Since 2007 the university has had an Environmental Management System (EMS) EcoCampus, to provide a framework for managing our environmental responsibilities efficiently in a way that is integrated into all our operations.

Environmental Management System

ISO14001:2015 - EcoCampus

In May 2010, the university became the first in England to achieve the EcoCampus Platinum Award for the whole campus, its highest award. EcoCampus is specifically designed for Higher Education. We are also accredited with the international standard ISO 14001:2015 for the entire University on all its sites, the full scope of the system is defined in the Management System Index.  As new sites are acquired these are added to our EMS.

Environmental Management System Certificate of Registration [PDF]

The University sees its commitment to society to be much broader than mitigating its negative impacts and focuses its resources on positive societal impacts of its activities.  Higher Education has a unique role to play in this and it is one ‘area of distinction’ for the University.  Therefore, whilst noting and managing any potential harm, equal prominence is given to positive impacts and materiality.

Sustainability education

Sustainability education prepares people to cope with, manage and shape social, economic, and ecological conditions characterised by change, uncertainty, risk, and complexity.  Teaching our students about this has the greatest societal impact.  Materiality is a concept or convention within auditing relating to the importance/significance of something.

In this context, it assists in identifying the material aspects of this University, i.e. what from our operations has the greatest societal impacts. The assessment of what is material is a matter of professional judgment and we have utilised the wisdom of the Sustainability Strategy Group to help set and identify these over a series of workshops. Here's an example workshop

Sustainability activities

This is our most recent analysis of the University’s key environmental risks and opportunities. Communicating and articulating about our purpose, activities, and sustainability opportunities with key stakeholders is very important.

The multiple award-winning University and local authority library and history centre The Hive is a BREEAM outstanding building and part of the University's estate.  Learn more about this most impressive sustainable building and the services which operate from it by watching this video about how it was designed and built, and the reactions of the many users of this wonderful facility.

 

*The Community Hub is no longer located in the Hive