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Our annual round up is here! As we head towards the New Year, we look back at some of the highlights from the Sustainability Team over the past twelve months, so let’s jump into a year in sustainability.
New Sustainability Strategy
We're kicking off with a major highlight, the launch of our new Sustainability Strategy 2031! Building on the sustainability commitments outlined in the Liverpool 2031 strategic framework and developed with valuable input from stakeholders across the University, this strategy focuses on three core pillars: research, education and student experience, and sustainable campus and operations. The strategy will be driven by a comprehensive action plan, with ongoing efforts to address climate change and biodiversity loss. A formal launch will take place during Sustainability Week in February 2025, coinciding with the grand opening of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research (ICSR).
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Concordat on Environmental Sustainability
This year, we became one of the first Russell Group institutions to sign the new UKRI Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. Co-developed by the UK Research and Innovation sector, this voluntary Concordat ensures that cutting-edge research is conducted responsibly and sustainably, addressing climate change and safeguarding the environment. As signatories, we are committed to aligning with climate science and ecology, transparently sharing environmental impact data, and driving meaningful change across six key areas: leadership, infrastructure, procurement, travel emissions, partnerships, and reporting.
LEAF Sustainable labs
Since its pilot launch in 2021, over 130 laboratories at the University have signed up to the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), highlighting a strong commitment to sustainability. This year, five labs achieved the prestigious LEAF Gold Award for their outstanding sustainability efforts: Veterinary Clinical Skills Labs, Glasshouses, Veterinary Teaching Suite, Drosophila Lab, and Teaching Labs. Additionally, all labs within the Institute of Systems, Molecular, and Integrative Biology received Silver Awards. The LEAF Gold Award recognises labs that meet 50 rigorous sustainability criteria, with staff demonstrating excellence in energy efficiency and sustainability practices. A huge thank you to all the labs that earned awards over the past year and to those who renewed their applications, your dedication is driving meaningful change across the University.
Award recognition
The Sustainability team were celebrated at the University’s Staff Awards this year, winning the Sustainability on Campus award. This recognition highlights their exceptional efforts in managing our Environmental Management System (EMS), achieving recertification through comprehensive reviews, audits, and cross-departmental collaboration. In addition, Jenna Lowe, our Laboratory Sustainability Officer, was shortlisted for Outstanding Technician of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards. Jenna leads the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), promoting sustainable practices and reducing waste across university laboratories. Further adding to our success, the University’s Sustainable Food Policy and associated initiatives, were nominated in the Campus Health, Food, and Drink category at this years’ Green Gown Awards.
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Sustainability Week
Sustainability Week 2024 featured nearly 40 events promoting sustainable practices, organised by the Sustainability Team and Guild of Students. The week raised awareness of the University’s sustainability goals, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Highlights included a Sustainability Roadshow, tours of the Energy Centre and LEAF-accredited labs, gardening and beach clean-ups, and student-led activities like a Swap Shop. Academic lectures on climate change and energy solutions, along with film screenings, enriched the week. New initiatives launched included Sustainable Events Guidance and staff sustainability training modules to support net zero carbon targets and a more environmentally responsible campus.
Sustainable Events Guidance
During Sustainability Week, we launched our Sustainable Events Guidance, a comprehensive resource designed to help event organisers incorporate sustainability into planning, management, and evaluation. The guide, developed with input from staff and EDI experts, includes a checklist and practical tools for making events more sustainable, regardless of size or theme. The guidance covers key considerations such as venue selection, reducing transportation emissions, offering greener food and beverage options, and minimising event merchandise waste.
QS Sustainability Rankings
In December, we learned that we had ranked 42nd globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings, rising 8 places from last year. The University now ranks among the top 50 universities out of 1,744 institutions worldwide. The rankings assess environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, focusing on sustainable institutions, education, research, and social impact, including equality, employability, and quality of life. Liverpool excelled in the equality indicator, retaining its 5th place ranking globally for promoting gender equality and reducing broader inequalities. The University is ranked 16th in the UK and views this recognition as part of its strategic ambition to be a top 100 university.
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Environmental Management System (EMS) audit
In November, our Environmental Management System (EMS) underwent another successful audit by NQA to ensure compliance with the ISO 14001 standard. We’re proud to have maintained our certification once again. This accreditation and regular auditing process enable us to continually enhance the management of our environmental impact. The audit also provided valuable insights and constructive recommendations, which will be a key focus for driving improvements in the year ahead.
New sustainability training module
This year we introduced a new Sustainability and Climate Change training module, available to all staff. Developed in collaboration with The Academy, the module offers a comprehensive understanding of climate change and explores sustainability through the triple bottom line approach, emphasising people, planet, and profit. It highlights the importance of sustainability and provides practical guidance on embedding sustainable practices into the workplace, empowering staff to drive positive change across the University. Is your new year’s resolution to learn more about sustainability? If so, why not complete the module by logging in to Learnwell.
Travel Survey
The University community had the opportunity to share their views on travel and transport through the 2024 Travel Survey. The survey gathered insights on staff and students commuting habits. In 2023/24, 16.3% of staff and 52% of students used active or sustainable transport, with walking and cycling being the most popular. However, 42% of staff still used solo cars. Overall, commuting emissions totalled 7,585 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to 12,976 roundtrip flights to Munich. In response, the University is developing a travel plan, collaborating with city stakeholders, and prioritising sustainable options like Cycle2Work and the Season Ticket Loan scheme to reduce carbon impact and improve community health and wellbeing.
North West EAUC Regional Meeting
We were pleased to host the North West EAUC Regional Meeting at the University of Liverpool this year. The event featured a series of engaging discussions, with a particular focus on sustainability initiatives at the University, including waste management and the LEAF sustainable labs. Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about the Climate Ambassadors Programme, receive an EAUC update, and participate in a collaborative roundtable session to share successes and challenges. The day concluded with a campus tour.
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Standardised Carbon Emissions Framework
The University has adopted the sector-specific carbon emissions framework developed by EAUC, AUDE, and BUFDG. The Sustainability Team is leading a comprehensive data collection initiative across various departments, including Procurement and Estates, to establish a baseline for Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions. This process involves applying DEFRA conversion factors to ensure accurate measurement and reporting.
Sustainable Development Goals Report 23/24
In December, we published our annual report outlining progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report highlights the University's efforts to address global sustainability challenges through research, education, and operations. It emphasises commitments to all 17 SDGs, showcasing pioneering research in clean energy, policy, and climate crisis solutions, as well as the role of cultural institutions in engaging the public. It aims to inspire collaboration across various sectors to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
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Fairtrade Accreditation
The University is actively pursuing Fairtrade status by integrating ethical and sustainable practices across our curriculum, procurement processes, research initiatives, and outreach campaigns. A Fairtrade working group was set up this year to begin the process of securing Fairtrade accreditation for the University by Spring 2025. The group is made up of representatives from Professional Services, the Guild and academic staff who will meet regularly over the course of 12 months to coordinate and deliver the mandatory tasks set by SOS-UK & Fairtrade. As part of this, we celebrated Fairtrade by hosting a coffee tasting event for International Coffee Day and promoted Fairtrade chocolate across campus during Chocolate Week.
New Biodiversity Plan
The Sustainability team have developed a new Biodiversity Plan, acknowledging the University’s significant impact on the natural world and its capacity to drive positive change. The plan outlines three core principles: increasing biodiversity on campus, embedding an appreciation for biodiversity within university culture, and reducing harm to biodiversity beyond our estate by influencing supply chains and investments. This plan complements our Climate Plan and supports the University’s Sustainability Strategy, aligning with the Liverpool 2031 strategic framework. A formal launch of the Biodiversity Plan will take place during Sustainability Week 2025.
Waste target progress
This year, we made significant strides toward our goal of reducing domestic general waste by 50% by 2025, as outlined in our previous strategy. Compared to our pre-pandemic baseline, we have reduced this waste stream from 1,354 tonnes to 770 tonnes, marking a 43% reduction. We have several initiatives planned to help achieve this target, including a new, comprehensive Waste Management Plan. This plan will detail how the University manages its waste streams, with a focus on waste reduction, enhancing resource recovery, and supporting a circular economy. An accompanying Action Plan will outline specific steps to further minimise waste and reduce environmental impacts.
What’s in store for 2025?
2025 promises to be a big year for sustainability at the University of Liverpool, starting with the formal launch of our new Sustainability Strategy, which will take place during Sustainability Week, from 24th to 28th February 2025. We will be holding drop-in sessions for staff and students to learn more about the strategy and its associated plans, and we can begin the important work of turning strategy into action, demonstrating measurable impact across all our strategic pillars. We look forward to sharing updates in the coming months, as we track progress through new metrics and quarterly reports to the Sustainability Committee and Senior Leadership Team.
We will also be unveiling of the new Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research (ICSR), led by Professor Katie Atkinson. The ICSR will play a central role in our sustainability research, focusing on climate-related SDGs.
Other key initiatives in the coming year include updates to our Climate Plan and Waste Management Plan, plus the official launch of the Biodiversity Plan, as well as increased student engagement through the Sustainability in Action module and the Halls Sustainability programme, which offers volunteer opportunities and skills development.
For more information about sustainability plans and progress at University of Liverpool please contact the Sustainability team by emailing sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk. See you in 2025!