A Look Back on ECOChallenge 2025
Tuesday 18-03-2025 - 16:27
Written by Phoebe Teasdale
Phoebe is a Student Leader at LUSU Green.
A few weeks ago, we held the 2025 Eco-Challenge.
It was the first ever that was held in a 48-hour format, and I think I speak for everyone involved when I say we were amazed by the quality and passion shown by all of the ideas. I can’t say I was envious of the judges – they had an incredibly tough choice when it came to picking a winner.
So, what is the Eco-Challenge?
The Eco-Challenge is LUSU Greens' flagship competition where we ask students to design a solution to an environmental problem that is facing Lancaster on a local level and explore how to scale it up on a national and even global level. Throughout the 48 hours, we had the opportunity to hear from LUSU Green Staff about Environmentalism and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and also Work in Progress Staff about Entrepreneurship. Throughout the weekend, students learned how to take an idea from simply that to a practical and implementable model.
This year’s winners were described perfectly by Furness College’s blog (available here) so I have added their descriptions below:
‘Third Place: Fylde / Grizedale Colleges – LUSU From Me to You: A digital solution focused on reducing food waste from on-campus conferences and events
Second Place: Lonsdale / Pendle Colleges – ECOPop: A fizzy drink refill innovation focused on reducing single-use plastic bottles
People’s Choice Award: Cartmel / County Colleges – EcoDuck: An app innovation focused on improving sustainability engagement through points, rewards and social networking
First Place: Furness College – Binnovation: A community-based project focused on improving the attractiveness, safety and knowledge of campus bin stores and recycling’
It was an amazing, informative and inspiring weekend for everyone involved. We hope that participants will keep working with LUSU Green and Work in Progress to make their fantastic ideas a reality. Look out for these ideas and remember to reach out to Work in Progress for support in any of your business ideas.
We hope that everyone enjoyed Eco-Challenge 2025 and hope that you will join us next year and will come to even more LUSU Green events. The information about these events can be found on our Instagram @lusugreen.
