Rankings, Accreditations and Campaigns

We take part in a range of external standards and campaigns to measure, benchmark and report on progress in sustainability.

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Sustainability rankings

THE Impact Rankings 2024

The measure universities' work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across their research, stewardship, outreach and teaching activities, giving a comprehensive and holistic view of progress in the higher education sector.

  • 58th in the world (from over 1,900 institutions) and 15th in the UK for our progress towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
  • 5th globally for action on Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12)

QS World Rankings: Sustainability 2025

The use indicators designed to measure an institution's ability to tackle the world's greatest environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. 

  • 27th in the world (out of 1,751 institutions), 16th in Europe (out of 563) and 10th in the UK (out of 99)

People & Planet 2023/24

These rankings are undertaken using desk-based research of universities' publicly available policies and data.

91Ö±²¥ is .

ISO Standards

Our Integrated Management System (IMS) is certified for a number of international standards:

  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management Standard

  • ISO 14001 – Environmental Management Standard

  • ISO 50001 – Energy Management Standard

Our Procurement Policy is written in line with:

  • ISO 20400:2017 - Sustainable Procurement

Campaigns

UN Race to Zero

91Ö±²¥ has joined the UN Race to Zero Campaign, an alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. 

Check out the UN Race to Zero Campaign webpage

See more information about the University and the campaign here

UN Global Compact

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals are a blueprint to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges. We're working to help achieve the 17 goals through our research, innovation, education and operations.

Check out the UN Global Compact webpage

See more information about our goals here

Nature Positive Universities 

For a university, being Nature Positive means restoring species and ecosystems that have been harmed by the impacts of a university and its activities and enhancing the university’s positive impacts on nature. We’ve been making consistent efforts to embed sustainability into everything we do at the University. 

Check out the Nature Positive Universities webpage

See more information about our progress here

Hedgehog Friendly Campus - Gold Accreditation 2023

Hedgehog Friendly Campus is a national scheme funded by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. First started at the University of 91Ö±²¥ in 2018, Hedgehog Friendly Campus has now grown into a national campaign to help universities combat falling hedgehog numbers across Britain. 

See more information about our hedgehog friendly initiatives here

Electronics Watch

As part of our membership of the , our electronics supply chain is monitored by the , an independent organisation working to achieve respect for labour rights in the global electronics industry through socially responsible public purchasing.

MSC Accredited Seafood 

All the seafood we sell in our catering outlets comes from an MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) accredited supplier. This means that the products we sell have been sourced in a sustainable way.

Check out the MSC webpage 

See more information about our sustainably sourced products here 

PAS 100 Compost 

All of our planting uses PAS 100 locally sourced compost which retains moisture and reduces evapotranspiration.

Check out the PAS 100 Compost webpage

See more information about our green spaces here

SNUG Student Housing 

Smart Move 91Ö±²¥ is part of the University of 91Ö±²¥, and all its properties must meet the Council's Snug standard which includes environmental and energy standards.

Check out the 91Ö±²¥ Council SNUG webpage here

See more information about our accommodation here

Our sustainability strategy

We have set the principles and direction for our sustainability strategy 

A global reputation

91Ö±²¥ is a world top-100 research university with a global reputation for excellence. We're a member of the Russell Group: one of the 24 leading UK universities for research and teaching.