Zero waste shopping at UWE Bristol
Zero waste shopping at UWE Bristol
The UWE Bristol Fund has supported the creation of two Zero Waste shops through Student Experience Grants.
A Zero Waste shop was successfully opened on the Frenchay Campus last year. The grant enabled the purchase of high-quality scales and containers to make this idea a reality.
Based within the Students’ Union shop, this initiative has proved highly popular. Students, staff, and even local residents can bring their own containers to the shop to fill them with food or household liquids.
The pilot shop was so successful that another grant has been secured to open a second shop at the Bower Ashton Campus this year, making plastic-free and sustainable consumption accessible to even more students.
Changing behaviour long term
The Zero Waste shop sales have gone from strength to strength since opening. The numbers show that demand is increasing as awareness grows about plastic pollution, and as the range is developed. Every transaction plays a part in reducing single-use plastic consumption. So far at least 500 units worth of plastic stock packaging have been saved.
Hayley Foulkes, Deputy Commercial Manager from UWE Bristol Student’s Union explains how the Zero Waste shop is about a long-term commitment to the environment,
“If an unpackaged item is sold in the zero-waste section, the pre-packaged alternative in the shop is no longer stocked. This is part of our approach to changing behaviour and habits - it encourages customers to start reducing their plastic.”
More about the UWE Bristol Fund
Student Experience Grants, such as those that have made these important projects happen, are only possible through the generous donations of alumni. Find out more about how we could support your project, or about how to donate to support future projects at UWE Bristol Fund.
Frenchay Campus Zero Waste shop facts *
- 61% of kitchen roll sales are eco-friendly kitchen rolls made from bamboo
- 7% of bin bag sales are biodegradable
- The Students Union shop no longer sells cleaning wipes of any kind
- 25kg of dried fruit snacks have been sold. At an average pack size of 100g, this equates to 250 plastic packets saved.
*data from November 2019 – March 2020
Related news
28 November 2024
Work of UWE Bristol academics features in Government report on air quality measurement
Two UWE Bristol academics have made contributions to an influential Government report on the measurement of air pollution.
27 November 2024
Traffic noise reduces the stress-relieving benefits of listening to nature, study finds
Road traffic noise reduces the wellbeing benefits associated with spending time listening to nature, researchers have discovered.
15 November 2024
Grasslands project led by UWE Bristol academic to support UK’s bid for net zero emissions
A UWE Bristol researcher will lead a £4.7 million project focused on the management of UK’s grasslands aimed at supporting efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
14 November 2024
Highly sustainable student accommodation honoured with national climate action award
UWE Bristol has won the 2030 Climate Action award at the 2024 Green Gown Awards for its highly sustainable student accommodation, Purdown View.
12 November 2024
UWE Bristol to help inspire next generation of young people into green careers
UWE Bristol will play a key role in a new programme to educate more than 10,000 young people in the West of England about green skills and help them explore eco-friendly careers.
05 November 2024
Researchers are turning soil sounds into songs
When David Attenborough said saving the planet is now a communications challenge, he probably wasn’t thinking about the possibility of DJs doing soil sets.
01 October 2024
New guidance launched to help local authorities promote health through Local Plans
New practical guidance to help local authorities in England create places that promote health has been co-authored by a UWE Bristol academic.
17 September 2024
Repair Café returns to UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering
UWE Bristol’s Repair Café returns this autumn with a special ‘repairs skills day’ on 25 September, ahead of the café reopening monthly from 9 October.
03 September 2024
World-first rubies grown in situ from waste materials
A UWE Bristol researcher looks set to transform the jewellery industry after successfully growing the world’s first ruby in situ, in a platinum ring.
02 September 2024
Reintroduction of beavers to wetlands having positive impact on bats, research suggests
The reintroduction of beavers to wetlands in England and Wales is leading to an increase in bat activity, a new study suggests.
12 July 2024
Bristol start-up collects urine from Bristol Pride to develop sustainable fertiliser
A start-up based at UWE Bristol is collecting urine from this year’s Bristol Pride to support the development of a sustainable nutrient-rich plant fertiliser.
11 July 2024
UWE Bristol completes largest low carbon student accommodation development in UK
New student accommodation at UWE Bristol which is the largest low carbon development of its kind in the UK has been completed.