The winning Sustainability Challenge team 2026
By Rosalyn Lewers, geography student
Taking part in the Sustainability Challenge at the 海角黑料 was a rewarding opportunity to tackle a real-world issue, while developing valuable employability skills.
Working in a group of six students from different courses meant we brought a diverse range of perspectives, helping us shape our ideas and approach.
The challenge culminated in an eight-minute pitch, followed by questions from an audience of around fifty peers and a panel including members of the university's Sustainability Team and Boots UK.
The environmental impact of fast fashion
Our group focused on the environmental impact of fast fashion within student culture, particularly the use of single-use costumes for society socials.
Many students purchase outfits that are worn once, often made from non-recyclable synthetic materials for society socials, especially significant in Nottingham’s popular nightlife.
Swap and Stitch, costume swap shop
To address this, we created the idea of “Swap and Stitch”, a campus-based costume swap shop. Students could donate items and receive one free in return, with additional items costing £2 to support running costs.
The initiative also included a repair corner and sewing workshops to encourage students to extend the life of their clothing.
Developing the idea and implementation
We began with a broad focus on fashion waste, then moved to refine our idea to target student societies and costume culture. This made the idea more practical and opened opportunities for collaboration with societies, as well as incentives such as sustainability accreditation.
A major part of my role was analysing potential challenges, pushing me to think beyond the idea itself and consider its practical implementation.
We identified three key challenges:
- longevity
- quality control
- resources
To ensure the project could continue long-term, we proposed partnerships with university groups and promoted it as a volunteering opportunity.
For quality control, we suggested clear guidelines for donated items and for resources we explored, such as sourcing equipment through donations from local businesses.
This process strengthened my problem-solving skills and highlighted the importance of realistic planning in sustainability initiatives.
Presenting to the judging panel
Presenting to a large audience was initially daunting, especially knowing industry professionals were part of the judging panel. Public speaking has always been a challenge for me, but through practice and teamwork, I became more confident.
We also focused on making our presentation engaging, using visual elements and small details to stand out. In the end, I was proud of how clearly and confidently I delivered my section.
Enhancing my transferable skills
This experience helped me develop several transferable skills. My presenting and pitching ability improved significantly, as I learned how to communicate ideas clearly within a limited timeframe. I also strengthened my teamwork and negotiation skills by working with people from different academic backgrounds and balancing differing viewpoints.
Additionally, the process of refining our ideas enhanced my ability to turn broad concepts into practical, targeted solutions.
The winning team
Winning the Sustainability Challenge was a proud moment for our team and a reflection of our collaboration and preparation. More importantly, the experience increased my confidence and reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in sustainability, particularly in urban planning or consultancy.
Overall, the challenge showed me the importance of combining creativity with practical thinking, and it has better prepared me for future academic and professional opportunities.
Interested in applying for the Sustainability Challenge in 2026/27? Bookmark the webpage and look out for the promotional activity in November. Could a career in sustainability be of interest to you? If so, explore more on our website.
We also run challenges covering more topics - management and EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) - find out more about the exclusive ways you can gain work experience at Nottingham.
Posted on Tuesday 5th May 2026