Study Abroad Sustainably

Travelling to UEA 

Flights are the biggest source of emissions relating to mobility programs. If you are from Europe, you may consider alternative travel to the UK, such as by train, bus, or ferry.  

Sometimes flying is inevitable, but you can minimise your impact by doing the following: 

•  Taking direct flights - less take offs and landings, which are the most energy consuming parts of flight travel 

•  Using lower carbon airlines - several airlines fly more efficient aircraft and engine types on certain routes 

•  Economy class travel - the carbon footprint of flying economy class is over 5 times lower than flying first class  

Check if you can travel to Norwich by train:

• RailEurope

• Chronotrains

Planning your stay 

Consider your accommodation. Homestays or home visits allow you to experience a real British living situation, which tends to have a lower environmental impact.

It is possible to buy much of what you will need for life in the UK once you arrive - for example, kitchen equipment. You can buy this at stores, but we would recommend taking advantage of the British Heart Foundation sale once you arrive. This is a charity sale for second-hand kitchen equipment. Not only will you save money and practice sustainable buying, but you will also be supporting a charity. 

For 50 years, UEA has been a leader in studying the environment and climate change. We aim to reduce our campus emissions by over 80% by 2030 and be completely carbon neutral by 2045 or earlier. We won't just rely on offsetting to achieve this. We're taking steps to change how we run our campus, work with suppliers, and manage waste. You can be part of the change by being aware of and utilising our sustainable initiatives on campus.

Food

Our main food outlet on campus, Zest are launching reusable meal boxes. This is just one of many sustainability endeavours by the Campus Kitchen team. Across the last year, UEA Catering has offered 50% off all vegan mains from an increasingly plant-based menu in Zest, exchanged petrol and diesel delivery vehicles for a fleet of cost-neutral electric vans, and reduced food waste collection by donating high-nutrient coffee grounds to the gardens and greenspaces of staff, students, and the UEA campus.

Biodiversity

Our green campus has many varied habitats, including five County Wildlife Sites, and is home to over 5,700 species. Learn more about the biodiversity of our campus by following our Wildlife Trails. There are four sections to the trail covering different habitats; using existing pathways around the campus and river valley to highlight conservation issues and some of the key habitats and species.

Societies

There are many societies at UEA to get involved in. If you are interested in sustainability and environmental issues, why not try the UEA Sustainability Society: a group of students with a passion for making our planet a better, greener place for all. They have a community-driven, self-sustained plant swapping group which aims to work as a hub for free sharing of plants and houseplants for UEA students. IG - UEASustainabilitysoc

Recycling

We promote a zero-waste culture of ‘rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle’, in order to significantly reduce waste and increase recycling across all areas of the university estate.

All Campus Kitchen and UEASU outlets sell reusable cups and containers to incentivise customers to move away from single-use containers. Reusable cutlery and crockery are provided in favour of disposables in all outlets.

Whether you are living on or off campus, you should be mindful to follow recycling and waste guidelines.  

On campus guidelines

Off campus guidelines

Reuse 

We offer mains water supply on campus and encourage students to carry a reusable water bottle for use on campus at water fountains. On arrival, you will be given a UEA tote bag, which you can use instead of a plastic bag when shopping on campus or elsewhere. For those who enjoy tea and coffee, we recommend bringing a reusable keep-cup for use on campus - you will save 30p on your hot drinks.

Find out more at Sustainability at UEA.

See our sustainable map of Norwich.

Buy local and independent 

Norwich is a city full of independent and local businesses. Using these establishments reduces transport emissions and supports independent business owners. For more information, come to the SIZ to browse a copy of the Compendia guide, which recommends local, sustainable businesses in Norwich and Norfolk.

Buy second-hand 

Choosing to buy second-hand goods will reduce your environmental impact and your financial outgoings. From clothes, books, furniture, kitchen equipment, bikes and more.

Charity shops are common in the UK - these are stores that sell donated second hand goods, with the profits going to charity. These are great for clothes and books. You can find some on our map.

Keep an eye out for vintage sales, which often take place in the city centre or on campus, selling good quality vintage garments.

Apps such as Depop and Vinted sell second hand clothes and shoes.

To pick up a second-hand bike - see our transport section below.  

Food

Norwich is known as one of the best cities in the UK to be vegan, and there are many vegan and vegetarian restaurants. Choosing a plant-based diet reduces greenhouse gas emissions, requires less land and water, preserves biodiversity, is more energy-efficient, and minimizes pollution. It's a tasty way to contribute to a healthier planet.

Choosing to eat local and seasonal foods will help reduce emissions. Apps such as OLIO and TooGoodToGo help reduce food waste - and can lead to some cheap dinners!

Refill

Reduce your waste by shopping at refill stations: 

Ernie’s Zero Waste Shop - Refills for cleaning products, liquid soaps, shampoo, etc, as well as unpackaged food like grains, rice, pasta, spices, coffee. 

The Green Grocers - Refills for cleaning products and unpackaged food like seeds, nuts, rice, etc, plus a full grocery shop with many vegetarian and vegan items. 

Rainbow Wholefoods - Primarily a shop including many vegetarian and vegan items, but also some refills for cleaning products. 

Transport

There is no need to drive around Norwich as we have a great public transport system. There are regular buses to and from campus, and all over the city. You can even take the bus to the Norfolk coast for a day out at the seaside.

We also have Beryl bikes and scooters available for hire all over the city. If you are a more regular cyclist, pick up a secondhand bike from Dr Bike or Bicycle links - Norwich is known for being very flat, so no need to worry about cycling up hill!

Travel

One of the most rewarding aspects of studying abroad is the travel you can do in your host region. If you are mindful of your environmental impact, choose locations that you can travel to by train, bus or boat. You can also take advantage of exploring more of the local region, rather than travelling abroad.

Donating your item – Pack for Good

When leaving UEA, if there are items you can't take home with you, please don't throw them out. Consider selling them or donating them to charity. You can donate clothes, books and household items to the British Heart Foundation at the SIZ, or via the big red donation bins on campus. 

Travelling home

Remember that flights are the biggest source of emissions relating to mobility programs. If possible, consider alternative travel to the UK, such as by train, bus, or ferry.

Sometimes flying is inevitable, but you can minimise your impact by doing the following:

• Taking direct flights - less take offs and landings, which are the most energy consuming parts of flight travel 

•  Using lower carbon airlines -  several airlines fly more efficient aircraft and engine types on certain routes 

•  Economy class travel - the carbon footprint of flying economy class is over 5 times lower than flying first class