Sustainability updates - University of Staffordshire

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Sustainability updates

We provide updates on our plans and policies on a regular basis. Each update relates to a specific policy that we have in place to support our environmental goals as outlined in our Environmental Strategic Framework.

Environmental Sustainability Annual Review

Our plans and policies

Updates

SMART targets

How do we measure up against our sustainability targets?

Waste and Recycling

Target updates
Target	Measureable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 -25	Target 2023 - 24	Progress 2023-24	Progress 2022-23	Progress 2021 - 22
Annual reduction in the volume of scheduled (GW/ DMR) waste per staff/student FTE produced on site	Monthly reporting on volume of waste produced through the use of data obtained from refuse company	30 kg per Student and Staff FTE	30g per staff and student FTE	35kg per staff and student FTE	35kg per staff and student FTE	36.6kg per staff and student FTE	55.3 Kg per staff and student FTE
Annual increase of recycling rate on campus (collected on site)	Monthly reporting on volume of waste produced through the use of data obtained from refuse company	60%	60%	50%	32%	38%	33.3%
Maintain 100% diversion from landfill for scheduled waste each year	Monthly reporting on volume of waste produced through the use of data obtained from refuse company	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%

Water/Wastewater

Target updates
Target	Measureable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 - 25	Target 2023 - 24	Progress 2023-24	Progress 2022 - 23	Progress 2021-22
Annual reduction in volume of water/wastewater	Monthly reporting on volume of water supplied and associated wastewater from monthly invoices from water supplier, based on actual meter readings	38,000 cubic metres	39,000 cubic metres	41,599 cubic metres	41,599 cubic metres	Realistic annual baseline of 43,752 cubic metres established, with projected potential savings of 13,130 cubic metres estimated	Accurate, transparent billing system/portal set up with new water retailer.

Travel and Transport

Target updates
Target	Measureable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 -25	Target 2023 - 24	Progress 2023-24	Progress 2022-23	Progess 2021 - 22
Reduce the number of parking permits issued (as a % of staff/student numbers)	Annual data reporting	17%	18%	19%	19%	30%	Not recorded
Increase the EV within the University fleet	Vehicle log	85%	80%	67%	67%	67%	0%

Sustainable Procurement

Target updates
Target	Measureable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 - 25	Target 2023 - 24	Progress 2023-24	Progess 2022 - 23	Progress 2021-22
Increase the percentage of impactable spend in the Staffordshire Postcode area	Engage with local suppliers to increase this percentage over time – annual data from finance system	35%	30%	30%	30%	27%	15%
Increase the value of impactable spend (as %) with SMEs	Engage with SME suppliers to increase this percentage over time – annual data from finance system	55%	55%	55%	59%	56%	52%
Reducing the Scope 3 emissions associated with influenceable activity (including estates and facilities, information technology’ laboratories and professional services)	Working with suppliers to understand supply chains, changing methods of working to reduce actual Scope 3 emissions – annual data from finance system with conversion factors applied	14,000t CO2e	15,000t CO2e	16,000t CO2e	16,000t CO2e	17,006t CO2e	22,400t CO2e

Biodiversity

Target updates
Target	Measureable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 - 25	Target 2024 - 25	Progress 2023-24	Progress 2022 - 23	Progress 2021 - 22
Have increased delivery of Woodlands Forest School environmental education teaching activities	Create outreach programme with local schools – maintain records of training sessions	180% on baseline	150% on baseline	100% increase on baseline		Baseline of delivery of sessions to be established	NA School was not in operation in this year
Achieve annual Biodiversity Net Gains through corporate projects	Biodiversity net gain baseline and annual seasonal surveys relevant to each new corporate project (including offsetting sites and record of any credits purchased)	10% BNG to be achieved for each corporate project	10% BNG to be achieved for each corporate project	Establish annual seasonal surveys	Establish annual seasonal surveys	Baseline to be established for whole campus	NA
Maintaining and improving on Wild Staffs actions including: continuing wildflower borders, managing green walls and planting new trees across campus	Annual seasonal surveys of whole campus as part of BNG baseline	15% increase across campus on 2022/23 baseline	10% increase across campus on 2022/23 baseline	5% increase on 2022/23 baseline		Establish baseline as part of BNG baseline	Project started
Maintain an attractive campus for wildlife at Stoke	Achieving Hedgehog Friendly Campus status annual assessment	Maintain Silver award	Achieve Silver award	Maintain Bronze award	Maintain Bronze award	Maintained Bronze award	Bronze award achieved

Sustainable Construction

Target updates
Target	Measurable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 - 25	Target 2023 - 24	Progress 2022 - 23	Progress 2021 - 22
All new builds to comply with University’s standard on carbon neutrality	Creating, implementing and maintaining standards for all new build projects. Project by project basis	New builds to be net carbon neutral over the first 20 years of their economic life	New builds to be net carbon neutral over the first 20 years of their economic life	NA	NA	First new carbon neutral building completed (over 60 year life)

Carbon Emissions

Target updates
Target	Measurable	Target 2025 - 26	Target 2024 - 25	Target 2023 - 24	Progress 2023-24	Progress 2022 - 23	Progress 2021 - 22
Reduction of Scope 1 and 2 emissions to net zero by 2030. This is a strategic priority for the University within the Strategic Plan 2022-27 published in 2022.	Setting of targets based on proposed/planned interventions for reduction of operational energy demand of university estate, and projected emissions factors of grid electricity. Source data from external energy purchasing consortium used for procurement of energy	3206 tCO2e	3559 tCO2e	3626 tCO2e	3685 tCO2e	4031 tCO2e	4226 tCO2e Measurement and verification of emissions to create baseline of 4226 tCO2e for 21-22