Environmental data

We’re committed to reporting our performance relating to sustainability publicly and transparently.

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We report our data voluntarily to the HESA Estates Management Record. This data is reported without context and it can be difficult to assess universities’ performance without factors such as size, research intensity, construction activity and student accommodation ownership being taken into account.

The data reported below includes our HESA submission, but also additional information to help contextualise figures in the activity of the University.

Scopes 1 and 2 carbon emissions

Scope 1 emissions are those that we are directly responsible for, for example the emissions from our fleet of University vehicles and the gas we use in our boilers for heating buildings. Scope 2 emissions are mainly those produced through the generation of the electricty we use on campus.

Scopes 1 and 2 emissions are usually reported together.

Total emissions

Reporting through the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) requires the use of gross emissions using UK grid average carbon intensity.

Because the University purchases 100% renewable electricity, the gross (ie, grid-average) figures do not accurately portray the carbon intensity of our electricity supply. The net figures therefore highlight the contract-specific emissions associated with the University’s procured electricity. Over time (from when the contracts started in 2020), the gross and net figures reported will diverge so we include both figures to show the impact of our electricity purchasing choice on our carbon emissions.  

 

2017-18*

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

Gross (kgCO2e)

31,945,444

26,265,981

22,530,886

24,529,410

27,971,130

Net (kgCO2e)

31,945,444

26,265,981

22,530,886

17,252,000

17,090,000

Reduction from baseline (2018/19) (%) 00.00 17.71 37.04 37.63 40.59

*Baseline year 

Emissions per/m­­²

The University’s internal floor space has grown in recent years, but our emissions per/m­² continue to be one of the lowest in the Russell Group.

 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

²Ñ­­² internal space

539,787

541,966

540,037

541,216

516,434

Emissions per/m­² (kgCO2e)

59

48

42

32*

33*

*Calculated using Net carbon emissions, to reflect the University's renewable electricity supply.

Emissions per/£ income

The University’s research and teaching activities have continued to grow, but our emissions have fallen even while we are doing more.

 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Total Income (£)

691,755,000

715,700,000

737,556,000

744,013,000

822,397,000

Emissions per/£ income (kgCO2e)

0.046

0.037

0.031

0.023*

0.020*


*Calculated using Net carbon emissions, to reflect the University's renewable electricity supply.
Emissions per person

Our University community continues to grow, but we are emitting less carbon per person.

 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Total Students FTE

25,665

26,175

26,455

27,160

30,129

Total Staff FTE

6625

6845

7200

7020

7,950

Total Headcount

32,290

33,020

33,655

34,180

38,079

Emissions per head of campus population (kgCO2e)

989

795

669

504*

449*


*Calculated using Net carbon emissions, to reflect the University's renewable electricity supply.

Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions are all the other emissions produced indirectly as a result of our activity. There are . The University is working to assess and measure these, but does not yet have data for all 15 categories.

Categories 1 and 2: Purchased Goods & Services and Capital Goods
Supply Chain Emissions; Categories 1 and 2 of annual Scope 3 emissions (tonnes of CO2e)
 
 

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Business Services

26,012

33,450

16,779

35,900

Paper products

232

152

492

604

Other manufactured products

6,477

4,657

4,329

8,377

Manufactured Fuels

178

199

197

343

Food and catering

2,420

1,590

458

1,071

Information and communication

19,783

16,367

20,708

25,709

Medical and precision instruments

50,430

35,738

47,489

55,743

Other procurement

580

469

282

598

Construction (Category 2)

21,448

12,134

9,587

21,934

Annual Total

127,560

104,756

100,320

149,842

Category 6: Staff and Student Commuting

Staff commuting emissions (tonnes of CO2e)

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Tram

56

56

181

181

-

Train

141

141

63

63

-

Bus

186

186

353

353

-

Car

2,355

2,335

1,635

1,635

-

Total

2,738

2,718

2,232

2,232

-

Student commuting emissions (tonnes of CO2e)

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

           

Tram

186

186

21

21

-

Train

533

533

363

363

-

Bus

161

161

439

439

-

Car

1,759

1,759

1,128

1,128

-

Total

2,639

2,639

1,951

1,951

 

Waste and recycling

The University produces a wide variety of waste, from normal office and commercial waste associated with most large organisations, to residential waste at our residences, food waste from our commercial outlets, and hazardous, clinical and radioactive waste related to research. These figures are for waste and disposal by tonnage; for Scope 3 emissions relating to waste, please see above.

Waste totals

Waste by source (tonnes)

We are committed to reducing the amount of waste produced from our activities and increasing the percentage of waste that is reused and recycled.
 
We collect and report on waste produced as a result of University activities holistically:

  • Waste generated directly from our activities, for example waste generated on campus, at the AMRC, and from our commercial activities. Waste generated by the Students Union is also also included in this total.
  • Waste generated indirectly from our activities, for example waste generated from residents at University managed accommodation and the waste generated by our construction activities.
  • Other works waste is waste arising from capital works, for example construction activities. These works can have a large impact on our waste arisings and the years where we have undertaken significant capital construction and refurbishment projects result in a significant increase in waste arisings (for exmaple in 2017/18 and 2018/19). We only report these waste arising in the Other Works category.

We chose to take this approach to reporting as it provides a complete account of our activities and impact.
 

 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Non-residential waste

1,950

3,706

1,325

1,089

1,514

Residential waste

583

705

434

523

530

Other works waste

34,036

67,068

1,796

3,113

671

Total

36,570

71,480

3,556

4,727

2,715
Waste disposal

Non-residential waste: direct waste from institutional activities (tonnes)

Our policy is to only send waste to landfill when we are legally obliged, for example asbestos. The table below provides an overview of the organisation’s performance, listed in order of environmental preferability.

2017/18

2018/19*

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Recycled

717

669

381

371

483

Composted

72

75

79

113

108

Anaerobic digestion

113

103

47

34

50

Energy recovery

941

1,199

739

498

793

Landfilled

84

1,623

51

25 

28

Incinerated without energy recovery 

21

35

48

26

52
Total waste generated 1,950 3,706 1,325 1,089 1,514

Performance (tonnes)

 

2017/18

2018/19*

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Total waste generated

1,950

3,706

1,347

1,069

1,514

Total recycled / recovered

1,844

2,047

1,247

1,018

1,434

Total disposed of to landfill or without energy recovery

105

1,658

99

51

70

Percentage of waste recycled / recovered

94.6%

55.2%

92.6%

95.2%

94.7%

*In 2018/19 a substantial amount of asbestos was found during a building demolition, which legally has to be sent to landfill. This is why our landfill total for this year is much higher than the long terms average.

Residential waste: indirect waste from student accommodation (tonnes)

The University owns and manages residential accommodation. Our residents are provided with general waste bins, recycling bins and food waste bins, which means all the waste generated by our residents is diverted from landfill. 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Recycled

197

241

137

162

152

Anaerobic digestion

17

28

20

16

26

Energy recovery

370

437

277

345

352

Total waste generated

583.3

706

434.3

523

530

Travel and transport

Commuting emissions avoided

Through our Betterpoints app, we reward staff and students for taking sustainable transport decisions to and around campus. Below is the amount of carbon emissions avoided by app users since its launch in 2019.

 

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Number of Active BetterPoints App Users

1,782

1,014

1,349

1,448

Total CO2 avoided (tonnes of CO2e)

331

150

249

394

Bus Distance (miles)

113,564

47,696

149,095

262,789

Walk Distance (miles)

486,458

267,185

411,229

611,898

Cycle Distance (miles)

148,824

67,428

90,247

137,748

Tram Distance (miles)

22,281

6,428

25,206

57,191

Train Distance (miles)

234,957

100,030

382,375

636,752

Run Distance (miles)

45,324

25,373

27,709

36,611
Support for cycling 

Cycle parking spaces

We’re continuing to add secure cycle storage to our campus, such as our secure cycle hub.

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2,200

2,609

2,609

2,609

2,683

Cycle Hut use

Our Cycle Hut provides free bike checks and at-cost servicing and repairs for staff and students. Below are the number of repairs and services undertaken each year.

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

693

782

417

297

472
Electric vehicle charging points

Electric vehicle charging points

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22
18 22 29 32 56
Fleet

Fleet decarbonisation

We are continuing to decarbonise our fleet through the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles where possible.

The University operates a number of larger and specialist vehicles, such as tractors, refrigerated units and trucks with tail lifts, which it is currently not possible to replace with electric vehicles. When these vehicles come to the end of their operational life they are being replaced with Euro 6 Class (low emission) vehicles.

As of February 2023, of the 23 vehicles in the fleet not electric or hybrid, 15 have Euro 6 Class engines.

 

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Total fleet

73

73

56

52

Electric and hybrid

25

31

28

29

Percent of total

34%

43%

50%

56%

 

Water

Water consumption

Total water consumption 

91Ö±²¥ owners and operates its own student halls of residence, meaning our total consumption can look higher than comparative institutions which do not own and operate accommodation. Both non-residential (ie offices, labs etc), and residential figures are included here.

 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Non- residential (³¾Â³)

313,246

295,305

247,484

193,842

225,378

Residential (³¾Â³)

168,963

138,434

151,667

178,965

193,516
Total (³¾Â³) 482,209 433,739 399,151 372,808 418,894

Water consumption per head of campus population

 

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Total Students FTE

25,665

26,175

26,455

27,160

30,129

Total Staff FTE

6625

6845

7200

7020

7,950

Total Headcount

32,290

33,020

33,655

34,180

38,079

Water consumption per head of campus population (litres per person per year)

15,026

13,135

11,860

10,907

11,000

Water consumption per head of campus population (litres per person per day)

41

36

32

30

30

Our sustainability strategy

We have set the principles and direction for our sustainability strategy