The University of Sussex and our catering partners Sussex Uni Food are in the running for the 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland.

Our entry, 'Greens & Grains: Food Journey to low-carbon meals', is among the finalists in the Campus Health, Food & Drink category.

Matt Montgomery, Head of Sustainability, welcomed the news as a testament to the steps taken since the introduction of our new catering contract last summer.

"Our award entry with Sussex Uni Food highlighted three key findings: that non-vegans would reduce meat consumption if offered fresh, tasty vegan options; that investing in waste reduction technology greatly reduces environmental impact and costs; and that training staff from our catering partners on reducing food waste and redistributing food surplus was critical to the success of the initiatives.

"Winning this award would be a fitting recognition of the work undertaken by our catering partners Sussex Uni Food, including increasing the range of meat-free options, working with staff and students to tackle food waste, and introducing carbon labelling to allow our campus community to make more informed choices."

Now in its 20th year, the 2024 UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards, in association with UKRI, are delivered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC).

The 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, 13 November, in Edinburgh.