British Heart Foundation: University Pack for Good Success!

Hannah Bowey
Friday 17 December 2021
Image description: British Heart Foundation Logo, a circular banner in red and white.

 

The University is moving from a linear to a circular waste management system.  We are reducing what we buy, reusing what we have, and recycling what we can no longer use.  Adopting a circular waste economy aligns with the Scottish Government’s targets and is key to becoming a carbon net zero university by 2035.

The University has partnered with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and since 2019 has supported their ‘Pack for Good’ campaign.  The campaign aims to actively contribute to waste diversion, carbon reduction targets and ESG targets including charitable giving within communities.  The campaign enables BHF shops to receive a regular supply of clothing items for donations during the summer period, a time typically, when donations can be lower than in other seasons.

17 British Heart Foundation donation banks are spread throughout St Andrews on the University estate and the town.  Your donation of clothes, shoes, books, electrical items, and homeware raises money for life-saving research and prevents items going to landfill.

Image Description: British Heart Foundation Donation Point in St Andrews.

In the 2021 campaign the University donated 4,847 bags, a total of £67,858 was raised and 38.7 tonnes was diverted from landfill, which is the equivalent of 394.623 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.  From private accommodation 288 bags of items has been donated, a total of £4,032 raised and 2.3 tonnes diverted from landfill- the equivalent of 23.488 kg CO2 emissions.

Overall from donations in the 2021 campaign, a total of £71,890 has been raised and 41 tonnes diverted from landfill, which is the equivalent of 418.071 kg CO2 emissions. These donations have saved the equivalent weight of 6 African male elephants in waste disposed!

The total BHF revenue raised since 2019 from the University of St Andrews donations to date is £151, 729!

 

Building partnerships with university institutions across the country has enabled the BHF to expand the amount of donations directly coming into their shops and home stores, and in turn the funds raised go towards their life saving work.

Since the 1960s, research funded by the public has helped transform heart attack survival rates. To get Involved with helping the British Heart Foundation, why not try hosting an event, volunteering and fundraising.  By raising money for BHF, you help to fund research that brings us closer to cures and treatments for heart disease.

On behalf of the University, we would like to thank our staff, students and the wider community for supporting the Pack for Good campaign, and for donating to the British Heart Foundation.  We are in turn saving lives and the planet! For more information about how the University is progressing to sustainability, visit the University’s Sustainability Webpage.

If you have any questions or thoughts, we would love to hear from you!  Please contact Hannah Bowey our Sustainability Coordinator, Environment Team at [email protected]

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