We, at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, aim to reduce our environmental impact following the sustainability goals of VU Amsterdam.
To fulfill these ambitious goals, we have translated them into more tangible ways to change our impact. Our main focus is currently on energy saving and sustainable data management, procurement, campus culture and travel. We invite you to read more about our efforts below.
The faculty's sustainability team is open for every colleague or student from our faculty wishing to join. We're currently a team of about 10 people from all three Schools. If you want to contribute or share ideas, you can always e-mail us or start by joining the FSG Sustainbility Community in Teams. Also feel free to join the VU-wide Sustainability Community there.
We participated in the annual Digital Cleanup Day again on Thursday March 19th, 2026. Want to improve something as well? Read more about energy saving tips and tricks or check the tips from IT (in Dutch)!
We have started organizing regular repair workshops in 2026. The next clothes repair is scheduled on October 27th at 4PM. If you want to attend or get involved, please contact us!
Some links related to recycling:
Sewing Lessons, e.g. at Griffioen or De Steek
Fixing Fashion Inspiration on Insta
Clothes Swap: the Clothing Loop
Second Hand Stores in Amsterdam
Tips for Sustainable Clothes (Milieu Centraal)
Tips for Fair Clothes (Schone Kleren Campagne)
Waste Guide - City of Amsterdam
2026
We have organized a digital cleanup day, several clothes repair sessions and volunteered at VU's botanical garden to help replant their sempervivum collection. The team organized the Climate Exam again together with VU's Sustainability Office. More events to follow!
2025
-We have participated in the Waste Project and created waste separation posters, which will be distributed on the VU campus as of March 2026.
-The team organized the first Climate Exam at VU, together with VU's Sustainability Office.
2024
-In 2024 the SSC sustainability team organized the Energy Challenge. Between February 15th and April 15th, five teams took on a project linked to this topic: Team Energy Use Tips & Tricks, Team Energy Helpdesk, Team Warm & Cold, Team Sustainability Research and Team Sustainability Education.
2023
-In the autumn of 2023, an SSC Sustainability Survey was created in collaboration with VU’s Sustainability Office.
-From March until October 2023 we hosted the Sustainability Challenge at SSC: a challenge booklet was made to and there was a physical location that embodied the change of the collective, the 'change tree', which visited all departments. The idea was to try to change a habit in 21 days. The challenges were linked to the six impact topics from the School's sustainability policy.
2022
-Learn more about the efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and optimize resource usage through sustainable work routines and best practices in the SSC policy document.
Sustainable Business Travel Guideline - for employees
Green Travel Guide - for students
Sustainability Office VU (implementing the VU sustainability strategy)
Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (sustainability-related research at VU)
Green Office (sustainability platform for students)
Environmental Humanities Center
Hi everyone, if you're interested, our team plans to volunteer at the Hortus, our beautiful botanical garden, on Tuesday September 29th, 3.30-5.00PM. We'll help them replant some plants, no gear needed. If you would like to join, please let Margriet know at sustainability.fsg@vu.nl, then we'll know you'll be there & how to reach you if anything changes.
Please send us an email, and Margriet Schager will get back to you.
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