SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 - University of Plymouth
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SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020
Contents Sustainability Report 2020 3 ABOUT THIS REPORT 4 INTRODUCTION 4 Statement from the Vice-Chancellor 5 Advancing knowledge, transforming lives 7 Governance 9 Our sustainability approach 11 Sustainable Development Goals 12 Targets and progress summary 14 OPERATIONS 15 Carbon 19 Energy 22 Water 23 Waste 25 Construction and renovation 26 Travel and transport 29 Food and catering 32 Biodiversity 33 RESEARCH 36 TEACHING AND LEARNING 38 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT 40 Our sustainability story continued 41 GRI CONTENT INDEX 2 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
ABOUT THIS REPORT
Welcome to the University of interim years. It contains data regarding International Standards
Plymouth’s Sustainability Report. The our owned activities and does not Organisation:
report is aimed at stakeholders who include reporting on sustainability Environmental
have an interest in our sustainability activity relating to academic partner Management
performance, including professional colleges or partnership sites, unless
and academic staff, students, local stated. The scope and aspect
communities and local businesses. It boundaries remain the same as for the We are externally accredited to
focuses on our material sustainability previous reporting period, however the ISO 14001 for our Environmental
issues and those that are of interest procurement, people and health and Management System (EMS) and the
to our stakeholders, and reflects safety sections have been removed, activities on our main campus site,
the University’s award-winning as the content for these sections is including the Cookworthy Building,
whole institutional approach to already available through existing and for the John Bull Building and the
sustainability. sources. This report has been produced Derriford Research Facility. We use the
with the approval of the University guidance detailed in the International
Reporting period and Executive Group (UEG) and the Board of Standards Organisation (ISO) as a
scope Governors. framework for how we manage our
environmental impacts, our social
This report provides a review of our responsibility and our consumption
sustainability performance over two Global Reporting Initiative of utilities. The ISO standards offer an
years, from August 2018 to July 2020, independent, non-governmental status
following on from our previous full-scale This report has been prepared that is internationally accepted.
report published in 2018. The University in accordance with the Global
publishes this Sustainability Report Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards:
biennially, as well as a more condensed Comprehensive option. External
report for internal audiences in the assurance has not been provided.
3 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
INTRODUCTION
Statement from the Vice-Chancellor
Professor Judith Petts CBE
I am pleased to introduce the government to consider solutions as The Hub also contains our Centre
University’s Sustainability Report, we aspire to a more circular economy. for Sustainable Futures (CSF), which
which provides a broad review of our Our engineers are leading fundamental continues to lead the way with
work since 2018 and adopts the Global work to understand future energy innovative approaches to embedding
Reporting Initiative (GRI) Framework to supply options through initiatives sustainability in our teaching and
provide a robust method of measuring including the £9m Supergen ORE learning. The CSF is respected among
performance across environmental, project, which unites academics and its peers, and in 2020 was invited onto
social and economic sustainability. industry to provide solutions that meet a national steering group for revising
the UK’s offshore renewable energy the guidance to all higher education
Sustainability is at the heart of the requirements. We are also working institutions in the UK on education for
University’s refreshed strategy and to make our research commercially sustainable development.
has informed much of our research, available through knowledge transfer
teaching and operations for several initiatives and spinout companies Since the publication of our last report,
decades. This is why we remain one including PulsiV Solar, whose the University has declared a climate
of the most innovative and respected technology has been demonstrated emergency, joining an international
universities in the field, with a proud to increase the power output of solar movement aimed at taking action on
heritage of national awards and panels by up to 30%. the issue. As part of this commitment,
international accreditations. the institution has adopted a net
Through the Sustainable Earth Institute, zero emissions target (scope 1 and
This was demonstrated during 2019-20, we are collaborating with organisations 2) by 2025, five years earlier than
when the University was awarded the in Africa and Latin America to address originally planned. As you’ll see from
Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher soil erosion using participatory, this document, we are making good
and Further Education, in respect of community-led initiatives. At the same progress in areas such as emissions
nearly two decades of pioneering time, we are also partnering with reduction, energy use, water use and
research on microplastics pollution the Eden Project on a project that is waste generation, and this year we have
in the oceans and its impact on the developing new, manufactured soils. also launched our new Carbon Strategy
environment and changing behaviour. Across health and medicine, our and updated our Carbon Management
The issue of plastic use – and over-use – researchers are engaged in projects Plan.
in society is a global one, and has been including tackling lung disease in Africa
informed by our scientific research and Asia, developing the first new We have set ourselves challenging
across a range of issues, including how antibiotic in 30 years, and finding cures targets; this Sustainability Report is how
larger items fragment in the marine for zoonotic diseases, including the we hold ourselves publicly accountable
environment; how tyres, washing coronavirus. A healthy community, is a to those, and provide an update on
machines and cosmetics release fibres more sustainable one. progress to our staff, students and other
and particles into the environment; and Our Sustainability Hub opened in 2019, stakeholders.
how living organisms can ingest and and is now at the centre of the Low
absorb micro- and nano-sized plastic Carbon Devon project. Running until I hope, therefore, that you find
particles. In 2020, our scientists even 2023, the initiative aims to harness the this report both informative and
identified microplastics at the summit of University’s expertise and experience inspirational.
Mount Everest – further contributing to in sustainability to benefit the county’s
our understanding of their distribution employers, providing a range of
and transmission. coordinated activities to make it easier
to bring the academic and business
Our research and innovation crosses communities together. Professor Judith Petts CBE,
into the realm of policy and best Vice-Chancellor
practice, and we work with industry and
4 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
Advancing knowledge, transforming lives
Key impacts, risks and opportunities
2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 contribution to society, the future positive benefits to our environmental
influence of our students on our impacts. Controlled shutdown of
Income 248.69 241.5 228.0
society, and the impact from our buildings delivered significant savings
Staff 1
2,593 2,523 2,287 built estate activities. With around in energy use, and has jump started
Students2 20,765 19,645 18,140 18,000 students1, the University has a a baseline energy review to drive
strong positive impact upon society further savings going forward.
and the economy. The main areas
In December 2019 the University of work for the University, including Aside from the pandemic, we have
published its refreshed strategy, our innovative education portfolio, continued to gain recognition
University of Plymouth 2030: A programme excellence, and strong for research with wide- reaching
Future of Excellence. This provides research programme, do have community benefits. In November
the basis for the institution’s negative impacts on the environment 2019, we were awarded the Queen’s
development, building upon our in terms of resource use. However, Anniversary Prize for Higher and
mission of advancing knowledge this is outweighed by the significant Further Education in respect of
and transforming lives. It is founded benefits to society. nearly two decades of pioneering
on extensive, positive and rich research on microplastics pollution
discussions with staff at all levels, as This year has seen the development in the oceans and its impact on the
well as with our students. The strategy of a global pandemic, which has had environment and changing behaviour.
sets out two goals to be delivered impact across every corner of the This is the third Queen’s Anniversary
by the end of the decade: to be a University, but also demonstrated Prize in the University’s history and
top-30 university in the UK, and in the our value to wider society. Medical the second in respect of our marine
top 250 in the world. This will build scientists immediately focused on and maritime excellence. In the same
on the University’s pre-eminence in research into vaccines for animal year researchers in environmental
marine and maritime research and coronavirus and used resources to science were shortlisted for a
education, and our holistic approach manufacture face shields for frontline Guardian University Award in respect
to environmental sustainability, across NHS staff. Teaching staff are rising of their community-led, collaborative
research, education and practice. to the challenge to deliver blended approach to tackling soil erosion in
and experiential learning with online Africa.
Our key areas of impact lie within programmes, which remains in
our research capabilities, our wider development for the future and offers
18,140
62%
3.7m3 56%
2019–20
2019–20
(All registered students,
Full Person Equivalent)
48%
Reduction in water
consumption since
2005–06
5% 48%
32.96
of staff cycle to work
2,287
of students walk to
the University
32% KgCO2e 28% of students take
of staff take
public transport
to the University
staff per m
floor area
2
public transport to the
University
1
Total staff FTE as reported to HESA.
2
All registered students, Full Person Equivalent.
5 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
In 2019–20, the University’s research year. This includes our Law Clinic, operationally delivering the needed
income was £11.9m with new awards which sees student-run legal services reductions in our own emissions.
totalling £15,8m received. We are offered for free to individuals and As one of the greenest universities
renowned for the transformational organisations in Plymouth. In 2019–20 in the country, we are building on
impact of our research across this group won a major national an exceptional base, particularly
marine, sustainability and health award for the third year running, the in the way we have reduced CO2e
in particular. There have been a LawWorks Attorney General Student emissions by 62% since 1990. We
number of high-impact research Pro Bono Awards. In Optometry, 3,447 have recently published our new
projects on microplastics in the people walked through the doors of Carbon Strategy and revised Carbon
oceans, including the finding that the Centre for Eyecare Excellence, Management Plan3, outlining our
some biodegradable carrier bags with 2,316 patients treated by student pathway to continuing to reduce
are usable even after being left in optometrists. The Peninsula Dental emissions.
the environment for several months, Social Enterprise CIC treated 5,498
wearing certain clothes could result patients, with 70,146 treatments We will draw upon our renowned
in the shredding of a greater number provided. During the pandemic, staff expertise across sustainability
of microfibres than washing them, from the Peninsula Dental School research and teaching, where we
and that LEGO bricks could well were seconded to help provide make a powerful contribution to the
persist for 1,300 years in the marine emergency care to COVID-19 positive goals of sustainable development.
environment. In other areas, soil or symptomatic patients. As a Civic University, we also have
scientists revealed that a combination an important role to play through
of waste material supplemented with At the heart of the University’s influencing and inspiring our
a product of biomass could make a refreshed strategy is a continued partners and stakeholders to work
major contribution to combatting soil commitment to social mobility. In collaboratively to deliver better. We
degradation. The Vaccine Group used 2019–20, 94% of the University’s are working closely with our city
its expertise in developing vaccines entrants were from state schools, and regional partners to develop
for zoonotic diseases by commencing with the percentage of new collaborative action plans for taking
research into developing one to entrants from low-participation forward net zero.
combat animal coronavirus, and neighbourhoods being 15.2%. Our
a joint study with the University education partnerships across the The challenges presented by
Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust was South West facilitate access to higher COVID-19, political uncertainties
launched to analyse the differing education opportunities for those around higher education future
immune responses of COVID-19 who do not have the educational support, the impact of Brexit, and the
patients and work to develop a simple qualifications, or who are unable to need to service pension liabilities
test to predict who is likely to develop leave their locality due to work and mean that attention to institutional
serious illness. care considerations. More than 7,400 financial sustainability is vital. The
new students enrolled at partner University’s robust and long-term
While our student body has a colleges this year, and building on approach to planning and sustainable
significant impact on resources, the initial success of the University’s investment has ensured delivery of an
not least travel associated with Degree Apprenticeships, two new operational surplus after tax of £3.7m
international students, but our apprenticeships were launched, with in 2019–20. Long-term institutional
students actually represent an even a further six planned for 2020–21. sustainability, by building financial
bigger opportunity to progress resilience, is a key strategic objective
towards a low-carbon economy, if Our built estate and the impact this for the University. More information
we equip them with the required has on the natural environment is on this is available in our most recent
skills and training. By embedding under constant pressure. In autumn Financial Statements.
sustainability in the curriculum, we 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel
train graduates who are engaged with on Climate Change warned that the Please see our Annual Report and
many of the environmental issues world had 12 years to make an impact Financial Statements for more
facing the world today, and their on cutting greenhouse gas emissions information on civic leadership –
societal and socio-economic impacts before the effects of climate change delivering wide-reaching benefits to
and implications. become irreversible. Following that, society and communities, both local
the University declared a climate and global.
Wider than this is the student emergency in 2019, committing to plymouth.ac.uk/students-and-family/
contribution to the Civic University, a net zero emissions target (scope financial-statements
and the Students’ Union community 1 and 2) by 2025. We have a vital
agenda, with hundreds of students role to play in raising awareness
volunteering in the community each around climate change, and also
3
plymouth.ac.uk/students-and-family/sustainability/policies
6 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
Governance
The Board of Governors is the The Vice-Chancellor has ultimate Operational sustainability is managed
governing body of the University responsibility for overseeing the by Estates and Facilities in co-
responsible for, amongst other sustainability agenda. The Executive ordination with other professional
things, strategic oversight and the Dean for Science and Engineering services departments. Sustainability
approval and monitoring of the is the senior representative for research is co-ordinated thorough
University’s Strategic Plan. The Senate sustainability at University Executive the Sustainable Earth Institute (SEI),
is responsible for the academic quality level, and chairs the Sustainability and sustainability teaching and
of the University and provides the Advisory Group (SAG), one of the learning is co-ordinated through
strategic oversight of the University’s University Executive Committees. the Centre for Sustainable Futures
activities in relation to teaching, This group is responsible for advising (CSF). The SAG meets quarterly; its
learning, assessment and research. and updating the UEG and Board members include representatives
The Vice-Chancellor, supported by of Governors on the University’s from Estates and Facilities, SEI, CSF,
the University Executive Group (UEG), sustainability performance, and External Relations, Human Resources,
has responsibility for the management for overseeing and co-ordinating IT and the Students’ Union, as well
of the University and implementation the management and delivery as other stakeholder members from
of the University’s strategies and of the University’s Sustainability departments across the University,
objectives, including sustainability. Strategy, as well as advising our such as Finance and Procurement.
senior management and executive
Full details of the University’s team on sustainability challenges
governance structure, including and how these may impact on
the composition of the Board of University strategy. Performance is
Governors, Raising Concerns Policy, evaluated against the institution’s
the Schedule of Delegation, Register key performance indicators (KPIs)
of interests (mechanism for dealing for sustainability, through annual
with conflicts of interest), executive reporting and via regular reviews of
level positions and structure of action plans within the group.
meetings, are available on our
governance pages4.
UNIVERSITY
EXECUTIVE
GROUP
SUSTAINABILITY
ADVISORY
GROUP
CENTRE FOR
SUSTAINABILE SUSTAINABLE ESTATES AND
EARTH FUTURES FACILITIES
INSTITUTE
TEACHING AND OPERATIONAL
RESEARCH FOR LEARNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY
4
plymouth.ac.uk/students-and-family/governance
7 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
Risk management The University Risk Register is reviewed through regular input from the chair of documents our main environmental every semester by the UEG, the Audit the SAG, with the option to escalate impacts as a result of our activities, Committee and the Board, and each risks as necessary. and a correlating plan for reducing and University risk is owned by a member mitigating these risks as far as possible. of UEG. Risk management is the In 2019–20 the Strategic Risks covered 19 And in 2020 we created a separate subject of regular independent audit, areas of risk. The University’s main focus climate change risk assessment, which the outcome of which is reported to is managing the risks around financial is going through the review process. the Audit Committee. The most recent sustainability, student recruitment and internal audit of risk management took employability. Another sustainability The University also has a Raising place in July 2020 and provided a high risk relates to the University’s Concerns Policy, outlining procedures level of assurance over the University’s performance in terms of graduate for staff and students to raise concerns risk management processes. The Board outcomes which focuses on personal relating to illegal or unethical behaviour, of Governors reviews the full University development, work-based experience if the normal routes for raising issues are Risk Register annually. However, the and employment in order to improve not appropriate at the point in time. Audit Committee can escalate any student success. issues to the Board when appropriate. Sustainability risk is reflected on the We have a more detailed sustainability University Risk Register and updated and environmental risk register which 8 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
Our sustainability approach
Sustainability is embedded within their civic and professional lives, and are outside of the scope of the GRI
our refreshed strategy University of ensuring that we operate a sustainable framework, such as teaching and
Plymouth 2030: A Future of Excellence, estate. research – however, they are included in
and at an operational level the this report.
University adopts a cross-institutional The Sustainability Advisory Group
approach to support the management (SAG) regularly reviews sustainability Our most significant aspects have
and delivery of financial, social and performance along with reviewing objectives for improvement, progress
environmental sustainability activity objectives as part of an annual review of against which is included in the
across our operations, research, and the group’s action plan. The table below following section. The aspects relate
teaching and learning activities. This describes our key sustainability aspects to our owned activities, excluding
is where we can have the greatest (and their boundaries) against which we activity relating to academic partner
impacts: delivering world-leading report fully. Sustainability is a core value colleges, partnership sites, University
research supporting solutions for global of the University; as such, we monitor Partnerships Programme (UPP)
problems; innovative teaching and and measure performance against Residential Services-owned halls of
learning equipping graduates with the a broad spectrum of sustainability residence, and the Students’ Union
attributes and competencies necessary aspects. Some of the material aspects (UPSU), unless stated otherwise.
for applying sustainability principles in relevant to the University’s activities
Aspect Details and boundary Scope
Reducing our carbon emissions as far as possible. Controlling wider emissions to atmosphere, including Internal and external
Emissions to atmosphere refrigerant gases. (It is important to create a campus that is a living example of sustainability, reducing our (scope 1, 2 and 3
impact in practice as well as translating this through our teaching and learning environment.) emissions)
Supporting our carbon targets by focusing on energy efficiency and new technologies. UPSU energy use
Energy use Internal
is included within our data.
Reducing consumption through technology innovation and behavioural change. Close controls over
Water use, effluent and
storage and disposal of chemicals and discharges to foul and sewer drains. UPSU water use is included Internal
drainage
within our data.
Reducing waste generated (hazardous, non-hazardous, including waste electrical and electronic
equipment), and increasing the proportion of recycling and re-use in waste management methods. Waste
Waste generated Internal
generated through our main waste contract (details in Waste section). UPSU waste figures are included
within our data as the waste is managed under the main University contract.
Monitoring and reducing the amount of business travel where possible and supporting a move to Internal and external
Travel and transport sustainable modes of transport and commuting. Data relating to business travel booked through our travel (staff and student
partner, and commuting data for staff and students. commuting)
Delivering high-quality, sustainably and ethically sourced food within our café outlets and hospitality
Food and catering Internal
provision. Data relates to University Commercial Services Plymouth delivered catering.
Helping people to transform their lives through education, opening up our facilities and skills to the wider
Community community, engaging in partnerships which improve the lives of others, and improving learning for our Internal and external
students.
Differentiating our academic offer by ensuring issues and principles of sustainability permeate and inform
Teaching and learning our programmes and modules, learning from existing best practice so that students engage positively Internal
with sustainability issues.
Using our impactful and world-leading research to develop solutions to global problems, including
Research Internal
environmental and social sustainability challenges.
Embedding sustainable procurement by ensuring that the University is purchasing from socially, ethically Internal and external
Procurement
and environmentally responsible businesses. (supply chain)
Strengthening our finances by sustaining an annual surplus, enabling investment in our people and
Financial sustainability estate, and maximising income from tuition fees, including through alternative delivery and postgraduate Internal
programmes.
Embedding sustainability in our innovative and research-rich curriculum, to ensure our students are
Student experience Internal
equipped with the sustainability skills required to deliver change needed in industry and business.
9 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
Our environmental aspects are site audits; interviews; checking become our most significant aspect,
managed through the Estates and product and service requirements; reflecting the heighted environmental
Facilities Safety Committee, with interest of stakeholders; compliance impact and the likelihood of that
issues reported up through the requirements; technical data sheets, impact. Other increases include gas,
safety management structure of the and monitoring data, for example. We procurement and refrigerant gases
University. All environmental aspects take into account aspects that we can (reflecting their global warming
identified are associated with past, control and influence, and also where impact potential). The significance of
present and future activities, and we can influence those outside our electricity has reduced slightly due
are given an impact rating (ranging control. to the continual decarbonisation of
between 1 for insignificant and 5 the grid. Travel and transport have
for critical), and a likelihood rating Since our previous Sustainability been separated to reflect the lower
(between 1 for rare and 5 for almost Report there have been some impact of travel on the city region
certain), to assess the significance changes in the environmental and the higher impact that wider
of the aspect on the environment significance of some aspects. Since business travel and commuting have
(between 1 and 25). The ratings are declaring a climate emergency, on emissions.
identified through tools such as: carbon emissions have risen to
Significance of environmental aspect
Carbon emissions
Environment impact
Gas
Electricity
Water use
Oil Hazardous waste
Emissions to atmosphere
Busines travel and commuting
Refridgerant gases
Fleet vehicles
Clinical waste Procurement
Construction
Hazardous substances
Radioactivity
Suppliers and contractors
Genetically modified micro-organisms
Non-hazardous Legionellosis
Effuent and drainage
Noise Reservoir
Traffic Cleaning
Paper use Community
Diving and sailing
Town and country planning
Likelihood of environmental impact
10 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development
018 we committed to a new global goals and the value this brings to prosperity, peace and justice. There
ative, the SDG Accord, which governments, business and wider are 17 goals and the UN aims to
he higher education sector’sDevelopment society.
The UN Sustainable To monitor progress of our activity achieve all by 2030. For the University
Goals (SDGs) aim to achieve a against the UN SDGs, we report
ective response to the United in the coming year, we aim to map
better and more sustainable future into the Environmental Association
ion’s Sustainable Development
for all, addressing the global The SDGs aim to achieve
for Universities a better
and Colleges’ SDG our activities to the goals to identify
als (SDGs). The aim ofthat
challenges theface
initiative
societies, and more sustainable
Accord, future
and in 2020 we for all,
submitted into which we are supporting through our
including poverty,
o embed the goals across post- inequality, climate the
addressing the global challenges
Times Higher Education Impact activities and implement a delivery
change, environmental degradation, Ranking, which assesses universities
education, recognising and that face societies, including programme.
prosperity, peace and justice. There globally against the SDGs.
ancing the critical roleand
are 17 goals that
the UN aims to poverty, inequality, climate change,
ucation has inachieve
delivering theby 2030.
all of them environmental degradation,
Key impacts and opportunities
r key opportunities and area With just under 3,000 staff and 21,000 institution contributes c.£900m of
mpact lie within our research students in the city, the University has output to the economy, £474.5m to
abilities, our students and the a strong positive impact upon society UK GDP and the support of 8,769 FTE
er University’s contribution to and the economy. The University’s jobs, as well as our contribution to the
iety, and the impact from our built Cultural, Social and Economic civic and cultural landscape.
ate activities. Impact Report 2018 revealed that the
2015 –16 2016 –17 2017–18
come (£m) 239.2 252.8 248.7
aff 2,625 2,640 5
udents 21,237 21,177 20,4926
11 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
ome/EU students – new enrolments 5,680 6,226 7,064Targets and progress summary
Minimise environmental footprint
Target Unit Baseline 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
80% reduction in CO2e (from scope 1 and 2) by 2050 from 1990 levels with interim target as UK government budget years
tCO2e 15,741 8,589* 7,833* 6,960 5,918
% -45 -50 -56 -62
New target from 2019: net zero carbon by 2025 (scope 1 and 2 emissions)
tCO2e 8,589* 7,833* 6,960 5,936
New target from 2020: net zero carbon for scope 3 by 2030–50
17,527 17,855 18,686 13,305
Reduce annual water consumption to below 3.0m /student by 2020 from 7.3m in 2005–06
3 3
m3/student 7.3 4.44* 4.08* 4.01 3.71
Recycle 70% of waste by 2020, an increase from 47% in 2011–12
% 47 42 42 52 56
Reduce waste generated to 20kg or less per student, a reduction from 23kg per student in 2011–12
kg/student 23 30 30 31 18
To reduce gCO2e per mile of business travel to below 0.28gCO2e per mile by 2020 from a 2014–15 baseline
gCO2e per mile 0.28 0.18 0.19 0.17 0.12
Monitor student and staff commuting emissions (kgCO2e/staff and kgCO2e/student) from a 2012–13 baseline
kgCO2e/person 312 257 260 294 113
Deliver a sustainable food culture that supports local, sustainable and Fairtrade produce and suppliers – monitored through achievement
of Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) standard, with the baseline being the 2014 year
% 72 71 76 79 5
Our targets and objectives are included in our Environmental Management System, which is externally audited annually.
Data for the most recent year has been skewed by COVID-19. We have seen significant reductions in gas and electricity use
following the prolonged lockdown, and subsequent increase in online learning. However, on re-opening of the campus, we
have seen significant increases in gas use due to substantial increases in the provision of mechanical ventilation in line with
COVID-19 guidance. Waste generation is also significantly down, due to the lower numbers of staff and students on campus
since March. We continue to work on projects to reduce resource use, and progress reporting in 2020–21 will likely return back
to normal data patterns.
5
2 020 data not published yet.
* Figures updated following standard corrections in meter data and invoicing.
12 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 202013 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
OPERATIONS
Leading by example, we will provide a sustainable campus
Carbon Waste
Net Zero carbon (scope 1 and 2) by 2025, scope 3 To recycle 70% of waste and reduce waste to 20kg
by 2030–2050. To date: or less per student. To date:
• 62% reduction in CO2e from 1990 levels • 56% of waste recycled in 2019–20
• 13% reduction in electricity since 2004–05 • 18kg of waste generated per student in 2019–20
• 42% decrease in gas since 2004–05
Water Transport
To reduce water consumption to below 3.3m3 per To reduce gCO2e per mile of business travel to
student. To date: below 0.28gCO2e per mile by 2020, and monitor
student and staff commuting. To date:
• 48% reduction in water since 2005–06
• 3.7m3 of water consumed per student in 2019–20 • Business travel emissions were 0.12 gCO2e in 2019–20
• Staff and student commuting was estimated at (due
to COVID-19) 113kgCO2e/ person in 2019–20, and
294kgCO2e/ person in 2018–19
Biodiversity Food
To maintain the level of green space on campus To create a sustainable food culture on campus.
compared with 2011 levels and increase the To date:
number of animal and plant species and marine
ecology levels compared with 2011 levels. To date: • Three-star Sustainable Restaurant Association
standard
• Drake’s Place Reservoir and Gardens restored and • 48% of produce is from Devon and Cornwall,
re-opened and 60% from the South West, including Bristol
• Beehives sited on campus • Additional water fountains located on campus
14 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020Carbon
Reducing our carbon emissions as far as possible to reduce our impact on the
natural environment
Our carbon emissions are one of our most significant
environmental impacts and we have ambitious targets Aim
to reduce these emissions and limit our impact on the
environment. We declared a climate emergency in 2019 We aim to reduce our own emissions as far as possible by
and have updated our goals for our emissions, focusing working to deliver:
on achieving net zero by 2025 for scope 1 and 2 emissions,
and 2030–50 for our indirect scope 3 emissions. This will • net zero emissions for scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025
take technological intervention as well as wide-reaching • net zero emissions for indirect scope 3 emissions by
behaviour change across our communities. It is important 2030–50.
to create a campus that is a living example of sustainability,
reducing our impact in practice as well as translating this Moreover, we aim to compensate against the remaining
through our teaching and learning environment. emissions by:
In 2018, the University approved a ten-year masterplan • developing a ‘net positive’ framework accounting for
for campus improvement, which will see the construction the positive environmental impact of research outputs
of new buildings as well as major refurbishment of the to balance the negative output of the University’s
existing estate. In 2020 this masterplan is going through a carbon footprint
‘light refresh’, and will incorporate the University’s updated • raising awareness and building a carbon community
carbon targets. Through this campus development, there with our staff and student population
are inevitably negative pressures acting on our carbon • being actively involved in projects that seek to
emissions, notably the increasing quality and nature of encourage and enable large-scale carbon reduction
specialist research and teaching facilities which tend to and promote low-carbon transitions in the city and
bring increased energy use. We have seen this first-hand nationally.
in the opening of our highly technical Derriford Research
Facility (DRF), home to our medical research facilities. Performance
Over time the size of the campus has grown, increasing
energy use. However, the benefits to society of these Our net zero targets were ratified in 2019 following
advancements must be realised and alternative methods declaration of a climate emergency, accelerating our
to reduce our emissions are constantly being developed. commitment to reducing emissions and replacing our
During the COVID-19 pandemic we have also seen radical previous targets of 43% reduction in CO2e by 2020 and an
change through distance learning, which has the potential 80% reduction by 2050.
to reduce energy use going forward. The pandemic has
also seen a positive step forward in increased use of • We have reduced CO2e emissions from scope 1 and 2
remote technology to avoid business travel. by 62% since the base year 1990 to 2019–20. Base year
emissions in 1990 were 15,741tCO2e.
• We exceeded our previous interim target of reducing
emissions by 43% by 2020 – however, the figures for
2019–20 are skewed by COVID-19. Note though, that in
2018–19 we had reduced emissions by 56% from 1990
levels, also slightly exceeding the 2020 interim target.
15 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020For this report we have added data on the carbon intensity per floor area to provide the additional benchmarking in this area.
tCO2e6 2016–17 2017–18 2018-19 2019-20
GHG emissions (scope 1) (tCO2e) 2,409 2,600* 2,626 2,444
GHG emissions (scope 2) (tCO2e) 6,180 5,233 4,334 3,474
GHG emissions (scope 3) (tCO2e) 17,542 17,516 18,690 13,305
GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) (tCO2e) 8,589 7,833 6,960 5,918
GHG emissions change (gas, oil and electricity) (tCO2e) -318 -778 -849 -1,073
GHG emissions change (gas, oil and electricity) (%) -4% -9% -11% -16%
GHG emissions intensity (scope 1 and 2 per student) (tCO2e) 0.49 0.45 0.42 0.37
GHG emissions intensity (scope 1 and 2 per floor area) 49.63* 44.42* 37.62 31.96
Emissions of ozone-depleting substances (tCO2e) 45 67 49 97
Staff and students commuting (tCO2e) 5,227 5,197 6,495
2,0937
Commuting intensity (tCO2e per person) 0.26 0.26 0.29 0.11
Business travel (tCO2e) 1,551 1,817 1,897 935
Waste (tCO2e) 158 87 72 41
Water (tCO2e) 83 71 69 63
Carbon emissions intensity (per floor area)
250
200
KgCO2e/m2
150
100
50
–
91
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
–0
–0
–0
–0
–0
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–2
9
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
–1
90
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
19
Year
6
CO2e: carbon dioxide equivalent.
7
Staff and student commuting data is estimated due to COVID-19 restricting travel.
* Figures updated following standard corrections in energy use through corrections in meter data and invoicing, floor area validation exercises.
16 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions
18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
tCO2e
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
–
20 91
20 05
20 06
20 07
20 08
20 09
20 10
20 11
20 12
20 13
20 14
20 15
20 16
20 17
20 18
20 19
0
–2
9
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
–1
90
19
Year
When the University first produced its have provided procurement-related We also report scope 3 GHG emissions
carbon plan, it could only determine emissions. We also categorise in their original units throughout the
emissions from utilities. Since 2010, procurement, waste, business travel following pages of the report. The
we have identified emissions from and employee commuting as energy carbon conversion factors used
other sources, and are able to monitor consumption that is outside of the throughout this report are taken from
the scope 3 emissions associated organisation, according to the GRI the Department for Business, Energy
with water, waste, business travel format. This has shown that utility-based and Industrial Strategy, which is
and commuting, and the Southern emissions typically account for only 35% updated annually.
Universities Purchasing Consortia of our total emissions.
Emission sources Net zero Net zero carbon, Wider University
carbon 2025 including scope 3 targets
(2030–50)
Scope 1 CHP Included Included Included
Solid fuels Included Included Included
Liquid fuels Included Included Included
Gaseous fuels Included Included Included
Vehicle fleet Included Included Included
Refrigerant gases Included Included Included
Grid electricity Included Included Included
Scope 2
Heat purchased Included Included Included
Water Not included Included Included
Waste Not included Included Included
Business hire vehicles Not included Included Included
Rail travel Not included Included Included
Scope 3 Air travel Not included Included Included
Employee commuting Not included Included Included
Student commuting Not included Included Included
Inter-site bus Not included Included Monitored
Procurement related (general) Not included Included Included
Out of scope Procurement related (building) Not included Not included Not included
17 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020Devon Climate Emergency A collaborative approach is needed both with local and national communities to deliver the climate emergency pledges, and the University is actively involved in developing solutions with city partners. The Devon Climate Emergency Project is a collaborative project between a range of organisations from across Devon who have declared a climate and ecological emergency and endorse the principles of the Devon Climate Declaration. This is supported by the Response Group and the Tactical Group, of which the University is a member. The Net-Zero Task Force is a separate group working on developing a Devon Carbon Plan, taking an evidence-based approach to considering the earliest and credible date for net-zero emissions target. A second group, the Climate Impacts Group, is working to create a wider Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Adaption Plan, to consider how the region and its citizens adapt to living in a warmer world, including necessary adaptions to infrastructure, services and behaviours that will be needed. More locally in March 2019, Plymouth City Council declared a climate emergency, and there is the Plymouth Climate Emergency Action Plan with a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. The ambition is to respond at a city- wide level with organisations and individuals finding solutions to ensure substantial change, which will be embedded through the action plan, which is to be reviewed every year through to 2030, with 11 plans in total. We are actively engaging with the development of this plan through the Plymouth Net Zero Partnership. The role of the partnership is to bring together city- wide leadership to drive the necessary action, informed by science and research, needed to achieve the goal. Within the partnership there are two delivery groups, the Plymouth Net Zero Executive Group, providing strategic direction for action, and the Plymouth Net Zero Action Group, to facilitate cross-organisational actions on climate change and share good practice, research and initiatives. The University chairs the Action Group and is a key strategic member of the Executive Group. 18 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020
Energy
Reducing energy consumption through efficiency projects and close targeting and
monitoring natural environment
To support our carbon targets, we focus on reducing our being installed to provide heating and hot water to the
energy consumption through: building, with a much lower carbon footprint than traditional
gas. The ambition is to install an ambient loop on campus for
• improving the energy efficiency of University buildings each refurbished building to connect into, providing a fifth-
and facilities generation heating and cooling network.
• diversifying energy supply sources to move away from
reliance on fossil fuels
• reducing the use of energy through technologies such Aim
as solar shading and smart Building Management
Systems In order to deliver our net zero targets, one of the main
• using the residual energy within a building before actions is to convert our fuel use away from fossil fuels to
burning fuel. renewable technologies. However, we will also need to
maintain our focus on reducing use, and so we have new
Gas reduction over the past couple of years has levelled reduction targets for gas and electricity to support our
off, with the completion of available projects within the overarching net zero carbon targets.
framework of our current estate. Usage levels have been
mainly impacted by weather. We are embarking on our • Continue to reduce mains grid electricity use by 20%
next phase for gas management, through developing our and mains gas by 25% as a minimum by 2030 from
plan to phase out the use of gas and transition our existing 2005–06 levels, with the intention to support further
heat networks to electrically led heating. This is a long- reductions through wider energy generation projects.
term project, and for some of our buildings this will see a
transition phase, moving through electric support to gas Performance
boilers to reduce gas demand, until the buildings are able to
undergo refurbishment to the heat network. • We have reduced electricity consumption by 13% from
the base year 2005–06 to 2019–20.
However, this project has started with our new Engineering • We have reduced gas use by 42% from the base year
and Design Facility low-carbon design seeing heat pumps 2005–06 to 2019–20.
2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
Total energy consumption (gigajoules, GJ) 104,812* 109,251* 108,402 97,190
Total renewable fuel consumption (GJ)8 466 582 1,469 831
Electricity consumption (GJ) 59,093* 60,233* 58,370 51,295
Gas consumption (GJ) 45,719* 49,018* 50,032 45,895
Energy intensity (GJ per student) 5.98* 6.29* 6.61 6.01
Change in energy consumption (gas and electricity) (GJ) +5,953* +4,438* -849 -11,211
Change in energy consumption (gas and electricity) (%) +6%* +4%* -1% -12%
Utility monitoring on campus, which connect and control models, and creates an alert when
the majority of the buildings’ services. an item of plant or equipment is not
We have nearly 500 utility meters on functioning as expected (and using
campus. The majority of monitoring We also have a system of profile more energy than it should). This
is carried out on a half-hourly alerting where changes in energy enables cost avoidance, identifying
basis, providing a high degree of and water use beyond the expected and fixing issues promptly, and thus
transparency regarding energy and will issue an alert. The system checks avoids increases in energy use.
water consumption. We have three consumption against the historic
Building Management Systems (BMS) profiles, and energy use against BMS
8
Includes self-generation of electricity from our combined heat and power (CHP) boiler.
* Figures updated following standard corrections in energy use through corrections in meter data and invoicing.
19 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020N
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Mapping Unit (geomapping@plymouth.ac.uk). Last revision March 2021.
Solar thermal hot water Lighting sensors
Thermal decks Rainwater harvesting
Passive ventilation Low-loss transformer
Night-time cooling Large gardens and growing space
Solar shading Photo voltaics
CHP location Green roof/wall
Voltage optimisation
High-efficiency LED lighting Invertor controls across all campus
20 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020Tavistock
orth 86
mpus A3
Combined heat and Plymouth
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OUTH power University
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from gas-led CHP towards a lower
temperature, electrically led heat and areas for further PV cells on campus there are a few remaining pockets of
cooling network. This will ultimately and expect to install new PV cells in lighting to be converted to LEDs.
be lower carbon due to the growing 2021.
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s 2021 Ordnance Survey (100025252). Compiled and drawn by the GeoMapping Unit (geomapping@plymouth.ac.uk). Last revision March 2021.
inside the building, which reduces
large atrium in the Portland Square the demand for cooling and helps
The Peninsula Dental School and Building enables hot air to rise and maintain comfortable conditions.
the Pool Innovation Centre both draws fresh air into the building
have a green roof, covered in without mechanical intervention.
growing vegetation, and a number Night-time cooling occurs by using
of photovoltaic (PV) cells. As well as the natural ventilation to cool the
being visually pleasing, green roofs thermal mass of the concrete at night,
insulate the buildings, create a habitat which then cools the building in the
for wildlife and help to lower urban air daytime.
temperatures. The Peninsula Dental
School also has photovoltaic cells, LED lighting
which convert the sun’s energy into
electricity, as do the Marine Station, Over the past year we have
Wellbeing Centre, Derriford Research converted the Smeaton, Fitzroy
Facility and Kirkby Lodge. Kirkby and Scott Buildings to LED lighting,
Lodge also has the first external and with anticipated annual savings of
internal green wall on one of our almost 225MWh and 116 tCO2e,
buildings. We also have solar thermal with the Rolle and Portland Square
technology on the Nancy Astor, Buildings’ conversions expected to
Portland Square, Smeaton and Marine be completed in 2021, we anticipate
Buildings. We are in the feasibility an annual saving of 560MWh and
stage of reviewing additional roof 290 tCO2e. Following these works
21 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020Water
Reducing our consumption through technology innovation and behaviour change
In line with the Carbon and Energy Plan, we will reduce Aim
water consumption by better use of the existing plant and
investment in new and innovative technologies, with new To help achieve the carbon reduction targets, the
buildings being as water efficient as economically practical. University aims to:
We are working to maintain the water efficiency of the • reduce water consumption from 7.3m3 per student in
equipment within our buildings to the highest standard and 2005–06 to below 3.3m3
reduce the consumption of water and associated CO2e • maintain water-consuming equipment at its optimum
emissions. efficiency
• reduce consumption through tighter control and
Our water supplies and discharges are supplied and elimination of leakages.
managed through South West Water, with the main demand
on our water use being office operations, in addition to Performance
laboratory work, aquariums and wash-down facilities for
our diving and marine facilities. We monitor our water use • Since 2005–06, we have reduced water consumption
closely as part of our monitoring and verification software. by 48%.
Effluent discharges are monitored through South West • In 2019–20, our water use per student was 3.71m3.
Water, and currently we have no requirements for discharge • Water use per user (including staff) was 3.25m3 in
licences (for our main sites as covered by this report). Our 2019–20.
Brixham Laboratory does have abstraction and discharge
licences for sea water.
Volume of water (m3) 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
Water withdrawal from municipal water supplies 77,843 70,870* 65,826 60,038
Water withdrawal from rainwater tanks 588 740 563 644
Percentage of water recycled and re-used 0.76%* 1.04%* 0.86% 1.07%
Water use per student 4.44* 4.08* 4.01 3.71
We have made significant achievements student. However, if you include staff projects are needed to bring this usage
in reducing our baseload consumption, figures within this ratio, our water use down further. In addition, student
and delivered reductions of around 15% per user was 3.25m3. Our target of 3m3 numbers are reducing and so water
over the past two years. For our student per student is very challenging, and reduction is coming down in line with
use, we have reduced use to 3.71m3 per some longer term water intervention that.
Water use Rainwater harvesting
160,000
Rainwater harvesting technology is
140,000 used in our more recent buildings,
120,000 including the Roland Levinsky
100,000 Building, Nancy Astor Building, Marine
Building and The House. Rainwater
m3
80,000
is collected from the roof and stored
60,000
in large tanks. The water is then
40,000
used for the flushing of toilets, and
20,000 prevents the drinking water from the
– mains being used. There are many
advantages to harvesting rainwater,
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
–0
–0
–0
–0
–0
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–1
–2
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
mainly in providing an independent
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
and local water supply, which is
Year
not impacted by regional water
restrictions and which reduces the
*Figures updated following standard corrections in water use through corrections in meter data and invoicing. demand on local water infrastructure.
22 | UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH Sustainability Report 2020You can also read
