University of the West of England
UWE Bristol Circular Economy Programme
Finalist, Creating Impact
About
UWE Bristol's Circular Economy Programme demonstrates that transformative sustainability impact does not require substantial resource – it’s achievable through institutional commitment and creative thinking. Coordinated by just 1.73 FTE at £49,508pa, the programme has generated over £510,000 in financial savings for UWE and £1.5 million in community savings (this includes savings to students, staff and charity organisations). Spanning six interconnected streams – the Sustainability Hub, Repair Café, Furniture Reuse Marketplace, IT Equipment Reuse Scheme, Library of Things, and Generation Soil – the programme addresses each major material category on campus through circular principles rather than end-of-pipe disposal. It has diverted hundreds of tonnes of material from waste, avoided hundreds of tonnes of CO2e, empowered 72 volunteers, and embedded circular economy culture across the whole institution and into the wider Bristol community. In October 2025, UWE became the first UK university to sign the Repair and Reuse Declaration as a whole institution. This is what that commitment looks like in practice.
Top 3 learnings
- We built more with less by putting students and community at the heart of delivery.
- We replicated what works: hosting Share Bristol and sharing our sustainability Hub model with the SU instantly accelerated impact.
- We measured from day one; the Fixometer and Hub statistics gave us evidence to grow support and advocate nationally.
What it means to win
Winning would highlight the progress UWE continues to make in demonstrating it's commitment to sustainability. It would also showcase the impact of the operational team who make the circular economy work in practise.
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Creating Impact | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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