Skip to main content

Sustainable Campus

We are committed to achieving a carbon-neutral campus by 2038 through a range of impactful initiatives. By implementing energy-efficient technologies, decarbonising our buildings, promoting sustainable travel, and enhancing biodiversity, we aim to create a campus that serves as a living lab for sustainability.

  • Net Zero Carbon and Buildings Decarbonisation plans: Our Estates and Facilities team lead efforts to improve energy and water efficiency, reduce waste, and minimise resource use. Our Environmental and Energy Management System (EEMS) is certified to both ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018 standards, highlighting our commitment to ongoing environmental improvement. Our Energy, Water, and Carbon Management Plan guides our work, setting clear goals for reducing energy consumption and transitioning to renewable energy sources. We are actively working to decarbonise campus buildings, including the elimination of avoidable single-use plastics and implementing sustainable construction practices for new projects and refurbishments.
  • Sustainable Transport: We are dedicated to reducing emissions from transport by encouraging sustainable travel options like cycling through our Cycle to Work scheme, walking, public transport, car-sharing, and decarbonising our own fleet.
  • Sustainable food policy: Our Sustainable Food Policy is designed to promote healthy, sustainable, and ethical food choices on campus. By prioritising locally sourced, seasonal, and responsibly produced ingredients in collaboration with our in-house catering services, we reduce our carbon footprint and support local suppliers.
  • Biodiversity and Green Spaces: Our commitment to a green campus extends to preserving and enhancing biodiversity on our grounds. Through habitat restoration, litter picks, and creating spaces for local wildlife in collaboration with the Salford Ranger Team, we work to protect the natural environment. Our efforts are aligned with regional initiatives such as the PlasticFreeGM pledge, aiming to reduce single-use plastics across Greater Manchester and promote broader environmental stewardship, in addition to the Hedgehog Friendly Campus scheme, within which we hold platinum accreditation.
  • Waste Management and circular economy: By following the principles of the waste hierarchy, we aim to minimise waste on campus and encourage sustainable resource use, guided by our Waste Management Plan. Our ethical and sustainable procurement system ensures that environmental and social impacts are considered in all purchases, from supplies to services.

Earth-friendly recipe inspirations

Today is the first day of Go Green Salford!  It’s also the beginning of the Food Waste Action Week, so that’s exactly what this week is all about – food: how to make it, how it affects the planet, and how to stop wasting it.  According to WRAP’s advice on sustainable eating, pulses, grains and […]

Cycle to Work Day 2020

Staff and students: join others interested in cycling in our Bicycle User Group Teams site. On Thursday 6th August we can’t do our usual Cycle to Work Day photo competition or offer free breakfasts for cyclists this year, but we want to use the day to raise awareness of the University’s new Cycle to Work […]

Plastic Free July

Since 2011, millions of people have pledged to reduce their plastic waste as part of Plastic Free July. Will you get involved this year? Plastic Free July encourages citizens and businesses to change their behaviour in favour of avoiding single-use plastics and reducing plastic waste. The campaign is run by The Plastic Free Foundation and […]

Hedgehog Friendly Campus Working Group

One of the UK’s best loved animals the hedgehog, is having a tough time with their numbers reducing by a third since the millennium. The reasons for their decline are varied but the good news is Hedgehog Friendly Campus is a fantastic new initiative looking at small steps we can put in place to counteract some of the challenges hedgehogs face and really make a difference to our prickliest (potential) […]

Bike Week 2020

Bike Week 2020 is taking place from 6-14 June. Delivered by Cycling UK, the week will celebrate all that’s great about riding a bike, with a week of fun digital activities which you can get involved in. Bike Week aims to encourage people to experience the joy of cycling. Cycling is a well-loved activity that’s […]

World Environment Day – Green Campus Group meeting

World Environment Day has been celebrated every year since 1974 and offers a global platform for inspiring positive change. This year’s theme is biodiversity and in keeping with this, we will be holding a virtual Green Campus Group meeting on Friday 5 June at 11am. We will give a general update on related projects, but […]

International Day for Biological Diversity 2020 – 22 May

Biodiversity is a word that describes the variety of life in an area. This includes all the species of plants, animals and microscopic organisms! It is easy to underestimate how many species can exist in a seemingly small area; there are around 70,000 species in the UK alone. The United Nation’s International Day for Biological […]

Earth Hour 2020

Emily Shipley, Environmental Communications & Engagement Assistant. Earth Hour is just one hour, annually, when the world can unite in its fight against climate change. The WWF have been running Earth Hour since its first lights-out event in Sydney, 2007. Since then, it has become the largest event of its kind, with millions of people […]

Global Recycling Day 2020

Guest blog by Emily Shipley, Environmental Communications and Engagement Assistant Graduate Intern. Using The Seventh Resource (recycled materials) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions annually saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions annually, which is almost as much carbon that the aviation industry produces in passenger transport every year. Making aluminium cans […]

BioBlitz 2020

Unfortunately, due to the current situation with COVID-19 the BioBlitz events have been cancelled. We hope to rearrange in the future. Working with the Peel Park Ranger and UoS Wildlife Society, we are holding a BioBlitz. Various events will be running on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March, including mammal trapping, a bat walk and bird walk.  […]