Annual Report 2013/14

Statement 2013/14

I am delighted with our achievements in 2013/14. We have continued to make progress across all aspects of Environmental Sustainability and are well placed to deliver the objectives and targets laid out in our 5-year Sustainability Strategy. 

In 2013/14, we launched a number of innovative environmental sustainability programmes. Exeter’s first MOOC (massive open online course) was developed on the subject of climate change and we launched the Green Consultants programme to support graduate employability in the sustainability field.

From an operational perspective, the renegotiation of our waste and recycling contract will enable us to divert almost all of our waste from landfill and provide opportunities to increase recycling. The review of our carbon management plan will also provide us with a clear roadmap of action for 2015 and beyond. Our travel plan activities also continue to mature and we are seeing more staff and students adopt sustainable modes of travel.

Campus Services have also been recognised for the sustainability of their food and drink offerings on the Exeter campuses.  Successes include the Good Egg Award (sale of Free Range eggs), Silver award for Best Fairtrade Retailer in the South West Fairtrade Business Awards 2013 and the receipt of Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark from the Soil Association for Holland Hall, Birks Grange, Exeter Halls and La Touche Café (which represents 750,000 meals per annum).

2014/15 represents the final year of our Environmental Sustainability Strategy and I look forward to reviewing our progress and achievements in the coming year.

Geoff Pringle

Chief Operating Officer