Students' Union Sustainability

AY 2023/2024 highlights

• Student societies, such as the Marine Soc, and the Students' Union arranged beach clean ups this year to keep local beaches clean and waste-free, such as Grattan beach.
• The Students’ Union worked with commercial services to eliminate the use of disposable cups on campus, with the aim being by 1/9/2024 there will be no disposable cups right across the university. The Students’ Union started on their own commercial services (SUCS); Smokey’s, Sult and the SU shop. These initiatives undertaken by the SU were designed to encourage sustainable habits, like using reusable cups that students will continue to use outside of the university, as well as reducing waste on campus.
• The Environmental and Sustainability Officer of University of Galway's SU organised a climate summit in September with the SU's Climate Crew. The summit gathered a diverse range of lecturers and students together to talk about different topics such as eco anxiety, the climate ambassador programme and fracking.
• The Recycle Runway was an event held on the 13th of March 2024, by the Environmental and Sustainability Officer of University of Galway's Students' Union, Molly Hickey, and the SU Climate Crew. The event challenged students to create their own outfits using upcycled materials that would have otherwise been wasted and to try and show students that there is beauty in upcycled things. Their brilliant creations were then displayed as part of a full fashion show displayed in the Student's Building, spreading further awareness of upcycling and the themes of circular economics

AY 2022/2023 highlights

• Thanks to the election of the SU's first ever Sustainability Officer Malena Thren, who has played a major role in guiding the university and its students toward a more sustainable path for our campus, and pushed forward some incredible sustainability initiatives over the last year.
• The Students' Union had a massive beach clean up on January 18th and March 20th.
• The SU Climate Crew marked World Water Day with a huge clean-up of Terryland Forest Park.
• The Lab Coat and Goggle Donation Drive campaign, which asked graduating students to donate their old lab coats and goggles to the SU, was held. This helped reduce waste and combat incoming students expenses.
• National Bike Week ran between Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 21st of May. Throughout this week the SU hosted lots of free events for students including Bike Buffets, movie screenings and a cycle in support of the University of Sanctuary initiative.
• Glassary is a University of Galway sustainability initiative run by student volunteers every year. Glassary aims to reduce household waste generated across campus accommodation residences, whilst also providing support to local community and voluntary organizations. Donation points are set up at student residences at the end of each semester, where students can then donate their leftover household items. These items are then collected and re-distributed to future students or local charities/organizations. Glassary saw great success for the 2022/23 academic year, where donations were shared with the Galway Simon Community.
• 3,000 keep cups and 7,000 reusable tote bags were given to students. The SU carried out monthly beach clean-ups, succeeded in making more vegan options available on campus, organised second-hand clothing sales and much more.

AY 2021/2022 highlights

• Thousands of resuable items were distributed including face masks, coffee cups and tote bags to help combat single-use plastics
• Monthly group beach cleans on numerous beaches around Galway
• "Walk & Talks" allowed students to meet others throughout semester 1
• A lab coat and goggles recycling drive in September saved many items destined for the bin
• Every Monday in February, vegan sausage rolls were available for 75 cents for SU cardholders in Smokey’s Café and Sult 
• Vintage clothes fairs and a charity clothes drive encouraged students to avoid fast fashion
• Numerous events to highlight Mental Health Week in November
• Supported the launch of NUI Galway Student Pantry
• Smarter Travel team cycle challenge, Marchathon and Walktober encouraged students to keep active
• €11,000 raised for Galway rape crisis ad BeLonG
• Free antigen tests were distributed to combat the spread of COVID-19
• International day of persons with disabilities was marked with a disability rights clinic, an ISL workshop & a disability experience workshop
• JAM card was launched with the university
• Free high-visibility vests were distributed during road safety week in November to encourage safe cycling
• Free "stress buster" workouts with Wilder Wellbeing before Christmas Exams encouraged students to keep active during study season
• The SU joined Fridays for Future Galway at their Climate Strike in Eyre Square.

The University of Galway Students' Union won the Sustainability and Environmental Campaign of the Year at the 2022 SAAI awards, thanks to their successful "Sustainable Mondays" initiative.