Transition St Andrews – reduce, reuse, recycle
During 2025, the University, through Transition, continued its partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to support clothing and furniture donations across campus.
A total of 5,619 donation bags were collected, including 4,449 bags as part of the end-of-year campaign. The donations amounted to 44.9 tonnes of clothing and furniture, generating £78,666 for the charity. Since the start of the partnership in 2019, the initiative has raised a cumulative total of £312,939 for the British Heart Foundation.
Additional initiatives to promote reuse and reduce waste included the establishment of new reuse spaces in halls of residence, designed to facilitate local exchange of items among students. The Reuse Centre at University Hall has expanded its operations, now offering weekly opening hours for collection, deposits, and sorting activities led by volunteers.
Efforts to increase reuse have led to significant environmental and economic benefits. In 2025, 12,558 kg of donated items were diverted from landfill, resulting in estimated carbon savings of 122 tCO₂ and a financial saving equivalent to £162,818 (based on the CCF 2019 carbon calculator).
Key reuse events and engagement highlights included:
- Big Giveaway: 1,007 attendees (primarily students)
- Reuse Store: Open twice weekly (Mondays and Fridays, 12:30–1:30 pm), attracting approximately 35 visitors per session, equivalent to 3,120 annual visits
- Mini Giveaways: Six sessions held throughout the year, with an average of 50 visitors per session (300 total annual visits)
UN SDGs: 11, 12, 13
Toolshare
The Toolshare initiative, operating as a “library of things,” continued to grow during 2025. The programme enables members to borrow tools instead of purchasing new ones, supporting repair, reuse, and resource efficiency.
Performance metrics for the year include:
- Loans made: 235 (an increase from 196 in 2024)
- Items available: 85
- Active members: 70
Tool reservations and memberships are available both online and in person, improving accessibility for the campus community.
Skillshare
The Skillshare programme provides peer-to-peer learning opportunities focused on sustainable living and practical skills development. Activities delivered throughout the year covered areas such as sewing, upcycling, cooking, foraging, crochet, no-dig gardening, and whittling.
Participation and volunteer engagement were strong, with:
- 405 attendees across all sessions
- 8 volunteers contributing a total of 80 volunteer hours
UN SDGs: 4, 11, 12