Sustainability Challenge
What is the Sustainability Challenge?
Do you have a fantastic sustainable idea that could be incorporated into every day life on campus? Then this is for you!
The Sustainability Challenge is:
• A chance to inspire and help Bournemouth University become more environmentally sustainable by creating an idea as an individual or as part
of a team and presenting your idea to a panel of judges
• A chance to work across disciplines with students from other faculties or departments, and create an interdisciplinary and innovative idea
• An opportunity to win £100 from our challenge Sponsor 'Gaia Card' to help kickstart your idea
• An experience that will give you new skills, new contacts and impress future employers
You will need to research your idea and show how it could be incorporated into Bournemouth University life. Think outside the box! It can be based
on any area of Bournemouth University from food to travel, to accomodation, retail outlets, your course and more!
Challenge Sponsor 
The challenge will be sponsored this year by 'Gaia Card'- a local
sustainable business that was founded by a previous BU graduate!
Gaia is helping our communities, businesses and consumers be more sustainable. We are calling for…consumers and businesses alike to
choose positively impactful products, to use them wisely and to engage with brands and the issues they care about. We are making sustainable
and healthy living more affordable and accessible to the masses. We make consumerism go hand-in-hand with climate activism, allowing you to do
your part whilst still living a busy modern life. Whilst giving back to regeneration projects around the world.
-
The winner/ winning team of the Sustainability challenge will receive £100 from Gaia card to be invested into kickstarting their
idea!
-
Gaia card will be planting 500 trees in aid of the winners of the challenge!
-
Runners up will also receive a free Gaia Card to gain discounts at local sustainable businesses!
Registration opens on 1st September 2021 and closes on 31st October 2021. Click
HERE to fill in your application.
The Final will take place with our panel of judges on 3rd December 2021 where you and your team will present your idea.
Join our Facebook Page
HERE for regular updates
The Sustainability Challenge is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to come together and create an idea to make the
university campuses more sustainable. For students considering taking part in this competition it is also: • A chance
to inspire and help Bournemouth University become more environmentally sustainable • A chance to work across
disciplines with students from other faculties or departments, and create an interdisciplinary and innovative idea •
An opportunity to win prizes • An experience that will give you new skills, new contacts and impress future employers
We encourage teams to have between 1 to 6 members.
Any BU student is eligible to be part of a team with members from anywhere across BU. You can join up with peers on your
programme, in your accommodation or anywhere else!
If you want to sign up as an individual, please do! Or, when you sign up you can tell us what sustainable areas you are
interested in and we will pair youup with another team interested in the same.
The SUBU and BU Sustainability Teams will be hosting information and Q&A sessions for any questions you may have. We
encourage you to find a mentor if you feel it would benefit, as it is a great research and networking opportunity. We can
help you with this, or we’ll certainly try!
The winning idea for 20-21 was a 'Sustainability Starter Pack' to be given to all BU students to help them live more
sustainably whilst at BU. Other ideas were a plant based campus, a re-fill shop and a book swap. This about something you
are passionate about, be as creative as you like!
The Challenge is a platform for students to come together and create an idea. The winning idea will be considered for
funding/ sponsorship to help bring the diea to life however there is not an expectancy that you must fulfil the idea or
that the university will accept it and/or fund its implementation
We can’t give that away! BUT they will consist of both internal BU staff and external experts within the
Sustainability sector.
Yes! Taking part in the Sustainability Challenge is recognised as part of the Skilled Practioner Badge on the Global
Talent Programme and allows you to gain credit towards your Global Talent Award. Find out more and join here:
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/student/global-talent
Contact subusustainability@bournemouth.ac.uk
Sustainability Challenge - 20-21 Results
The 20-21 Sustainability Challenge took place on February 24th 2021 and saw 7 teams of BU
students come together to present their ideas on how Bournemouth University could improve its sustainability for a chance to win £500 to
make their idea into a reality. The challenge was run in collaboration with BU Sustainability and
the prize money was sponsored by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
The 7 teams had 2 months to prepare for their presentation which was judged on the level of research and testing, innovation and creativity,
practical ability and application and, finally, overall impact. We had some really innovative ideas presented to our judging panel including on
campus refill shops, a wall of kindness, a plant based campus and much more!
However, the winning idea was ‘The Sustainability Starter Pack’. This idea was created
by 3 BU Masters students - Megan Leonard, June Vorraa and
Lucy James. The Sustainability Starter Pack is an initiative that will give all BU students a
simple guide on how to live a sustainable life whilst at BU by making small changes to their everyday life such as their diet, recycling and waste
management, sustainable travel and much more! Keep your eyes peeled for more information launching soon!
