Heriot-Watt sustainability project named finalist in prestigious Green Gown Awards
Heriot-Watt University has been named a finalist in the Green Gown Awards, which celebrate outstanding sustainability initiatives across further and higher education.
The University's Residential and Cleaning Services (RCS) Team has been shortlisted in the Creating Impact category for its project, ‘Cleaning up our act: A low cost, high impact shift to sustainable operations’.
We are delighted that we have been recognised as a finalist in the Green Gown Awards. The project demonstrates how practical changes embedded within day-to-day operations can deliver significant environmental, social and financial benefits. What makes this work particularly impressive is that the RCS Team has achieved significant impact very quickly through innovation, collaboration and a shared commitment to doing things differently. It reflects Heriot-Watt’s ambition to co-create a more sustainable future and the dedication of our staff to turning that ambition into practical action across our campuses and communities.
Working within existing staffing and resources, the RCS Team has introduced a range of sustainable cleaning practices, waste reduction measures, and reuse and redistribution schemes that have generated measurable benefits across the University community.
These include switching to eco-friendly cleaning products and reusable systems, reducing single-use materials, improving waste management and recycling processes and expanding circular initiatives such as UniRecycle.
The programme has also supported local communities through partnerships with foodbanks and cost-of-living initiatives, helping redistribute surplus items and resources to those who need them most.
Beyond its environmental and social achievements, the project has helped embed sustainability into everyday activities, encouraging staff and students to make more sustainable choices both on campus and in the wider community.
The winners of the Green Gown Awards will be announced later this year.
Read more about our ‘Cleaning up our act: A low cost, high impact shift to sustainable operations’ initiative.