also helping to alleviate financial hardship, we strongly recommend reaching out to and engaging your student community.
If you wish to build a platform like ours, our top tips are:
- Know who your audience is.
- Cater to what your students and staff long for (and may not know yet).
- Share it with the entire campus (overpromoting does not exist).
Lastly, sharing is caring; and both our wallets and our planet agree!
Annual carbon savings achieved with the initiative:
- CO2t savings 2022/2023: 0.245KG (Estimated)
- CO2t savings 2023/2024: 1kg (Estimated).
- CO2t savings over the life cycle of the project: Unlimited time, unlimited savings. Estimated 1kg savings per year.
Top 3 Learnings
- We recommend tailoring projects that answer to your environment and community’s current challenges and interests.
- You can never over-promote!
- We learned to make sustainable options accessible but also inclusive of all circumstances.