News

Tuesday 7 June 2011

UK's most environmentally friendly university tops national table for second time

Officially the most environmentally friendly and ethical university in the UK

Nottingham Trent University has been named as the most environmentally friendly and ethical university in the UK. The University has now topped the People & Planet Green League for the second time in three years.

Published by the Guardian newspaper, the national Green League recognises universities' commitment and efforts in reducing their environmental and ethical impact, ranking institutions based on a number of factors.

One of the most important elements of the Green League scoring system is based on university management teams' commitment to good environmental management. At Nottingham Trent University, the Vice-Chancellor and his senior management team have implemented policies to minimise the environmental impact of activities right across the University. These policies are put into action by the University's Environment Team, comprised of four full-time members of staff dedicated to environmental management.

Thanks to the work the Environment Team has carried out, Nottingham Trent University now recycles 78% of its waste mass - a 4% increase since last year - which is one of the highest amounts in the higher education sector. In addition, the University has a very low waste mass total at only 46 kg of waste per head.

Nottingham Trent University also scored full points for its efforts in implementing renewable energy initiatives. It now purchases over 92% of its energy from renewable sources - one of only 14 universities in the UK to do so - including the generation of its own energy on-site, with a combined heat and power system. The University has also adopted an ambitious carbon reduction target of a 48% cut by the year 2020/21.

A new Sustainable Food Policy also means that the University is one of just seven in the country to be working towards the Soil Association's Food for Life catering accreditation mark, whilst continuing to maintain its long-running Fairtrade status.

Equally important elements of the league table's point scoring system are based on education and communication. Nottingham Trent University was recognised as having a consistent approach to building the theme of sustainability into its core teaching and learning activities, whilst also scoring very highly for the efforts it makes in engaging with students and staff.

All new staff members receive a thorough induction on the University's environmental policies and practices when joining the University. Small-scale funding is available for student or staff-led sustainability initiatives and staff are actively encouraged to become university ecochampions to help in communicating the University's environmental activities. An annual Green Week initiative and a national Green Impact Union Award for the Students' Union have also helped the University to score highly in this area.

Grant Anderson, Environmental Manager at Nottingham Trent University, said: "We've been working very hard to keep reducing the University's environmental impact, and to have been ranked number one in the Green League for a second time is an incredible achievement. It's through the commitment of the senior management team and staff and students across the University that we've been able to achieve such impressive results in our work."

Louise Hazan, Climate Campaigns and Communications Manager for People & Planet, said: "For the past three years, Nottingham Trent University has consistently ranked highly in the People & Planet Green League, and we congratulate them for reaching the top spot for a second time. Students want greener universities and Nottingham Trent University is clearly committed to making the low-carbon transition that's so essential for the sector. It's leading the way in terms of bringing staff and students together to help make that happen and is well on its way to being a Transition University*."