Sustainability
Achievements May 2019 to September 2021
Environment and Carbon Achievements May 2019 to September 2021
Previous years
- Installed over 500 solar PV panels on the Russell Seal Fitness Centre and delivered a successful LED light replacement project in the cricket centre.
- Delivered an expanding suite of staff and student sustainability engagement events; with 38 events delivered across the Exeter campuses bringing together student, staff and external projects.
- Delivered an innovative ultra low water-use toilet project funded through the EU's Horizon 2020 Programme; in partnership the University’s Centre for Water Systems, Propelair and Over the Air Analytics. This large-scale ‘living lab’ study has shown a saving of over 1,160,662 litres of water (circa £20,000).
- Supported the University’s successful NUS Sustainable Development Goals Teach-In campaign; with Exeter finishing top in both the 'staff pledged' and 'students reached' national leaderboards.
- Introduced a new range of sustainable transport initiatives for staff, including: bus discount improvements; a personalised travel planning service, and; a free 1-week sustainable travel taster scheme.
- The Streatham Campus has achieved a Green Flag Award for the last nine years and is ranked among the best parks and green spaces in the country. This year the St Luke's Campus achieved a Green Flag Award for the seventh year running.
- Delivering a successful Go Green Week 2019 as a first-time partnership with the Students' Guild.
- Launched the Waste Action Reuse Portal (WARPit) platform; over the initial 12 months, WARPit data shows the initiative helped avoid 8,617kg of waste and saved 25,223kg of CO2, which is the equivalent of planting 34 trees or removing 10 cars off the road. The savings from the year totalled at £64,891.
- University staff came fifth nationally and 1st in Devon in the Love to Ride September cycle challenge.
- The ‘Dip Dabble Dive and Thrive’ initiative was Highly Commended in the Employability category for the Green Gown Awards. This recognises the work to embed sustainability in our Employability offerings
- The University received a First Class Award in the People and Planet University "Green" League, finishing in position 18 out of 154 participating Universities in the U.K.
- The Streatham Campus has achieved a Green Flag Award for the last eight years and is ranked among the best parks and green spaces in the country. This year the St Luke's Campus achieved a Green Flag Award for the sixth year running.
- The University signed up to becoming the Flagship Employer for Plastic Free Exeter.
- University staff came second nationally in the Love to Ride September cycle challenge.
- The Green Consultants Programme won the international Reimagine Education Award for Sustainability and the University of Exeter Professional Services Recognition award for Impact. In addition the project has been shortlisted for a national Green Gown Award for Employability.
- The Hoopern/Taddiforde valley was designated a County Wildlife Site.
- The grounds team secured Green Flag Awards for Exeter Campuses for the 5th year running.
- The Exeter Community Garden received an 'Outstanding' award in the 2016 RHS Britain in Bloom awards.
- The University was awarded a Silver Gilt Medal in the RHS Britain in Bloom national awards in recognition of its stunning public spaces.
- University Fairtrade status was renewed.
- Participants from the University finished 1st in the 'National Cycle Challenge', a competition designed to encourage people to cycle.
- The University received a First Class Award in the People and Planet University "Green" League, finishing in position 16 out of 150 participating Universities in the U.K.
- In the recent Brite Green report, the University of Exeter had the best performance for carbon emissions per FTE student, was third for overall carbon reduction against 2005/06 baseline, fourth for carbon emissions per square metre and fourth for carbon emissions per £ Income.
- Signed the Cycle Charter.
2015/16
- The University embarked upon the project, restoring some of the stunning waterways and water features that the University boasts in recognition of our Diamond Jubilee year
- Streatham and St Luke's Campuses were both re-accredited with the Green Flag Award in 2016 in recognition of their open spaces This is the 4th year in a row that the St Luke's campus has received the award and the 6th consecutive year that the Streatham campus has been recognised by Green Flag
- The University continues to be successful in ensuring that none of our waste is sent to landfill
- The Exeter Community Garden received an 'Outstanding' award in the 'Local Neighbourhood Category' of the 2016 RHS Britain in Bloom national awards
- The University met and surpassed the goals set out by the Fairtrade policy, ensuring that our Fairtrade status is renewed
- The University has been recertified with its ISO14001 accreditation.
- The University has received a 2-star accreditation by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, ahead of its 2020 target. The University will aim to achieve the maximum 3-star accreditation by 20202014/15
- The University received a Green Gown Award 2014 in Construction and Refurbishment in recognition for the refurbishment of Cornwall House
- Jon Cresswell (Assistant College Manager (Infrastructure and Technical Services)) CEMPS was a finalist in the Green Gown Awards 2014 Sustainability Champion category
- The UPP Birks Grange Green Impact team were awarded the National Excellence award by the National Union of Students (NUS) for their food waste collections project
- The University was 'Highly Commended' in the Sustainability in Education Award category in the 2015 Footprint Awards for its management of food waste in Campus outlets
- Streatham and St Luke's campuses receive Green Flag awards. It is the 3rd consecutive award for St Luke's and the 5th consecutive award for the Streatham campus
- The University received a renewal of its Fairtrade status
- 31 teams took part in the Green Impact scheme. 1399 'greening' actions were undertaken throughout the year and 5 participating teams received excellence awards
- The University was recertified with its ISO14001 accreditation
- The Green Consultants scheme won the Taylor Woodrow Vinci Award for its strength in building links between education and industry
- The number of parked cycles increased from 890 in 13/14 to 983 in 14/15, representing an increase of 10%
- 637 tonnes of waste was diverted from landfill. Overall, 97% of the waste produced by the University was diverted from landfill in 2014/152013/14
- University receives First Class Award for the 6th year running in the People and Planet 2013 Green League
- University receives Good Egg Award for its policy to use only free-range eggs across campus
- University's until 2015
- Silver award for Best Fairtrade Retailer in the South West Fairtrade Business Awards 2013
- University gains funding from NUS and HEFCE to create the Students' Green Unit
- University gains for 2012-2014
- Streatham and St Luke's Campus gain Green Flag Award for
- Holland Hall, Birks Grange, Exeter Halls and La Touche Café awarded a Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark from the Soil Association
- There was a 113% increase in the number of parked cycles recorded across the Exeter campuses, peaking in Term 1 of 2014 with over 890 cycles
- Patronage on the University-subsidised D bus service continued to grow, with 159,600 passenger journeys originating at the Exeter campuses in 2013-14. This represents a 29% increase in patronage on the service since 2009
- There was an 83% increase in membership on the University’s private Car Share Scheme website from 2013-2014, which currently stands at 530 members
2012/13
- 28 teams from across the University receive Green Impact Awards
- The University's Forum building gains a Green Apple Award celebrating Built Environment and Architectural Heritage
- The Environmental and Sustainability Institute gains Eco Project Of The Year Award at the Michelmores Western Morning News Property Awards 2013
- First class award for the 5th year running in the People and Planet 2012 Green League
- Norrie Blackeby Shortlisted for Sustainability Champion Green Gown Award
- The Students’ Guild become the first students union in the country to gain ISO14001 Environmental Management accreditation
- The Student ReUse Project has diverted an estimated total of 6.34 tonnes of items from landfill during 2012-13
- As part of the Student ReUse Project, local charity Exeter Foodbank benefitted from over 110kg of donated food during 2012-13, bringing the all-time total to 357.6kg through the life of the partnership. View the Certificate
2011/12
- First class award for the 4th year running in the People and Planet 2012 Green League
- Achieved ISO14001 for Campus Services
- University has endorsed the Declaration for Higher Education Sustainability Initiative for Rio +20
- University is one of four Higher Education institutions to be awarded £1 million funding from HEFCE’s Revolving Green Fund (RGF)
- Students’ Guild achieved Gold in the NUS Green Impact Awards 2012
- The University of Exeter came 12th in the HE Sector and in the top 10% of the 2,100 participants in the first annual Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) League table has been published by the Environment Agency
- Biomass Boiler installed to heat University greenhouses
- University of Exeter Business School claimed a first in the sector with its commitment to become completely carbon neutral
- Food waste composting system introduced to divert a proportion of kitchen waste from landfill
- University’s Biodiversity Enhancement Plan 2010-2015 and Biodiversity Monitoring and Community Engagement Plan were launched
- The University hosted the first TEDxExeter one day conference “Sustainability and our Interconnected World”
2010/11
- Business School who were awarded an EAUC Green Gown Courses award for their One Planet MBA
- One of only four Universities to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces
- University of Exeter has been ranked 22nd out of 137 UK Universities in the People and Planet Green League and has a received a ‘First class award for environmental performance’ for the third year running
- Exeter’s Students’ Guild gained a Silver Standard in the 2011 NUS Green Impact awards
- Sustainability Strategy 2010 - 2015 was published
- First online Annual Sustainability Report published
- The University was Shortlisted for the “Most Sustainable Public Sector Organisation in Education” under the new Public Sector Sustainability Awards
- Investment of £20,000 in new recycling facilities as part of the national Recycle Zone project
- Alumnus Nick Baker launched the University’s first Bioblitz as part of the Birds and Bees campaign
- Sustainability Manager highly commended in ACT Travel Planner of the Year Awards
- Partnership developed with Devon County Council and Stagecoach to improve University services
- Full time Travel Plan Coordinator appointed
- Achieved Phase 3 of the Acorn Environmental Management System for Campus Services