Sustainability
Environmental sustainability and climate change are probably the greatest issues facing humankind in the twenty first century: they are a major focus of Exeter’s research and teaching activities and a key responsibility for the staff and students at our University.
The University declared an environment and climate emergency in 2019 and in April 2022, based on support and input from students and staff, the University brought forward its carbon net zero target.
The new target covers direct emissions (known as Scope 1 & 2) and – crucially – also includes Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions caused by the University's activities, such as purchases).
We are actively working to ensure we meet these ambitious targets in Cornwall. This includes our Exeter owned facilities and our shared provision in Truro and Penryn. Our targets differ to our partners, but we still intend to meet our 2030 net zero targets for our portion of the facilities and services we share with our partners.
Our approach to meeting net zero
The approach we are taking is based around three steps:
- Reduce – this is our top priority and includes for example cutting unnecessary purchases and reducing travel
- Low carbon – using low-emission options for necessary activities
- Natural offsetting – when the above two options have been exhausted.
Carbon offsetting is a contentious topic in the net-zero discussion. The University’s approach is to prioritise natural assets that contribute to carbon sequestration as well as improving other areas of natural capital (the benefits of nature), including biodiversity and social wellbeing.
The main themes of our sustainability work are buildings, travel, waste and recycling, food and drink, procurement, biodiversity, digital, changes to teaching and changes to culture.
Here are a few examples of our actions so far.
Digital transformation
We recognise the need for investment in technology to reduce our carbon impact and have a digital transformation strategy in place to enable this.
We have a digital first strategy when it comes to printing and communications, for example we no longer give out printed prospectuses and booklets and use digital screens instead of leaflets for sharing information amongst our campus community. Our reprographics unit on campus has been closed and we are developing a new app for students that aims to become a one stop shop for all staff and student information.
Our digital transformation strategy recognises the importance of investing in technology to allow for a shift in working practices. For instance improving video conferencing to reduce travel and improving remote connectivity to optimise the sharing of office space and hot desking.
By transitioning from a paper-based exam system to a digital exam system for the whole University we will significantly reduce the amount of paper we use.
Travel
We encourage taking the bus, bike, walking and car sharing. In Penryn we have electric bikes for hire, bike shelters and electric vehicle charging points.
We encourage students and staff to travel on public transport, walk or cycle to campus as well as car share. There are bike shelters and shower facilities on Penryn Campus and we also support working from home where possible.
Electric bikes
Electric bikes can be hired on campus. As part of a county-wide scheme funded by Cornwall Council fifty Beryl Bikes are available at 21 stations across Falmouth and Penryn including on Penryn Campus outside the Exchange opposite Heart Reception, and along the Old Drive.
Subsidised buses
Students who live in the Penryn area and study in Truro have access to a free bus pass and everyone has access to the Cornwall Council pilot scheme which has subsidised bus fares.
Electric vehicle charging points
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points are available at Penryn Campus. While we encourage walking, cycling, or using public transport, we recognise that this is not always practical in Cornwall. These EV points support owners of more sustainable vehicles.
Gold Cycle Friendly Employer Accreditation
Cycling UK has awarded Penryn Campus a Gold Cycle Friendly Employer Accreditation through its national Cycle Friendly Employer program. The gold award is the highest standard available and demonstrates the campus’ commitment to active travel, combatting climate change and improving staff and student wellbeing.
Waste and recycling
We recycle wherever possible running projects to recycle food waste, encouraging the use of our recycling points, with actions like ban the bin, and donating unused furniture.
Recycling on campus
Our waste and recycling team on Penryn Campus work hard to reduce our waste and increase our recycling. In 2023 we recycled over 10,000 tetra paks on campus and now 1,000 tetra paks are recycled a month on average. In the 2022/23 academic year we reduced general waste generated on Penryn Campus by 7% and increased all recycling by over 5% compared with 2021/22.
Food recycling
Our main campus catering outlets at Falmouth and Penryn already have food waste collection in place and a project to recycle food waste in Penryn student residences has been so successful it’s being rolled out further. Working with Cornwall Waste Solutions we encourage students on campus to separate food waste, which is sent to an anaerobic digestion plant where it can be turned into electricity, fuel and fertiliser.
Since the addition of the new food waste bins a tonne more food waste has been sent to the anaerobic digestion facilities than the same period the year before. There are now plans to add new food bins to more locations.
In the 2022/23 academic year food waste recycling increased by 38% compared to the previous year.
Pack for Good campaign
Each year we support the British Heart Foundation’s pack for good campaign which encourages students moving out of residences to donate unwanted items like books, clothes or household goods so they can be diverted from landfill. Unopened, non-perishable food is also collected and donated to our local food bank. In 2022, 691 bags were collected the equivalent of 32,462 kg of CO2.
Penryn Campus Swap Shop
At other times of the year a swap shop runs on campus where students and staff can drop off any re-usable items they no longer need. The Swap Shop will accept almost anything, from kitchenware and clothes to decorations, textbooks and more. The aim is to reduce waste, by helping students choose second-hand and save money, thus supporting keeping things circular and sustainable.
Food and drink
Food outlets on campus aim to source local suppliers whenever possible, promote vegan and vegetarian menu choices and look to minimise plastic packaging and food waste.
The Food and Drink team actively engages with suppliers to reduce the environmental impacts of its operations and fairtrade and south-west suppliers are sourced whenever possible. Using local suppliers helps reduce carbon emissions associated with transport and supports the local economy.
The menus on campus has been updated to include more vegan and locally sourced produce with the Sustainability Café serving 100% vegetarian and vegan dishes. In the Stannary main meals on menus now include carbon footprint data to help support informed food choices.
To minimise plastic wastage on campus, a sustainable milk refill initiative is open to all, and we also encourage the use of reusable cups.
The Penryn Campus Shop offers a Bring Your Own (BYO), self-service refill section to reduce unnecessary packaging and waste. The refill range includes cereals and breakfast food; pasta; rice and snacks. Meat is locally sourced and there is a vegan food section. The shop also uses the Too Good To Go app to try and reduce food waste.
Biodiversity
Nature underpins our communities, our society and global business, and the University has committed to deliver environmental net gain in parallel with our net zero emissions target.
Nature Positive
We are part of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance the members of which aim to halt, prevent and reverse nature loss through addressing their own impacts and restoring ecosystems harmed by their activities.
In 2022 we signed the Nature Positive Universities pledge. This is a commitment to start a nature positive journey, incorporating a biodiversity baseline, targets, actions and annual reporting. A Biodiversity Task and Finish Group, chaired by Professor Juliet Osborne, is developing our Nature Positive Universities Strategy.
Our Nature Positive Strategy 2024-30 outlines how we will support and renew biodiversity on campus and connect our community with nature through teaching, volunteering, and research.
Hedgehog Friendly Campus
Penryn Campus has a silver award from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) Hedgehog Friendly Campus programme. The project is a UK-wide initiative which aims to turn university campuses into places where hedgehogs can thrive.
Grounds recognised by the Green Flag scheme
The gardens and grounds at Penryn Campus are recognised by the international Green Flag Award Scheme which rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Procurement
We are working with our suppliers to develop sustainable procurement plans and ensure our suppliers' actions reflect our commitment to carbon reduction.
There is a three-year procurement strategy in place to support the University’s climate emergency declarations and social value strategies.
Actions so far have been:
- To develop a carbon reduction forecasting report with suppliers committing to a reduction of 2,241 tonnes of CO2 by 2027.
- The introduction of 20% scoring criteria on tender documents to ensure carbon reduction and social value is measured over the contract duration.
- To register 86% of suppliers on the sustainable toolkit ‘Net Positives’ allowing them to develop and upload responsible procurement action plans.
- Continuing to develop and support local supply chains with 37% of suppliers being based in Cornwall and Devon and 44% of impactable spend via local suppliers.
- Embedding a new and improved tender management system and a supplier performance rating currently at 80%
- Running Higher Education Procurement Association (HEPA) responsible Procurement training for all key staff.
Our buildings
We are installing solar panels on our buildings, upgrading our lighting, have achieved LEAF accreditation for our labs and are looking at ways to decarbonise our heating.
Solar panels
In October 2023 we completed a project to significantly increase the amount of photovoltaic (PV) panels on roofs at Penryn Campus. We have fitted more than 1700 new panels to the roofs of Daphne Du Maurier, Peter Lanyon and the Sports Centre. These will add to existing panels already installed on campus and save energy and money for future investments and improvements.
The new PV system has a total capacity of 775 kW with an estimated 700,000 kWh per year generated. Carbon savings of 149 tonnes CO2 per year and energy cost savings of about £126,000 per year. Calculations are based on 18p/kWh but the savings are likely to be greater than this whilst current (2023) unit rates continue to be around 30p/kWh.
Lighting upgrades
The Peter Lanyon building lighting and controls have been upgraded with LED lighting being installed.
Decarbonisation
A heat decarbonisation project is being planned with the ESI building identified as a suitable space to trial replacing the gas boilers with ground source heat pumps.
Sustainable labs
All eligible laboratories on campus have now achieved Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) accreditation. This accreditation aims to help labs become more efficient, thus reducing costs, waste and carbon emissions. Eight of our labs In Truro and Penryn have achieved bronze status and we also have a gold status lab plus two silver status labs on Penryn Campus.
Changing our culture
We encourage staff and students to adopt sustainable habits in a number of ways from signing up to Green Rewards to seeking innovative ideas for sustainable projects.
Changing our culture is an important part of our journey to net zero and we are always looking for ways to engage our staff and students so they feel empowered to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint. We offer an environment and climate emergency induction to all staff, with a module on understanding our carbon and environmental footprint.
Our Green Rewards scheme, where you earn points and prizes for sustainable actions via a digital app, has been running since 2020 and recorded 153,000 sustainable actions by January 2024. In 2023 the initiative avoided 39,538kg of CO2 through energy saving, recycling and meat free days.
We have Sustainability Advocates who represent their faculty/department or campus on a particular theme to support the delivery of our sustainability commitments including our net-zero and nature positive goals. They mobilise their Climate Environment Action Plans and attend regular Advocate Climate Taskforce (ACT) meetings, led by the Provost and Senior Academics to progress challenging and transformational change agenda items.
The Future is Green is a collaborative research project that delivers skills development courses and programmes to individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (C&IoS) to support the development of the skills needed for the future green economy.
