Sustainability
UEL is committed to environmental sustainability
![]()
Our sustainability commitments
We are committed to addressing the global climate crisis and championing sustainability.
![]()
Our performance
Learn more about our current sustainability performance and initiatives.
We have set a target to become a net-zero carbon institution by 2030. To achieve this target, we have developed a framework for sustainability based on four foundational pillars:
As a globally recognised university based in the ever-evolving East London region, we acknowledge the value of our community, including staff, students, and partners. We aim to engage the UEL community in the planning and delivery of sustainability initiatives and events, and provide opportunities for them to contribute towards improving our environmental and social impact.
Interim strategy summary
Vision
To become a sector-leading sustainable university by:
- Creating a Sustainable University Framework.
- Aligning with Vision 2028 and UEL's strengths and expertise, supporting a local and global just transition through collaboration.
Strategic objectives
Develop a Sustainable University Framework
Four core dimensions:
Develop key enablers
- Co-create KPIs aligned with a just transition
- Curriculum and staff development integration
- Enhanced visibility and collaboration in research
Engage stakeholders
- Co-create framework impact areas
- Identify gaps, co-develop a costed action plan
- Secure funding (e.g. Good Growth Fund)
Key outcomes
- UEL-wide Sustainable University Framework
- Embed sustainability into policies, governance, and practice
- Improved benchmarking and sustainability reporting
Focus areas and interim KPIs and targets
- Just transition: Establish Just Transition Committee
- Property: commit to BREEAM Outstanding for new builds
- Carbon and Climate: increase percentage of low-carbon energy towards Net-Zero by 2030
- Community: Outreach targets via Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability
- Procurement: Set sustainable supply chain baselines
- Transport: Annual travel survey and travel plan developed
- Water: Develop water use methodology and targets
- Partnerships: Map and expand sustainability networks
- Teaching: Pilot measures for sustainability literacy
Vision 2028
Sustainability is one of the four strategic objectives of Vision 2028. As part of this, we have set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming a net-zero carbon institution by 2030.
Our vision is inspired by:
See our work towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The four pillars of sustainability
Our core work comprises four key focus areas, called the 'Four Pillars of Sustainability', covering all relevant university activities as highlighted below. All these programmes are running or included in the sustainability plans for the coming years.
Place
- Estate decarbonisation
- Connected Campus
- Siemens partnership
- Carbon, energy and water management
- Scope 3 emissions
- Waste reduction
- Sustainable travel
- Biodiversity
- Construction and refurbishment
People
- Staff training in sustainability and carbon reduction
- Student-focused green events
- Student sustainability ambassadors
- Staff sustainability network
- Communications and social media
- Community engagement
- UEL Living Lab
Policy
- Procurement and resource management
- Climate change adaptation and resilience
- Ethical affairs
- Policy refresh
Practice
- Sustainability in teaching and research
- Sustainability Research Institute
- Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability
- Accreditation and metrics
- League table rankings
- Sustainability impact assessments
- Annual sustainability report
Our carbon footprint and path to net-zero
UEL measures its carbon footprint following the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework, which is the most widely used international carbon accounting tool. The GHG Protocol framework categorises emissions into three key scopes: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3.
To reach net zero, we need to first reduce each of these scopes by as much as possible, and then use carbon sequestration methods to eliminate our residual footprint, which is the emissions which remain after all efforts to eliminate emissions have been implemented. This will be achieved through our Carbon Management Plan, which is summarised below.
Our target is to be net zero carbon by 2030. Our progress towards this goal is reported in our annual sustainability report.
- Scope 1 refers to the direct emissions we produce ourselves, including from our gas and vehicle fleet.
- Scope 2 refers to the electricity that we purchase.
- To reduce our scope 1 and 2 emissions, we need to decarbonise our energy usage, which will include building fabric improvements, increasing energy efficiency, generating renewable energy, phasing out gas and transitioning to electric vehicles.
- We have partnered with Siemens to help us reduce our scope 1 and 2 emissions - read more about our Siemens Partnership.
Our combined Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint
| Year | Total Scope 1 & 2 emissions (market-based for Scope 2) | Total Scope 1 & 2 emissions (location-based for Scope 2) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 (baseline year) | 1553 | 4493 |
| 2019-20 | 1545 | 3891 |
| 2020-21 | 2719 | 5047 |
| 2021-22 | 2384 | 4585 |
| 2022-23 | 2151 | 4504 |
| 2023-24 | 1745 | 3941 |
Scope 3 refers to all the emissions relating to our operations - everything we buy, everything we build, all our travel, our waste and water, and much more. Since everything we do or buy or use has an associated footprint, thus, decarbonising our scope 3 emissions requires a radical shift in the way we operate as a university and a community of 20k+ students and 1k+ staff. Currently, we are working to develop a detailed plan on how to rapidly quantify and reduce our Scope 3 emissions.
Scope 3 emissions
| Year | Scope 3 Emissions (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 63,489 |
| 2023-24 | 86,453 |
We continually refine our calculation methodologies for Scope 1, 2, and 3 on a year-on-year basis, depending on the types and granularity of data received from our suppliers.
Even after we reduce our emissions as much as possible, there will still be a small leftover carbon footprint from unavoidable activities. These leftover emissions can be squared in two ways – offsetting or sequestering. While some organisations eliminate residual emissions by ‘offsetting', i.e., paying someone else to reduce their emissions too. Others eliminate this by 'sequestering', i.e., investing in certified carbon removal projects. A detailed plan for eliminating residual emissions will come up in the coming years.
The world's challenge; UEL's opportunity.
All our staff will understand the commitments we are making to sustainability and their role in driving positive change for our university community and our environment. All our students will leave as responsible graduates and global citizens with the knowledge and skills to live sustainable lives after their time at university. Click on the four strategic priority areas below to find out how we are transforming our vision into reality.
Our projects
Our quest to achieve net zero has already begun, with lots of exciting work, research and projects taking place within the UEL community. One of the goals of the Net Zero Strategy is to pull all these ongoing projects together, along with any future initiatives, to ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals.
Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability
The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability (RDCS) opened on our Docklands campus in December 2023. It is UEL's flagship building of sustainability. The RDCS has spaces dedicated to sustainability research and uses the University as a Living Laboratory, allowing students to gain industry experience using real building and energy data.
Siemens carbon innovation partnership
UEL has entered into a partnership with global technology company Siemens in order to help us achieve our net-zero goals. Working with Siemens, the University has developed a plan to tackle energy-related carbon emissions through a lighting replacement programme, as well as enhancements to our building management system. There are also plans to install more renewable energy on campus, such as solar panels and heat pump technology.
Stratford campus redevelopment
UEL's Stratford campus is about to undergo a major transformation, with the construction of brand-new facilities that will be used for academics, student housing and sport. This will be the first time student accommodation will exist at Stratford, and work has already begun to ensure construction and operation of these new spaces will be as sustainable as possible. The buildings will be constructed to WELL Building Standards, which places people's health and well-being at the centre of the design.
Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP)
UEL is working with Siemens to implement a ground-breaking Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) to power our Docklands Campus Library and Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability. The WSHP will be the largest of its kind fitted at any university.
Designed with sustainability at heart, the submerged closed-loop system will utilise a network of pipes to extract natural heat from the River Thames. This innovative heating solution is projected to considerably reduce annual CO2 emissions by 258 tonnes while maintaining the river’s ecosystem by avoiding the removal of significant water volumes.
Get involved
Events
Our fun events are an opportunity for everyone to learn, share and participate in sustainability activities on campus and beyond.
From one-off events like litter picks to playing our award-winning recycling game, we aim to educate and inspire a sustainable mindset in our staff, students and the wider community.
We're open to collaboration with local councils and institutions, like food banks, charities, schools, and libraries, to galvanise our community around a common purpose.
Do you have an idea for an event, collaboration or other sustainability-related initiative around the campus? Get in touch with us at sustainability@uel.ac.uk.
Community garden
We have a small Community Garden at our Docklands Campus, which is open to UEL Staff, students and the local community. We keep looking for volunteers to join us for regular maintenance, seasonal planting, and upkeep of the garden.
If you would like to organise group sessions and community activities within the Community Garden, please reach out to us at sustainability@uel.ac.uk
There are no charges or fees; we will lend out all the help and support possible. All tools and equipment for gardening are available in our Polytunnel.
Our own gardening sessions run through Spring and Summer every Tuesday, 12-1 pm, for anyone who is interested in joining. Sometimes the sessions get cancelled owing to bad weather or other reasons. Keep an eye on our Instagram User ID- uelcommunitygarden, for regular updates.
Earth Week
22 April is Earth Day! Celebrated annually, this day reminds us of the importance of helping our environment and acting on climate change. Each year, there’s a new theme for Earth Day that focuses our attention on a specific environmental issue. To celebrate, the Sustainability team put on a series of events spanning the preceding week.
Earth Week is a chance for you to throw yourself into the eco vibe and explore your green side - planting sessions, movie night, tote bag decoration, paint and plant, sustainability seminars and more!
Litter pick
We participated in the Great British Spring Clean with Newham Council this year. UEL staff and students went around the local area around the Docklands campus for a Litter Pick to show our support in keeping neighbourhoods tidy while educating people about waste management.
Rubbish Game
UEL was awarded a bronze-level Green Apple Environment Award in 2022 in the 'Education and Training: Waste Management' category for engaging students and the local community in waste disposal and recycling using our fun and engaging Rubbish Game.
Players physically pick fake/make-believe items provided and put them in the bins they think they should go in. The Rubbish Game tackles this issue and the phenomenon known as 'wish-cycling', which sees people put things in the recycling bin, trusting they will get recycled, sometimes correct but mostly riddled with assumptions. This is a fun way to make people aware and break common myths that people have regarding waste disposal.
Sustainable Cities Festival
In April 2024, UEL was proud to launch its inaugural Sustainable Cities Festival. This nine-day, multi-disciplinary event, part of UEL's Year of Science, explored innovative solutions and collaborative approaches to address the pressing challenges of urban environments.
View our new UEL sustainability map
Where can you refill your water bottle on campus? Which of our buildings has solar panels? Where is our Community Garden located, and how can you get involved?
Explore our new sustainability map to learn about UEL’s sustainability initiatives and find our facilities!
The map includes information about sustainability at UEL across all 3 campuses, including:
- Travel and transport facilities
- UEL shuttle bus stops
- Cycle storage, showers and cycle maintenance kits
- UEL Community Garden
- Water bottle refill stations
- Solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) panels
- The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability
- Waste facilities & FreeCycle Hubs
Students' sustainability club
Join UEL’s Students' Union Sustainability Club.
Visit East London Students' UnionWaste
We aim to reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills by decreasing unnecessary consumption and increasing recycling and reusing.
You can recycle a range of items on our campuses, and we are trying harder to do more! As well as household waste (cans, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, food packaging), you can also recycle glass, batteries, electrical goods, and ink and toner cartridges.
Transport and travel
With a massive community of staff and students who travel to and from our campuses, we're committed to improving the travel behaviours of the UEL community by:
- Reducing the need for travel,
- Investing in sustainable means of transport,
- Encouraging active travel (walking and cycling); and
- Assisting the surrounding local communities by reducing traffic congestion and associated harmful impacts of pollutants
Sustainability Newsletter
Our monthly sustainability newsletter aims to keep staff and students up-to-date with the latest sustainability news, events and tips!
Have you got a sustainability story, campaign, or idea that you want to be included in the newsletter? Fill out this form to stay in touch!
Meet the team
Head of Sustainability
Sustainability Officer - Engagement and Net Zero Delivery
Contact us
- For any queries or suggestions, contact us at sustainability@uel.ac.uk
- For waste-related queries or suggestions, contact us at waste@uel.ac.uk
- You can also contact us on our individual emails, which are displayed above
- Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest sustainability news and events: @uelsustainability
- Office location: NB 2.10, Docklands campus
Follow us on Instagram
Get the latest sustainability news and events at UEL
