The people driving positive change across campus and beyond.
Back in June, the University held its Sustainability Awards, celebrating the individuals and teams whose actions, ideas and leadership are driving positive change across the University.
It was wonderful to see the incredible sustainability work taking place across the University, as well as the contributions made by students. This was reflected in both the number and quality of nominations received.
The first category in which students were recognised was Leading Sustainability in the Community. This award celebrates an individual or team leading positive change within the University community or the wider Bath community. This could be through running activities that provide hands-on experiences, helping to develop skills within the community, or implementing programmes that enable community action.
The winner in this category was, Sam Ellis Hunt, our 2025-2026 Activities Officer. The nomination included:
“As Activities Officer, Sam has been a driving force for sustainability within the Students’ Union, embedding long‑term change that will benefit students, future officers and the SU. This year, he led the creation of a new three‑year SU Sustainability Plan, providing a clear framework to establish, strengthen and embed sustainable practice across all SU activity. He launched the SUstainability Forum, giving students an accessible and influential platform to shape the SU and University’s sustainability agenda. Sam also revitalised the SU’s sustainability webpages, making it easier for students to engage with and act on sustainability at Bath.”
We're incredibly proud to see Sam recognised for his fantastic contribution to sustainability during his time as Activities Officer.
Another of the nominees in this category was People and Planet Society, represented by Sarah Hafner, Olivia Warmington, Charly White, Fletcher Whiting and Maisie Hughes.
Their nomination included:
“People and Planet Society advocates for positive change for sustainability within the University, campaigning for policies that put people and the planet before profit. This year, members put a motion to SUmmit that was successfully passed, which now strengthens the clarity and implementation of Regulation 18 on freedom of speech. They also continue to campaign for the Careers Service to end recruitment pipelines into mining, fossil fuel, and weapons companies. The group provides a supportive community for students responding to the climate crisis through weekly sustainability-focused meetings centred on collective action and resilience. Their work includes collaboration on university divestment campaigns and action-based initiatives such as community tree‑planting.”
The next category was Sustainable Student Group of the Year. This new award was introduced to celebrate the inspiring work of student groups making a positive impact on sustainability across the University campus and within the wider community.
Nominees included:
- Bath Crochet Society for their Earth Day installation.
- Backstage for their commitment to sustainability initiatives across events and operations.
- Bath University Green Party (BUGP) for its impressive growth and impact since reaffiliating in February 2026.
- V-Repair for running three Repair Cafés this year in partnership with Bath Share and Repair. Together, they repaired more than 60 items for students and staff.
- Sustainable Fashion Society for promoting low-waste, creative alternatives to fast fashion through hands-on upcycling and reuse-focused events.
The category winner though was Women's Rugby Club, for their Wear It Forward clothes sale. The team recognised the problem of overconsumption and cost in sportswear and focused their efforts on pre-loved clothes and sports kit. They collaborated with the Sustainable Fashion Society and worked with the Sustainability team to amplify their sustainability message. All sales went to their chosen charities: Maddy’s Mark, Women in Sport, and CoppaFeel. The stand was strengthened by sustainability messaging on social media, and any clothes not sold were donated to the British Heart Foundation.
We’re so proud of all amazing work students do in the sustainability space. You can find out more information and view pictures from The Sustainability Awards here, and the nominees here.