SOAS’s fulfilment of its promise to divest from fossil fuels has rightly hit the headlines, but there are plenty of other green initiatives taking place around campus, which sometimes slip beneath the radar.
Greenthing Initiative
The Greenthing Initiative brings together SOAS, Birkbeck and LSHTM in a joint project to help improve our shared Bloomsbury environment.
Activities have included a new recycling bin trial; an electrical waste amnesty; a sustainability marketplace; and a film screening of a food waste story.
Solar SOAS
The Solar SOAS project is a community energy initiative, which has successfully installed solar panels on the unused roof spaces of the School’s buildings.
The project generates an annual green fund, which can be used by the SOAS community, and the model is currently being expanded to other universities.
A greener SOAS estate
The SOAS Estates and Facilities Directorate established an Environment and Sustainability Group to look at issues relating to the School’s carbon footprint, sustainable development and recycling.
As a consequence, SOAS has consistently rated highly on the People and Planet University League, which ranks universities on their environmental and ethical performance.
Pack the Future
The Museum of Brands, Advertising and Packaging has recently launched a new exhibition called Pack the Future on the topic of sustainable packaging.
The items in the display all exhibit innovative ideas in either design, material, or use in order to limit packaging’s burden on the environment.
The exhibition runs until the summer, and is free with a general admittance ticket.
The Last Straw
The Evening Standard has launched a campaign to eradicate plastic straws from London’s streets.
The campaign is aimed at cafes and coffee shops; bars and restaurants; as well as people at home, to switch from using plastic straws in drinks, and to change to a more environmentally-friendly alternative such as compostable, edible or multi-use straws.
Get involved
SOAS has a number of student societies, where it is possible to get involved with green issues, these include:
Related stories
- Read about SOAS student Felix Finkbeiner’s Plant for the Planet project
- Find out about the work of SOAS graduate Joy Baderin in the Niger Delta
- Discover how SOAS alumnus Jesper Jannesson is bringing efficiencies to the Swedish food industry
Find out more
- Pay a visit to the Museum of Brands
- Check out some of the Evening Standard’s suggestions how Londoners can help reduce plastic waste
- Learn about the work of the Law, Environment and Development Centre at SOAS