Bangor University Students’ Union wins National Environmental Award

Rhys Dart, Union Director, Kristen Harding, The Ecologist Magazine and Rich Gorman, Vice-President Societies & CommunityRhys Dart, Union Director, Kristen Harding, The Ecologist Magazine and Rich Gorman, Vice-President Societies & CommunityBangor University Students’ Union was recently named Union of the Year (non commercial) at the National Union of Students (NUS) Green Impact Awards in Manchester.

The awards recognise the environmental work of students’ unions around the country and this year had a record 105 unions competing. The awards are part of the NUS Green Impact initiative which provides environmental accreditation for students’ unions, helping unions to showcase great environmental practice.

Bangor Students’ Union won their award for their wide range of environmental activity and best practice, from projects to help reduce the decline of the bumble bee that saw thousands of wild flowers planted in the Bangor area, to innovative recycling initiatives that aimed to collect old bras for re-use in other parts of the world. The Union also actively supported Fairtrade Fortnight and Go Green Week, as well as working closely with Gwynedd Council to encourage students to recycle and keep Bangor tidy!

Rhys Dart, Union Director and Rich Gorman, Vice-President Societies & CommunityRhys Dart, Union Director and Rich Gorman, Vice-President Societies & CommunityThis is the second year in a row that Bangor have been recognised for their exceptional environmental performance, receiving The Co-operative ‘Most Improved Union’ Award and

The Ecologist ‘Communications Challenge’ Award at the Green Impact Awards in 2011.

Rich Gorman, Vice President, Societies & Community, said “It’s fantastic to be named Union of the Year, we’ve come a long way very quickly, two years ago we were only a Bronze level Union, now we are the best in the UK”.

Professor John G. Hughes, Vice-Chancellor, said "This is a great achievement, and I would like to congratulate everyone that's been involved in winning this award.


At Bangor University we are very proud of the work we do in relation to the environment, and the University community works hard to preserve and improve the fantastic environment in which we live, study and work. Many congratulations to everyone involved."

Publication date: 20 April 2012