News
Friday 8 June 2007
Environmental policy given top 20 ranking
Nottingham Trent University has been ranked equal 16th in the first ever ‘green’ league table that compares environmental performance in UK universities. The table, which has just been published in the Times Higher Education Supplement, was compiled by the student campaign group People & Planet to coincide with World Environment Day.
The aims of the table are to highlight the progress made by institutions on green issues, ranking them based on factors such as their record on recycling, CO2 emissions and in purchasing renewable energy. 105 institutions took part.
Nottingham Trent University just missed out on a ‘first’ for its environmental performance. The university has made considerable strides over the last two years and is now committed to a number of innovative projects to meet the ‘environmental challenge’. These include:-
• EcoCampus – The university is spearheading this scheme, which is currently being piloted nationwide to help universities and colleges follow good operational and management practices to ensure sustainable development.
• Carbon Management Programme – Requires a commitment to reducing carbon emissions with the support of the Carbon Trust.
• Sustainable Purchasing – The university is developing a programme to buy goods and services to a sustainable criteria.
• Swapping its supply of A4 paper from virgin to sustainable sources. All general A4 paper used is now 80% recycled and 20% from managed forests.
• Establishing a network of EcoChampions across all three campuses which will help the university to continuously improve and adapt its environmental performance.
Chris Nolan, Nottingham Trent University’s Environmental Officer, said: “This is a great result and testament to all the work that is being undertaken across the university. It is a continuous programme however, so we won’t be resting on our laurels! With the support of our staff and students we can improve our environmental performance even further.”
He added: “The environment is an important issue, and we have both a responsibility and opportunity to lessen the impact we, as an institution - and at a wider level, the sector - have on it.”
ENDS
Press enquiries please contact: Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: 0115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: 0115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
