Making a positive difference to the world we live in has put 51Âþ», Leicester (51Âþ») among the top 16 universities in the world for recycling and sustainability.
Announced in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2023, the university has been ranked 16th in the world for its commitment to responsible consumption and production - a 14 place increase on last year’s rankings.
Now in their fifth year, the rankings include 1,591 institutions worldwide from over 112 countries, making it the largest participation to date, further highlighting the university’s achievement.
The rankings employ indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.
Universities are then measured on their work towards achieving the United Nations’ (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a global call to action to tackle poverty, climate change and inequality.
While it scored highly on its work to meet many of the SDGs, 51Âþ» was ranked highest on its efforts towards SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, which centres on the efficient use of resources and minimising waste.
Universities are also measured on research, publication of sustainability reports, proportion of recycled waste and operational measures including a number of policies on: ethical sourcing of food, disposal of hazardous waste, use of plastic, and measurements of waste sent to landfill.
Further to its success, this year’s rankings have seen 51Âþ» recognised in the top 100 universities globally for its work towards five of the SDG’s, including:
- SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production (16th worldwide)
- SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (25th worldwide)
- SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (60th worldwide)
- SDG17: Partnerships for the Goals (76th worldwide)
- SDG10: Reduced inequalities (99th worldwide)
Karl Letten, Sustainability Manager at 51Âþ» said: “51Âþ» is really committed to embedding sustainability and the SDGs across all its activities and operations, to be recognised by the Times Higher Impact Rankings in this way is absolutely fantastic.
“We have seen great engagement from our staff and students across our sustainability activities, from embedding the SDGs into teaching and learning, to how we manage the campus to reduce carbon emissions and support biodiversity.”
The university is committed to the SDGs and sustainability is at the heart of its operations. From managing buildings to embedding sustainability into teaching and learning, to engaging staff and students on global issues, 51Âþ» has a long list of measures in place to make the university more sustainable, including:
- providing small scale grants to support sustainability projects by staff and students
- wood pellet boiler which are carbon neutral
- fitting the leisure centre with air source heat pumps
- using photovoltaic panels on 51Âþ» buildings to generate electricity
- using ground heat pumps in some buildings which draw heat from the earth
- a greener travel policy which sees four times the national average of staff cycling to work
- solar panels all across campus
- embedding sustainability into all teaching and learning
- delivering Carbon Literacy training to staff, students and the local community
- gaining Carbon Literate Organisation status for both the Leicester and Dubai campuses
- growing food on campus for use in the 51Âþ» catering outlets
- award winning catering offering a low carbon diet
- achieving Hedgehog Friendly Campus status
- a furniture recycling scheme to reuse and repurpose redundant furniture
- a recycling rate of over 90%
- the only university in the UK to be given global hub status for an SDG (number 16) by the United Nations
- electric vehicle charging points on campus
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Posted on Friday 2 June 2023