Birmingham Newman University Shortlisted for Prestigious Sustainability Award
Birmingham Newman University has been shortlisted for the 2025 Green Gown Awards in the Creating Impact category, thanks to its transformative Greenhouse project.
The Creating Impact category celebrates institutions that deliver tangible, measurable sustainability achievements while creatively maximising limited resources.
Launched in 2024, the Greenhouse project saw students and staff unite to revive a greenhouse into a vibrant eco-hub using salvaged and repurposed materials. Items that were avoided from landfill, were creatively reused to construct raised beds and planting areas, now filled with seasonal vegetables, fruits, and wildflowers designed to support pollinators.
The fresh produce now contributes directly to the university’s catering services, reducing food costs and emissions. Circular economy practices, such as composting food waste and reusing materials, have reinforced the project’s green credentials at every stage.
Speaking on the shortlisting, Professor Jackie Dunne, Vice Chancellor at Birmingham Newman University said: “I am thrilled that we’ve been recognised and shortlisted for a Green Gown Award. This acknowledgment reflects our bold ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. The Greenhouse project has made a meaningful difference on campus, enhancing biodiversity and inspiring both students and staff.”
This recognition comes during a landmark year for sustainability at Birmingham Newman University. The institution has reached a remarkable milestone, with carbon emissions now at their lowest level since the university was established in 1967, a powerful sign of environmental progress.
Lucy Clarke MSc, Environmental Advisor at Birmingham Newman University said: “I’m incredibly happy to see our efforts in environmental sustainability being recognised on a national stage. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Newman. Our greenhouse is thriving and the success we’ve seen this year has been inspiring.
“As we move into the next stage of the Green Gown Award application, we’re full of momentum and optimism. Having our Greenhouse project, Planting Futures at Newman, showcased on the Green Gown Award website is a moment of shared pride for us all. I’m proud to be part of a university that places sustainability at the heart of everything it does.”
This year’s finalists were chosen from a highly competitive pool of institutions across the UK and Ireland. Winners and highly commended entries will be announced at the Green Gown Awards Ceremony on 6 November, hosted at the Library of Birmingham.