The Sustainability Team recently hosted a series of ‘Sustainability by Design: Solving Challenges Together’ workshops, bringing together students, staff, and key stakeholders to tackle some of Sussex’s sustainability challenges. These interactive sessions fostered collaboration, creativity, and action-oriented discussions, all aimed at shaping a more sustainable and resilient University. 

The workshops focused on our more user-centric systems - including food, biodiversity, waste, and travel - encouraging participants to envision an ideal sustainable future and explore practical steps to achieve it as an institution and a community.  

The energy in the room was inspiring, with diverse perspectives coming together to develop innovative ideas and tangible solutions. Through co-design activities, dynamic group discussions, and expert insights, participants worked together to identify possible solutions, as well as the key opportunities and challenges to consider when exploring their feasibility. 

Key Outputs from the Sessions 

Travel 

Travel is a key issue that impacts us all through our commute to study or work, with the session identifying strong support for better active travel infrastructure, like more drying cabinets and lockers. Participants proposed an on-campus travel hub for bike repairs and affordable second-hand sales, alongside better cycling education through pre-arrival resources, Fresher’s Week engagement, and community bike rides. Participants suggested using a Sussex Points/App to reward bike repairs with accessories or second-hand bikes and leveraging technology for live updates on bike facilities, and offering stronger public transport incentives to improve affordability.  

Food  

The event generated a range of ideas to enhance food sustainability, accessibility, and awareness on campus. Key discussions focused on developing a sustainable food hub and expanding food-growing initiatives, integrating them into Sussex life and increasing their visibility for greater engagement. Within these topics, participants explored opportunities to enhance knowledge sharing through education and training, host practical events and workshops, improve signposting, and build community partnerships to strengthen access and engagement.  

Biodiversity 

We asked how we can do more to educate and engage everyone on campus about our biodiversity. Participants discussed increasing awareness of our campus’ nature through more visible and exciting habitats in the centre of campus, alongside self-guided tours, planting events and sensory areas. They also suggested partnering with groups within and outside of the University to bring natural and social benefits, including student societies and organisations in Stanmer Park. Other groups discussed a scheme to train students in biodiversity skills, and a public facing data platform where people can explore the species and habitats found at Sussex. 

Waste  

Participants explored recycling infrastructure and behaviour to see how we can better support people to recycle. Ideas included onboarding videos and sustainability modules to improve education, ways to make recycling more fun, engaging and transparent, and integrating sustainability risk assessments across the campus. Another focus was repair and reuse to strengthen Sussex’s circular economy.  Participants discussed a Repair and Resue Centre for refurbishing University goods and personal items, alongside workshops and training to build repair skills and foster a culture of reuse.  

What’s next? 

The insights and ideas generated will contribute to the development of Sussex’s ongoing sustainability initiatives, ensuring that real change is driven by those who know the campus best - our students and staff.  

Stay connected 

If you’re interested in continuing the conversation and shaping sustainability at Sussex, sign up for our Sustainable Sussex mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter with updates, events, and opportunities to get involved. 

You can also follow us on Instagram @sustainablesussexuni for regular updates and ways to take action. 

Thank you to everyone who participated!