Two sustainability initiatives developed at Cardiff University have been shortlisted in the national Green Gown Awards.
An annual initiative which recognises exceptional projects undertaken by universities and colleagues across the UK to become more sustainable, a research project to develop a more sustainable business model for the automotive industry, and a student-led food cooperative, have both made it to the final.
Shortlisted in the Green Gown Research Award for Impact category is the concept of Micro Factory Retailing, one of the flagship projects within the University’s Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS).
Developed by Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis and Dr Peter Wells, the innovation is based on the premise that car making models could in the future involve a devolved network of small local car assemblers/retailers, or Micro Factories. The factories would assemble vehicles attuned to local tastes and conditions using sustainable technologies and a novel value creation strategy to escape over-production.
In the Green Gown Student Initiatives and Campaigns category is the University’s Your Uni Fruit and Veg Co-op. Organised by the Cardiff groups of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and volunteers from People and Planet, the Co-op is a social enterprise designed to bring well priced fruit, vegetables and salad to the student population; while generating a sustainable income source for the Riverside Community Food Co-op where volunteers aim to bring the same service to the community of Riverside in Cardiff.
Now in their sixth year, the Awards are administered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) the sector champion for environment and sustainability and governed by a cross-agency steering group of sector support agencies.
The winners are announced at a prestigious gala banquet at The Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London in June.
