► Our Ethics


Fairtrade
NTSU plays a key role in three different local accreditations to Fairtrade:
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NTU is a Fairtrade University, and NTSU plays a vital part in that accreditation. We join in the Steering Group and get actively involved in everything NTU do. We have had loads of events and campaigns, including fashion shows using Fairtrade clothing, street markets, and banana eating record attempts!
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The town of Southwell, where our Brackenhurst Campus is located, has been a Fairtrade Town for many years. NTSU maintains an active and important role in this accreditation, with several staff and students included on the Fairtrade Steering Group. Our Orangery café often hosts the meetings too, serving the Steering Group members some tasty Fairtrade products to help the meetings go smoothly.
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Nottingham City is currently applying for Fairtrade status, and NTSU is actively involved in their application. We aim to help, however possible, to assist in this important move for the city.

Green Impact
Nottingham Trent Students' Union is committed to lowering the negative impact that we have on the environment locally, nationally, and internationally. That is why we are active members of the NUS Green Impact scheme (formerly Sound Impact).
Green Impact is an assessment of how environmentally friendly and ethical students' unions' operations are. It assesses all aspects of our organisation, from how well we maintain our vehicles to whether we collect and re-use rainwater!
Nottingham Trent Students' Union currently hold a Gold Standard Green Impact Award and have recently completed to Green Impact Excellence project; a fantastic achievement for the Union, and one that we are very proud of. We encourage students to help us in our efforts to reduce our environmental impact.
Did you know that:
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You can recycle your old mobile phones in the reception of the Students' Union at all three campuses.
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We have limited our minibuses to 62mph to restrict their carbon emissions.
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We fitted solar film to the Pulse Bar conservatory to reduce the temperature in hot weather without the need for air conditioning.
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We recycle tonnes of glass each year. At least 95% of waste glass at the City venue is recycled.
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We have been awarded Fairtrade Status as an organisation.
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We sell the ethical brand One Water on all our campuses.
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The plastic bags used in all of our campus shops are made from 100% compostable plastic.
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We only serve Fairtrade tea and coffee in our bars and diners, as well as our staff meeting rooms.
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Our diners now only use free range eggs in their breakfasts.
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All City venue toilets have been modified to use less water in their flushes - that goes for men’s urinals too!

Best Bar None
Nottingham Trent Students' Union currently holds bronze accreditation across all three campuses in NUS Services Limited's (NUSSL) Best Bar None scheme.
The Best Bar None Awards aim to reward, promote and recognise the huge efforts that students’ union bar outlets put in to corporate social responsibility and, in particular, the wider effects of selling alcohol. The accreditation considers all aspects of a union’s bar operations, including drink and drugs policies, crime prevention, fire, security and first aid.
NUSSL was the first organisation to adopt the scheme on a national basis from Greater Manchester Police, and NTSU has participated in the scheme for several years now at our City campus; we are proud to have now achieved accreditation at Clifton and Brackenhurst campuses as well.
