Skip to content

Nottingham Trent University recognised as one of the ‘greenest’ universities in the UK

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has once again been recognised as one of the most sustainable universities in the UK by the highly regarded People & Planet University Green League.

    people and Planet third place logo
    NTU has retained its position due to a culture of sustainable development across its campuses

    NTU has retained it position of 3rd out of more than 154 institutions in the 2019 table - the UK's only comprehensive and independent green ranking of universities.

    A culture of sustainable development has been created across the University through a variety of initiatives. These include the Green Rewards staff engagement platform, locally and ethically sourced food in catering outlets, a bike hire scheme and a Plastics Pledge, which aims to eliminate the use of unnecessary single-use plastics across all campuses.

    NTU is also committed to working towards the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has made integrating social, environmental and economic themes in learning and teaching a strategic priority. Its Green Academy work aims to engage students with sustainability through the curriculum and beyond.

    The University is also currently ranked 5th in the world according to UI Green Metric, which examines activity and policies concerning green campuses and sustainability at universities across the globe.

    Charmaine Morrell, Sustainable Development Manager at NTU, said: “By securing these fantastic positions, NTU is demonstrating our commitment to embedding sustainability strategically and into demonstrable action.

    “Enabling a culture of sustainable development, enhancing student and staff experience and creating a global legacy is at the heart of our work on sustainability. This includes serious investment into our capacity for tackling sustainability issues, for incorporating sustainability into our buildings, working hard to embed the UN’s SDGs into our curriculum and engaging with the community by planting more than 4,000 trees across the city of Nottingham in partnership with local community groups.”

    People & Planet is run by the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights, and protect the environment.

    • Notes for editors

      Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.

      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards. The award was based on performance and improvement in the Guardian University Guide, retention of students from low-participation areas and attainment of BME students. NTU was also the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2017, and The Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2018. These awards recognise NTU for its high levels of student satisfaction, its quality of teaching, its engagement with employers, and its overall student experience.

      The university has been rated Gold in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest ranking available.

      It is one of the largest UK universities. With nearly 32,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across four campuses, the University contributes £900m to the UK economy every year. With an international student population of more than 3,000 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook

      The university is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable NTU to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. A total of 82% of its graduates go on to graduate entry employment or graduate entry education or training within six months of leaving. Student satisfaction is high: NTU achieved an 87% satisfaction score in the 2019 National Student Survey.

      NTU is also one of the UK’s most environmentally friendly universities, containing some of the sector’s most inspiring and efficient award-winning buildings.

      NTU is home to world-class research, and won The Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 – the highest national honour for a UK university. It recognised the University’s pioneering projects to improve weapons and explosives detection in luggage; enable safer production of powdered infant formula; and combat food fraud.

    Published on 16 July 2019
    • Category: Environment and sustainability; Press office