TU Dublin shortlisted for Sustainability Institution of the Year at Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland 2026
TU Dublin is a finalist for Sustainability Institution of the Year at this year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown awards. The Green Gown awards celebrate exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by Higher and Further Education in the UK and Ireland.
TU Dublin has also achieved a milestone in this year's Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland, securing six finalist places, more than any other institution across the island of Ireland. Building on its status as a finalist across five categories in the 2025 awards, TU Dublin's sustainability initiatives have continued to expand in scale, impact and reach, demonstrating how higher education can drive positive environmental and social impact.
Speaking about this achievement TU Dublin President Dr Deirdre Lillis, said:
"I am extremely proud of our finalists for achieving this well-deserved external recognition. It is particularly exciting to see the Enactus projects recognised once again this year, following their success as Enactus UK and Ireland champions.
Being named a finalist for Sustainability Institution of the Year is a testament to our strategic leadership, innovation and collaboration driving positive change across our university.
Our growing external recognition reflects the energy and determination of our students, staff, partners and wider community to build a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future. This is how we do things at TU Dublin, by working together, embracing innovation and creating positive change.
I wish all our finalists the very best of luck and thank them for making us proud"
The Green Gown Awards 2026 will take place at a ceremony on 16 November in Leeds, where TU Dublin will be up against strong competition with fellow Universities such as Queens University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, Kings College London, Durham University, University of St Andrews, University of Ulster and Munster Technological University.
Best of luck to all finalists!
About the shortlisted projects
Sustainability Institution of the Year
TU Dublin's recognition as a finalist for Sustainability Institution of the Year stems from its comprehensive institution-wide commitment to sustainability.
Since launching its university-wide sustainability programme in 2020, the University has embedded sustainability into governance, operations, curriculum and community engagement. Every academic programme now incorporates sustainability learning outcomes, while approximately 6,000 incoming students each year participate in sustainability-focused orientation activities. The University has also committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, supported through its Climate Action Roadmap. The University's achievements have earned widespread recognition, including being ranked first in Europe within the AASHE STARS sustainability framework, receiving a Smarter Travel Gold Award, and securing multiple Green Gown Awards and Highly Commended accolades in recent years.
Sustainability Action Lab Driving Real-World Impact
A standout example of TU Dublin's community-focused approach is Sustainability Action Lab, the university-wide collaborative learning programme translating sustainability education into real world action. This innovative programme connects students, academics and societal partners to address real-world sustainability challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)providing the space and tools to cocreate impact as we transition to a sustainable environment, society and economy.
Sustainability Action Lab empowers students and Academics from across all faculties to work alongside societal partners from community, government and industry sectors relevant to their areas of study. During the 2025-2026 academic year, students engaged in 25 projects in collaboration with 32 partners, covering the areas of inclusion healthcare, circular economy, housing, advocacy, education, sustainable communities and environmental action. Projects tackled a diverse range of SDG challenges, from Digital Marketing students designing a behaviour change campaign for a wildlife conservation organisation to Chemistry students running soil health promotion activities with an inner city community. Read more here.
Intergenerational Collaboration Creates Lasting Community Benefits
An inspiring example of community engagement emerged through the University's collaboration with Naas Men's Shed. Working through Sustainability Action Lab, fourth-year students from the BSc Sustainable Timber Technology programme partnered with members of the community organisation to design and construct a bespoke timber pergola for a local family with children who have additional needs.
Guided by Assistant Lecturer Damien Cross, students applied advanced design and timber construction skills to a community context, collaborating with members of the Men’s Shed. Together, the team designed, manufactured and assembled the timber components before installing the structure in the family's garden. The project created year-round outdoor space that enhances wellbeing for the family while demonstrating the power of intergenerational learning, skill-sharing and community partnership. Read more about the project here.
TrailblazHER™ Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Future Leaders
TU Dublin's TrailblazHER™ initiative continues to make a significant contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion within sustainability and innovation. Launched in March 2024, the programme was recognised as a Green Gown finalist in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability category and has since expanded rapidly. The initiative removes social, financial and structural barriers to participation, supporting learners from low-income, migrant, refugee, access and other underrepresented communities.
Originally highlighted for raising more than €1.3 million and creating opportunities for women and girls through mentorship, scholarships and innovation programmes, TrailblazHER™ has now engaged more than 5,000 participants across 100 schools and organisations while supporting over 15 programmes and 30 events. Read more about TrailblazHER™ here.
Student Sustainability Champions Making National Impact
During 2025/26, students Giada Franzolini and Ethan Levins emerged as outstanding sustainability champions through their work with Enactus TU Dublin. Beginning with a single active member in September 2024, the pair rebuilt the organisation into a thriving student-led social enterprise platform delivering projects with tangible environmental and social benefits.
Their flagship initiative, BiaBox, evolved from the student food redistribution project ReFridge, which was recognised as a Green Gown finalist in 2025 for tackling food waste and food insecurity. ReFridge had already demonstrated significant impact by rescuing more than 2,000 kg of food and supporting over 1,000 students. Building on this foundation, BiaBox rescued more than 660 kg of surplus food, supported over 200 direct beneficiaries, worked with 15 partner organisations and reached more than 13,000 people through awareness and community engagement activities.
Ethan also founded Sport for Grief, a pioneering initiative supporting bereaved young people through sporting communities. Together, the projects highlight the power of student-led innovation in addressing interconnected sustainability challenges. Read more here.