‘Biodiversity is closer than you think’ says Professor Adam Hart, as UoG plants trees to support nature
University of Gloucestershire is highlighting the importance of supporting nature….
SUSTAINABILITY
At UoG sustainability is important to us, it’s one of our core values and we were the first universities to ditch our printed prospectus in favour of an online version.
As part of our UoG Career toolkit, students studying at UoG will have sustainability embedded into their course.
Our values
Our values underpin everything that we do.
Integrity
Ambition
Nurture
Curiosity
Sustainable
Sustainability steering group
At UoG, a dedicated cross-departmental group brings together colleagues from across the institution to lead on sustainability.
- Katharine Clough – Pro Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement)
- Ben King – Head of Estates
- Alex Cottrell – Head of External Relationships
- Una Barnes – Operations Partner
- Rob Tribe – Head of Marketing, Digital and Brand
- Tash Gazzard – Financial Accountant
- Katie Bateman – Student Careers and Employability Manager
- Suzanne Freeth-Selway – Data Officer (Business Intelligence)
Our sustainable University
Sustainability is as much about people as it is about structures or operations. We see sustainability as central to life, work and study in the university community. Across all departments, we are seeking to increase efficiencies, reduce negative impacts, and shape a better, healthier future for people and planet.
Campus environment
We seek to positively improve sustainability in the learning environment across our campuses, through responsible estates management, partnership working and public engagement. We also take opportunities to use our university sites to support learning for sustainability and use the campus as a living laboratory in the delivery of courses and research.
City Campus, Gloucester
- Rating A, Energy performance certificate (EPC)
- Targeting BREEAM Excellent rating for the building refurbishment
- Salix PSDS3 funding to change heating system to fully electric
- Whole life carbon approach assessment for the building refurbishment and operations
- City centre location with public transport connections and parking limitation supports sustainable travel
- Landmark ESG £29 million financing
Park Campus, Cheltenham
- Nearly 1,000 trees, including rare and endangered species
- Nest boxes, bee houses and beehives
- Wild seed planting and heritage fruit trees
- Solar photovoltaic panels on Challinor halls of residence
- Staff-student-community growing space
- Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature trail
- Two electric car charging points
Oxstalls Campus, Gloucester
- Zero emissions BREEAM “Excellent” rated Business School building with 4 air source heat pumps for all heat
- Solar photovoltaic panel array on specifically designed roof
- Four electric car charging points and additional bike storage
- Biodiversity initiative to encourage wildflowers and wildlife
Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham
- Conservation of heritage buildings and chapel
- Community Edible Garden to share permaculture and food awareness
- Home to an established colony of swifts
- Teaching Garden used by the Landscape Architecture course
- Awarded bronze-level Hedgehog Friendly Campus status by the Hedgehog Preservation Society.
- Two electric car charging points
Pittville Campus, Cheltenham
- BREEAM excellent rated refurbishment of this former teaching site
- Energy efficient district heat network
- Book swap facility to encourage sharing and re-use
- Facilities for student wellbeing with outdoor games area and gym
Rewilding
In 2019, we completed a rewilding project at our Oxstalls campus, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund to improve campus biodiversity and reduce future flood risks.
No Mow May
Each year, our Estates team leave areas on our campuses to run wild.
Living Laboratory
Park campus is used by students as a Living Laboratory for field work including biodiversity monitoring and action plans.
Energy and Carbon
What is our energy usage and why is it important to reduce it?
This covers the emissions that we produce directly, such as from gas and oil combustion for heat and hot water.
This covers the emissions that we produce indirectly such as through purchasing grid electricity.
This covers all other indirect emissions from activities such as transport, purchasing, waste and water use.
We need to drive action to minimise the most harmful levels of climate change, in line with scientific advice. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels or ideally 1.5°C. The UK committed to cut at least 55% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
By aiming for Net Zero carbon, we are seeking a balance between the carbon we emit and the carbon we take out of the atmosphere. It means we drive down our emissions as much as possible – leaving the minimum remainder to offset.
Our progress to Net Zero
- With funding from the Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS2), replacement heating systems installed at FCH and Oxstalls campuses in 2022 will save around 260 tonnes of carbon annually.
- We achieved BREEAM excellent certified for our refurbished Pittville Student Village opened in 2017 and our Business School building completed in 2018, and are working towards the same for our new City Campus.
- We have fully divested from fossil fuels across our investment portfolio which took immediate effect from May 2018.
- Our Business School development is zero emissions and uses four air source heat pumps for all its heating, eliminating the use of fossil fuels in the building.
- Over the last ten years we have reduced electricity use by 32% and gas by 37%.
- One third of our service vehicles used across our campuses vehicles are now electric.
- We are improving our energy management and upgrading our building management systems to improve energy efficiency across our campuses funded by Salix grants.
- We are moving to lower energy use in our IT systems such as cloud computing and greater deployment of flexible learning technology.
Investment and purchasing
The University seeks to manage its assets responsibly, so our financial decisions are critical for our sustainability impact. Our aim is to contribute to local economies and support social and global justice through ethical investment practices, developing sustainability in our supply chain and Fairtrade.
Our responsible supply chain actions and achievements
- External assessors NetSustain places our sustainable procurement practice at level three in the Sustainable Procurement Flexible Framework.
- As members of the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium we support the adoption of higher standards to address slavery in IT supply chains
- We invest in FSC certified furniture that complies with our ethical purchasing commitments, including desks and tables with lifetime guarantee and chairs with 5 year guarantees and long wear life fabrics.
- We joined Gloucestershire Anti-Slavery Partnership and approved its statement in relation to the Modern Slavery Act
- We exchange furniture, specialist kit and office supplies to avoid making new purchases
- We won a Highly Commended Green Gown Award in 2017 for our ‘Power of the Purse’ project to drive sustainability improvements and embed circular economy principles into our policy and practice, with an institution wide risk assessment, action on key contracts, training for lead buyers and guidance for all staff
In 2022, University of Gloucestershire became one of the first universities in the UK to secure funding linked to our commitment to ESG goals, securing £29million in ESG linked loans that will contribute to supporting our ambitious City Campus development.
The University has held Fairtrade status since 2006 and, in 2022, we were accredited to the new Fairtrade standard. We achieved an additional one-star in recognition of our efforts to embed policies that ensure trade justice and ethical procurement and consumption are considered throughout our practices.
We take our fund management seriously and are committed to regular monitoring and updating of our ethical investment activities, in line with our institutional values and ethos. Our Ethical Investment Policy includes restrictions to the full scope of institutional investments and is signed off by Finance and General Purposes Committee (FGPC). Continuous improvements to this policy include:
- 2018 – fully divested from fossil fuels across our investment portfolio with immediate effect
- 2016 – no investments in thermal coal, oil shale and tar sands; widened restrictions on armaments components and services; and linked to EIRIS standard to cover international law on human rights and oil/mining standards.
- 2008 – no investments in companies associated with tobacco, armaments, human rights abuse, mining or oil.
Ethical investments
Ethical Investment Policy
Sustainability is a key priority for the University and this extends to the sustainable investment of funds. To ensure that investments match the priorities and values of the University, an Ethical Investment Policy has been developed.
View our latest Ethical Investment Policy.
This Policy is intended to support our aims to invest in a better global future by delivering strong returns through involvement in companies which improve quality of life and provide environmental benefits.
We do not intentionally invest, directly or indirectly, in fossil fuel companies, armaments companies, tobacco companies, companies that fall below the recognised standard as identified by EIRIS or companies in violation of international law.
Oversight of our investments
Our Finance and General Purposes Committee (F&GPC) is responsible for monitoring and advising Council on the financial health of the University, including the financial strategy, and risk management, budget setting, annual accounts, investment activity, and consideration of capital expenditure including estates and infrastructure activity. More details on F&GPC’s responsibilities and a list of the committee members can be found here.
The Ethical Investment Policy, which forms part of the Treasury Management Policy, is reviewed annually on behalf of Council, by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The latest review was conducted in June 2026.
Members of the University community have an opportunity to engage with the Ethical Investment Policy and any comments or queries should be sent through to [email protected].
Catering
Our catering operation is a critical – and highly visible – statement about our commitment to sustainability. Food brings together issues such as healthy eating, supply chain integrity, waste and packaging, cultural diversity, fair trade and carbon reduction.
Catering for sustainability
We are committed to delivering our policy requirements on healthy, seasonal and responsibly sourced food, as well as good environmental management in our refectories and kitchens.
Our sustainable food policy sets targets on:
- Maintaining the Fairtrade University status we have held since 2006
- Sourcing of local, free range and organic food
- Provision of fresh, healthy and nutritious food
- Promotion of equality and diversity through culturally varied menus
- Minimising catering waste including disposables and wrapping
Discover more about Catering at the University
Our sustainable catering achievements
- The University has held Fairtrade status since 2006 and in 2022 we were accredited to the new Fairtrade standard with an additional one-star.
- In 2014 we were Finalists in the Food and Drink category of the competitive UK Green Gown Awards, for our performance on sourcing, produce, income, wellbeing, education and waste.
- In 2018 researchers at our Countryside and Community Research Institute released the Mi-Larder app to help people locate and use local food suppliers more easily across our region.
- All our catering outlets are certified to Marine Stewardship Council standards – and all fish is purchased from MSC certified supplier, M&J Seafoods.
- All meats are British and Red Tractor accredited.
- Our showcase hospitality menu champions locally sourced ingredients and home made dishes.
Since 2024, we have had a 3 star Food Made Good accreditation.
Culture and Diversity
We are committed to being a community with a global outlook that is advancing diversity, promoting intercultural learning and pursuing equity for all. Our commitments are set out in our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy which aims to make equality of opportunity a reality for all students and staff – and to develop an inclusive culture, free from discrimination related to gender, disability, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics.
Our strategic equity, diversity and inclusion goals are:
- Attract, retain, develop, and support a more diverse workforce
- Improve students’ experiences, supporting their mental and physical wellbeing, creating a sense of belonging so they learn, thrive and achieve.
- Increase engagement in equity, diversity, and inclusion practice across the University through learning opportunities, joint working and shared objectives.
- Decolonise our culture and curriculum
- Inclusive Governance
Discover more about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Gloucestershire.
What we’re working on
Decolonising Learning
This project seeks to develop our course experiences to advance cultural and ethnic diversity as well as global perspective through teaching practice. It draws on the experiences of our BAME staff and student network and is supported by our LIFT programme for transformative learning that can deliver more sustainable futures.
Gender Pay Gap
We are working to reduce our gender pay gap to understand and improve the difference between the average salary of a man and the average salary of a woman working at the University.
Travel
As a multi-campus university spanning sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester, helping students and staff to make smarter travel, low carbon choices is important to:
- help support healthier lifestyles
- save students and staff money
- limit rising pollution
- improve air quality in urban areas
- reduce our impact on congestion
How we support smart travel
Cheltenham and Gloucester are beautiful places to explore and commuting by foot, bike, scooter or bus are great ways to discover the local area and enjoy the benefits of smart travel.
Walking, cycling and e-scooters
We promote travelling between our campuses in sustainable ways including walking, cycling and e-scooters.
Students can buy secure bicycle locks though the University’s online store.
Staff can buy a bike or e-bike and cycle kit tax-free using salary sacrifice through HR.
Voi operates in Cheltenham and Gloucester with parking locations on all campuses.
Shower facilities: we have shower facilities on each of our campuses for staff to use after an active commute.
Public transport
Our campuses are well located with good transport links.
Stagecoach offer bus passes and deals for part and full academic year options. These are available from their website or through the Stagecoach app which also provides live bus times.
National services flow regularly to Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester train stations and bus services can connect stations to all UOG campuses.
Car
For staff and students who do need to travel by car, we support:
Reduced price campus parking permits are available for car sharers and we have a staff car share scheme to encourage lift sharing.
We support electric vehicle usage with charging points at Oxstalls, Park, FCH campuses.
We use maintenance vehicles which run on electricity at our Park and Oxstalls sites, and our IT department use an electric van.
View our sustainable travel plan.
Agile working
We are shifting our educational and office systems towards agile working as the reduced travel helps towards our carbon reduction goals.
- Virtual meetings – all users have access to Microsoft Teams and all monitors have webcams.
- Video and teleconferencing technology – is available in selected meeting rooms.
- Virtual classroom – connects remote learners and researchers with lecture capture and viewing is available via Planet eStream.
Technology
Technology enables our learning experiences, optimises our working practices and can help staff and students to travel less between campuses and to connect more easily. It is also one of the fastest growing areas of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the university sector, so bringing sustainability into computing equipment and services is an important future agenda for us.
Information strategy and sustainability
Our Digital Strategy highlights lower carbon digital solutions and takes account of:
- Responsible purchasing and supply chain ethics, including production of IT equipment.
- Responsible disposal and the impacts and issues around both IT equipment and data.
- Responsible systems and servers, including efficiencies and minimising impacts.
Technology services and learning resources
Our IT and Library teams support the sustainability agenda by:
- Promoting the use of video and teleconferencing as an alternative to travelling to meetings, to reduce the carbon impact of inter-campus and off-site travel
- Supporting the development and use of real-time data ‘dashboards’ to improve communication of, and engagement with, the use of energy at the University
- Having strategic plans to guide action on sustainability in libraries, across all aspects from resources and equipment to learning and community services
- Providing single, multi-function printing devices and constantly reviewing requirements to ensure resource efficiency
- Introducing Teams telephony systems for all staff vastly reducing device requirements
Waste and water
Managing our waste and water are important sustainability priorities to improve our environmental performance and reduce costs in running our estate. We have put measures in place to minimise our impact and to engage with people in ways that contribute to shifting thinking around waste and supporting the circular economy.
Waste and water targets
We are an institution that no longer sends waste to landfill via our contractor.
Our targets in our Sustainability Strategy 2022-2027 are:
23%
Reduce waste arising
by 23%
60%
Increase recycling
rate to 60%
12%
Reduce water
consumption by 12%
Reducing single-use in refectories
In 2017/18 we successfully trialled the removal of disposable cups from our refectories resulting in 4,610 cups being eliminated from our waste stream in just one summer. This scheme was rolled out permanently from September 2018 with re-usable cups available for purchase from the SU or refectories. Alternatively, we have mugs available for anyone who does not have their own.
In 2021, the refectories introduced charges for single-use items to further encourage continued behaviour change.
Pack for Good
We work with British Heart Foundation’s Pack for Good initiative, creating value for the charity through donated goods as students move out of halls of residence.
Normally this averages around 1,250 bags of goods annually.
Workforce and wellbeing
Across the globe people are making links between wellbeing, productivity and our ability to move forward on sustainability. We all have professional responsibilities in sustainability and with this comes the potential for greater creativity and success in our organisations.
Sustainability in practice
We aim to encourage staff to understand the need for sustainability in their job roles as a way to achieve wider change and to support them to increase their positive impact as professionals and citizens. Supported by our People Strategy, the University:
- is committed to being a Real Living Wage employer
- has reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe and supportive community for refugees by pledging support for the University of Sanctuary initiative
Wellbeing and sustainability
Wellbeing is critical for sustainability – the importance of wellbeing as one of the keys to sustainability is the reason health and wellbeing is one of the UN global goals.
The OECD 2020 analysis of wellbeing indicators shows how natural capital and environmental protection is interlinked with social and economic aspects of wellbeing. This recognition is growing at policy level – the 2015 Wellbeing of Future Generations Act in Wales recognises how the wellbeing of people and communities critically depends upon the health of the planet.
Priorities in this area include smart travel and our carbon emissions reduction work, which is an important contribution to improving air quality and wider public health.
Campus gardening for wellbeing
There are opportunities for staff, students and local people to get involved in gardening activities at our campuses:
- Edible Garden at Francis Close Hall
- Peace Garden at Oxstalls Campus
- Park Campus Garden
Fairtrade
The University has held Fairtrade status since 2006 and since then Fairtrade has been an important part of how we demonstrate ethical consumption and social justice.
In 2022 we were successfully accredited to the new Fairtrade standard, achieving an additional one-star in recognition of our efforts to embed policies that ensure trade justice and ethical procurement and consumption are considered throughout our practices.
Our Fairtrade policy reflects the 5 goals of the Fairtrade Foundation:
- We’re striving to be a Fairtrade University!
- Fairtrade products will be available for sale (where possible) in all University outlets.
- We will seek to provide Fairtrade options at all University and departmental meetings.
- We’ll work closely with the Students’ Union to campaign for increased Fairtrade consumption within the University.
Fairtrade in the curriculum
- In the curriculum module ‘The Global Business Environment’, students can explore ethical and sustainable supply chains with case studies on coffee beans. This module is compulsory for BA Business & Management, BA International Business Management and BA Sports Business Management.
- There are other opportunities for students to learn about ethical consumption, triple bottom line supply chain management, etc, in a range of subjects in Design, Marketing, Arts, Humanities and Construction.