Lancaster University Community Fridge was founded in 2016 as a response to the Intercollegiate Sustainability Challenge and was the first university community fridge in the UK. In 2018 the project was awarded a grant of just over £1,000 to help reduce waste by granting free daily access to any donated left over food from on-campus food outlets.

The project is run by a group of 25 student volunteers who are responsible for food collections and advertising the availability of food to students and staff. Donations from our alumni and friends have meant that a larger glass fronted fridge has replaced the small fridge in Pendle College; the visibility of food has increased the consumption of food from this fridge. This ever-popular project estimates to have saved 1.5 tonnes of food from landfill while at the same time enhancing the sustainability and reputation of the university by winning the Highly Commended Award in the Green Gown Awards in 2018.