Anglia Ruskin University zero carbon programme saves 96,000 kilogrammes in one year
The ARUgreen scheme aims to reach zero carbon levels by 2045
Last updated 30th Oct 2023
A green-scheme at Anglia Ruskin University has saved over 96 thousand kilogrammes of CO2 emissions in their 2022-23 academic year.
It's part of their ARUgreen programme to promote sustainable actions and to reach their target of being zero-carbon by 2045.
ARUgreen aims to encourage students and staff to take steps to improve sustainability at the university, which has campuses in Cambridge, Peterborough and Chelmsford.
James Rolfe is the university's chief operating officer and sustainability champion:
"It's a bit of fun for staff and students to use and every week, you get an email asking you a series of different things that you've done that week to improve sustainability and environmental matters, such as what your travel patterns have been like," he said.
"We have the Ruskin modules which all students can take and help develop their knowledge on environmental and sustainability matters.
"We also have a popular master of science degree in sustainability we run in conjunction with the Eden Project."
What has the ARUgreen programme achieved so far?
Since its launch in 2019, the ARUgreen programme has seen over 150,000 sustainable actions have been completed.
In the last academic year, the scheme helped avoid the use of 13,954 disposable cups and bottles, and saved 9,569kg of waste.
Sustainable actions recorded through ARUgreen in the 2022-23 academic year saved CO2 emissions equivalent to 162 flights from London to New York.
The scheme logged 166,698 miles travelled by public transport and 48,373 miles by active travel such as walking and cycling.
"It's a fun way of getting students engaged"
"It's a fun way of getting students and staff engaged in sustainability matters, but it's part of a much wider set of sustainability actions and strategies," Mr Rolfe added.
"All of these things are logged; we have league tables of who's doing the best within the university and we find this very positive."