Policies
Setting out our commitments and objectives for environmental sustainability and energy use.
Managing the University's energy and environmental impacts
Our Environmental Sustainability, and Energy policies are important aspects of our sustainability work. They form a core part of our Energy and Environmental Management Systems, and guide our environmental action across the University in areas from biodiversity to waste, water to power. Check out our summary of the Environmental Sustainability Policy below, or read through both policies in full via the buttons beneath.
More information on our Environmental and Energy Management Systems can be found on our website, or on our blog.
Environmental Sustainability Policy summary
Policy contents
Our Environmental Sustainability policy informs colleagues, students and interested parties of our commitment to continual improvement in environmental performance. The policy is in line with our ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS).
The policy outlines our headline commitment of protecting the environment and preventing pollution (including marine pollution) by reducing emissions and discharges.
The policy includes further commitments in a number of key impact areas, for example:
Adopting circular economy principles in our approach to waste and resource management- maximising reuse and recycling and reducing waste to landfill.
This applies to all waste types produced on campus (including hazardous waste) and is achieved through implementation a number of actions including:
- implementation of laboratory waste segregation
- minimisation of single use items (especially plastic)
- campaigns to inform and engage on recycling
We have procedures, aligned with the Policy, that detail the process for handling hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
Preserving and enhancing biodiversity.
This applies across our estate. Measures towards delivery of this commitment include:
- Preservation of any protected species on our campus sites
- Conservation of green spaces
- Elimination of any alien species
- Increase in wildflower planting on the estate
Enabling Sustainable Water Use
Through this commitment we minimise the amount of water that is used across the estate. We do this through:
- Leak monitoring and detection
- Installation of water efficient fixtures and fittings
Approval
The Environment and Sustainability Committee review both policies every year, most recently on the 2nd of May 2024. Amendments to both policies were minor administrative edits that did not require approval from University Executive Board or Council.
Approval dates
Our Environmental Sustainability policy was approved by:
- Environment and Sustainability Committee on the 2nd of May 2024
- University Executive Board on the 25th of May 2021
- Council on the 12th of July 2021
Our Energy Policy was approved by:
- Environment and Sustainability Committee on the 2nd of May 2024
- University Executive Board on the 26th of July 2022
- Council on the 10th of October 2022