Sustainability: on the path to net zero

We're a leading, award-winning university for sustainability – establishing ourselves as the sustainable university

Contact our team at sustainability@plymouth.ac.uk.

The University is recognised as an innovative leader in higher education for sustainability, across teaching and learning, research and our University operations. We have three main goals:

to have a sustainable campus
to enable learning about sustainability and to pioneer research solutions to the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges
to motivate the next generation of students to go out and tackle the sustainability challenges they'll find in their workplaces.

Award-winning recognition

Carbon neutrality

For all Scope 1, 2 and selected Scope 3 (Water, Waste, Business Travel) according with PAS 2060 at 31 July 2022 with commitment to maintain to 31 July 2023 for the period commencing 1 August 2021, NQA verified.

Top 10 in the UK

Our Peninsula Medical School is ranked within the top 10 in the UK for 2024 by the Planetary Health Report Card Initiative.

2023 Green Gown Awards

The award in the Reporting with Influence category recognises the University’s ongoing efforts to chart its sustainability journey.

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Discover our many sustainability awards and accreditations

Our sustainable campus

Our sustainable plans and strategy

View our relevant sustainability policies, action plans and strategies . This also includes our latest GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standard sustainability reports.

One action we are proud of is achieving an ambitious target to reach carbon neutrality for all Scope 1 and 2 with selected Scope 3 for the 2021-22 academic year. You can view our carbon footprint for the 2021-2022 academic year which was offset as per PAS 2060 guidelines.

View our Sustainability Report Summary 2022

View a full-size version of our 12 point climate action plan

Follow our progress to Fairtrade accreditation

In 2024 the University of Plymouth achieved 2 out of 3 stars for our Fairtrade accreditation.

This commitment involves advocating for fair prices, improving working conditions, promoting local sustainability, and ensuring fairtrade terms for farmers and workers in our procurement processes and supplier partnerships.

Fairtrade university: find out more

Get involved

We have an international reputation for being a leader in the field of sustainability.

But we want you to be involved!

We have a number of current initiatives and activities for you to join – explore and find out more about how to get involved .

Campus sustainability map

We've created a sustainable campus that reduces our impact on the environment, giving you a live sustainability learning experience. This campus trail tells you more about our sustainability activities and the technology that we have on campus, much of it hidden behind the scenes in the building’s structure.