We take our sustainability responsibilities extremely seriously and have achieved high recognition as a result.
Sustainability Awards
The University has been hugely successful in being shortlisted for and winning a host of sustainability awards, including Green Gowns and Green Apples.
Recent achievements include:
2025
- Shortlisted in the Nature Positive category of the Green Gown Awards for improving natural habitats and increasing biodiversity on campus.
- Highly Commended in the Circle 2 Success Awards in the Sustainability category.
2024
- Shortlisted in the Digital Futures category of the Green Gown for the University’s online sustainability magazine ‘Sus Things Out’.
- Commended in the International Green Apple Environment Awards, also for the Sus Things Out magazine.
2023
- Winner of the Conservation and Wildlife Project category in the International Green Apple Awards for protecting and enhancing biodiversity at the University of Worcester for over a decade.
- Shortlisted in the Nature Positive and Reporting with Influence categories of the Green Gown Awards.
2022
- Silver award in Green Apple Environment Awards for encouraging sustainable food choices on campus.
2021
- Winner of Reporting with Influence category in the Green Gown Awards and shortlisted in the Benefitting Society category.
- Winner of International Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Award as a ‘Community Commitment Education National Champion’.
2020
- Highly Commended in the International Green Gown Awards held at the United Nations.
2019
- Named Sustainability Institution of the Year in the Green Gown Awards.
Sustainability Ranking
Times Higher Education University Impact Ratings
The THE University Impact Ratings (formerly Impact Rankings) were launched in 2019 to assess the contribution made by universities around the world to achieving the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which the United Nations adopted in 2016.
The University of Worcester has been consistently among the top universities in the UK for SDG4 Quality Education every year since the launch of the ratings. We have also been among the top for SDG5 Gender Equality.
People & Planet University League
Worcester has been awarded First Class Honours for environmental sustainability by People & Planet consistently for more than 15 years now and is consistently ranked in the top 10 most sustainable institutions in the UK.
The league, compiled annually by the UK student campaigning network People & Planet, ranks universities by environmental and ethical performance. They look at aspects including environmental policy, carbon management, how sustainably food is produced, and how the University equips students with the knowledge and understanding of sustainability, energy sources, waste and recycling, and carbon and water use reduction.
View the latest results
Accreditations
EcoCampus Platinum
- We were the first English University to achieve EcoCampus Platinum status in June 2010
- We were also the second English University to gain ISO14001:2015 for all our campuses
- We were re-audited in 2025
Energy Management System
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The University has been accredited with the ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management System covering all activities, products and services across the entire institution
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The EnMS scope includes the University’s two major fuels type of natural gas and electricity. The accreditation is valid until October 2026
Responsible Futures Accreditation
We achieved Responsible Futures accreditation from the NUS, in its inaugural year helping to develop the accreditation as one of the pilot institutions.
This accreditation is for our whole institution approach, working jointly with Worcester Students’ Union, to social responsibility and sustainability.
We have been reaccredited four times, every two years, each time increasing our scores. Our next review will take place in the July 2026.
Fairtrade
The University of Worcester has been accredited with Fairtrade status since 2008.
View our latest Fairtrade University Award Certificate.
Read more about Fairtrade.
