Overall Summary.
University of Reading scored 81.8% and ranked 1st
Policy and Strategy
Publicly Available Policy
We looked at University of Reading's publicly available environmental policy - you can read it here if we found one - but if we didn't find a policy on the university website then you won't find a link:
We wanted to see that the policy wasn't just sitting in a dusty desktop year after year and we needed to know that the policy meant something to staff, students and decision makers at the university. So to score 50% here, the policy needed to have been published within the last 5 years and demonstrate that it was reviewed regularly by someone sitting in a senior position at the university.
1 University of Reading scored: 50/ 50% for their environmental policy
2 Targets and Strategy
The university could only score the full marks of 50% if they had set SMART targets in all 8 of key areas below, and if we could see that the strategy had been reviewed in the last 5 years, (much like the environmental policy, a strategy only works if people are using it), and we didn't give credit for strategies that were out of date. We decided that if a university wasn't setting targets for more than 5 key areas then it didn't amount to a comprehensive and they would score zero. Scores increase in line with the number of key areas the university had set targets for when considering:
- Construction & Refurbishment
- Emissions & Discharges
- Community involvement
- Biodiversity
- Waste management
- Travel and Transport
- Sustainable procurement
- Water
We found that University of Reading is working towards targets in the following areas:
Waste management, Transport, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Construction and Refurbishment, Emissions and Discharges
Therefore...
2. University of Reading scored 30%/50% for their sustainability strategy
Section Total: 80%
Staff & HR
1 Senior Staff Responsibility
We looked to see whether someone in the university senior management team has responsibility for sustainability. It really helps when climate change and ethical issues are the responsibility of someone who can make decisions about how the action points can be resourced. If a senior member of staff has responsibility for sustainability, you can find them here:
sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/example-projects/
1. University of Reading scored 25/25% for senior responsibility for sustainability.
2 Number of Sustainability Staff
We also wanted to see how many staff were currently employed to work on sustainability issues, and whether students and staff could find them easily online and contact them. We thought the number of sustainability staff should be relative to the number of staff and students at the university.
University of Reading has more than 15000 students students and 14.00 FTE sustainability staff
Therefore...
2 University of Reading scored 60/60% for dedicated and expert staff
3 All Staff Participation
3 University of Reading scored 15/15% for all staff participation
Section Total: 100 %
Environmental Auditing & Management Systems
1a Externally Verified Environmental Management System (EMS)
If University of Reading has been externally audited you will see the EMS scheme and level awarded below
IS014001 Full estate
This award is taken directly from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Estates Management Record
1a University of Reading scored 100/100% for its externally verified EMS
Section Total: 100%
Ethical Investment and Banking
1a Ethical Investment Policy
Investments in the fossil fuel industry or arms trade can be contradictory to an institutions broader sustainability aims and goals. A strong ethical investment policy makes sure an institution’s investments and banking practices are conducted transparently and in an economically-viable, socially-responsible manner. Points were awarded for covering the full scope of an institution's investments and being signed off by a senior member of staff. If University of Reading has an ethical investment policy, it can be found below:
1a University of Reading scored 10/10% for its ethical investment policy
1b. Specifics within the policy:
Addititonal points were awarded for specific within the policy:
- include student representation on their investment committee
- publicly listing their investments annually
-
There are clear ongoing opportunities for the wider student body and staff community to engage with the policy.
1b University of Reading scored 10/15% for specific within its ethical investment policy
2 Commitment to screen out specific sectors
Universities who have made a commitment in policy to screen out specific sectors, such as fossil fuel companies, arms companies and companies in violation of international law.
2a University of Reading scored 30/30% for its commitment in policy to screen out fossil fuel investments
2b University of Reading scored 10/10% for its commitment in policy to screen out investments in arms companies
2c University of Reading scored 0/10% for its commitment in policy to screen out border industry companies
2d University of Reading scored 5/5% for its commitment in policy to screen out investments in companies in violation of international law
3 Reinvesting Divested Funds
Universities were awarded points for commitments in policy to reinvest divested funds in renewable energy or on community-owned energy on campus.
3 University of Reading scored 5/5% for its commitment in policy to reinvest divested funds
4 Ethical Banking
Universities were awarded points for having an ethical banking policy reported on at senior level. If University of Reading has an ethical banking policy you will find it below
4a University of Reading scored 5/5% for its ethical banking policy
4b University of Reading scored 0/5% for excluding banks that finance fossil fuels in its ethical banking policy
5 Transparency and accountability
In the interests of transparency and accountability, universities were rewarded for hosting key policy documents publicly on their websites.
5a University of Reading scored 1/1% for having an easily accessible and public ethical investment policy.
5b University of Reading scored 1/1% for having an easily accessible and public annual list of investments.
www.reading.ac.uk/finance/university-accounts
5c University of Reading scored 1/1% for having an easily accessible and public list of committee members that oversee investments.
static.reading.ac.uk/content/PDFs/files/GovernanceZone/Committee-List-2022-23.pdf
5d University of Reading scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public meeting minutes that provide updates on investment policy reviews and divestment/investment status.
www.reading.ac.uk/about/governance/governance-zone
5e University of Reading scored 1/1% for having an easily accessible and public ethical banking policy.
https://www.reading.ac.uk/finance/-/media/project/functions/finance/documents/policies/treasury-policy-21-22-approved-sfc.pdf?la=en&hash=F1C8D55E26423C41BF38D21B6D959FC7
Section Total: 79%
Ethical Careers and Recruitment
1a. Ethical Careers Policy
Universities often have a policy outlining which sectors or companies they will advertise vacancies for, if University of Reading has a careers policy you will find it below:
www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Careers/Employers/MJO-terms
1a University of Reading scored 10/10% for having a valid careers policy.
We awarded points for specifics within that carbon management plan:
1b University of Reading scored 4/7% for being updated in the last 4 years and signed off at a senior level.
Commitment to Screen Out Specific Sectors
If the university has committed not to recruit for some sectors, you will find them below:
www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Careers/Employers/MJO-terms
2a University of Reading scored 0/50% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the fossil fuel industry.
2b University of Reading scored 0/10% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the mining industry.
2c University of Reading scored 0/10% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the arms industry.
2d University of Reading scored 0/5% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the tobacco industry.
Transparency and Accountability
3a University of Reading scored 6/6% for having clear and accessible information on careers staff structure
www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Careers/About/Meet-the-team
3b University of Reading scored 2/2% for having detailed information on combined careers services and 3rd party relationships.
www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/Careers/About
Section total: 22%
Managing Carbon
1 Carbon Management Plan
Universities should all have a plan for managing and reducing their carbon emissions, if University of Reading has a carbon management plan you will find it below:
We awarded points for specifics within that carbon management plan:
1a University of Reading scored 5/5% for a carbon emissions baseline for 2005 or later which covers all scope 1 and 2 emissions.
1b University of Reading scored 5/5% for a carbon reduction target for covering scope 1 & 2, consistent with an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 at a minimum AND at least one milestone towards this target before 2030
1c University of Reading scored 5/5% for a budget for the carbon reduction plan.
1d University of Reading scored 5/5% for named persons or titles responsible for the carbon reduction plan.
1e University of Reading scored 5/5% for a reporting mechanism for monitoring the carbon management plan.
2 Carbon Management and scope 3 emissions
2a University of Reading scored 5/5% for reporting scope 3 emissions to HESA via the EMR record
2b University of Reading scored 5/5% for having a valid strategy for reducing emissions from aviation.
If they have a valid sustainable travel plan you will find it below:
sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/travel/alternatives-to-travel/
2c University of Reading scored 5/5% for calculating total carbon emissions relating to residential accommodation.
3 Scope 3 Baselines and Targets
University of Reading's carbon management plan was found to have scope 3 baselines in the following areas:
Waste, Water, Procurement, Travel: business trips, Travel: commute, Travel: student end of term
3a Therefore they scored 30%/30% for the scope 3 baselines in their carbon management plan
University of Reading's carbon management plan was found to have scope 3 targets in the following areas:
Waste, Water, Procurement, Travel: business trips, Travel: commute, Travel: student end of term
3b Therefore they scored 15%/30% for the scope 3 targets in their carbon management plan
Section total: 85%
Workers' Rights
1 A Living Wage University
Accredited Living Wage Employers
1 University of Reading scored 0/30%
2 Equality for Outsourced Staff
Points were awarded if universities had a policy that monitors equality of pay and conditions between in-house and outsourced staff.
2 University of Reading scored 15/15%
3 Fairtrade
3 University of Reading scored 5/5%
4 Monitoring and Reforming the Supply Chain
Universities were awarded points if they were a member of Electronics Watch or Purchasing Consortium
4 University of Reading scored 30/30%
5 Can't Buy My Silence universities pledge
Can't Buy My Silence campaign.
5 University of Reading scored 5/5%
6 Proportion of all Academic Staff are on Fixed Term Contracts
University of Reading scored 0/15%
Section total: 55%
NB all accreditations were for the period July-August 2023
Sustainable Food
1 Sustainable Food Policy
If the university has a policy on sustainable food reported on at senior level you will find it below:
(None)
1 University of Reading scored 20/20% for its sustainable food policy.
2 Contracts
This question pertains to food procured through individual suppliers, consortia and other catering purchasing organisations, and to the catering contracts and sub-contracts held, tendered and re-tendered by universities where catering services might be outsourced, i.e. halls of residence catering provisions or staff and student dining provisions.
2 University of Reading scored 20/20% for its tender specifications within food policy.
3 Sustainable Food Framework
One of the most common ways to measure commitment to sustainable catering in the public sector is through the achievement of an externally assessed sustainable food award, such as the Soil Association’s Food for Life Served Here award, or the Food Made Good Membership by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
3 University of Reading has Majority Sustainable Restaurant Association 3 STARS 40% and therefore received 40_b/40%
4 Community Food
4 University of Reading scored 20/20% for providing space or support for community food projects
sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/sustainability-volunteering/
Section total: 100%
Staff and Student Engagement
1 Staff and Student Engagement Strategy
Points were awarded for publishing a strategy detailing how universities will engage students and staff. If they had a staff and student engagement strategy you will find it below:
1 University of Reading scored 30/30% for having a publicly available student an staff engagement strategy.
2 Student and Staff Engagement Actions
2a University of Reading scored 5/5% for offering oversight and involvement opportunities to students and staff for the development and ongoing monitoring of the university Carbon Management Plan.
2b University of Reading scored 5/5% for actively supporting an environment themed week.
2c University of Reading scored 5/5% for providing funds for student led sustainability projects.
3 Staff Inductions
3 University of Reading scored 10/10% for including sustainability policy in staff inductions.
4 Trade Union engagement
4 University of Reading scored 0/10% for inviting trade union members to sit on committees that oversee sustainability.
5 Student Representation
5 University of Reading scored 25/25% for student representatives to sit on committees that oversee sustainability.
6 Student's Union
6 University of Reading scored 10/10% for the student union working towards continual improvement in environmental sustainability
Section Total: 90%
Education for Sustainable Development
1 Commitment and Governance for Education for Sustainable Development.
If the university demonstrates commitment to ESD through a high level of strategy, find out how below:
www.reading.ac.uk/about/strategy/sustainability
1 University of Reading scored 20/20% for demonstrating commitment to ESD.
2 Implementing and tracking progress in Education for Sustainable Development
If the university is using a strategy to map its progress towards integrating ESD into the curriculum, find out how below:
University has developed its own strategy for implementing ESD 25%
2a University of Reading scored 25/25% for using a strategy for ESD.
sites.reading.ac.uk/curriculum-framework/
2b University of Reading scored 20/20% for using a reporting mechanism for ESD.
3 Supporting Academic Staff
3 University of Reading scored 10/10% for providing training and support to academic staff for ESD
sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/esd/
4 Education for Sustainable Development Actions
4a University of Reading scored 10/10% for using its campus as a living lab.
sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/esd/
4b University of Reading scored 10/10% for highlighting research in sustainability.
sites.reading.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/esd/
5 Equal Access to Higher Education
5a University of Reading scored 1/1% for offering multiple scholarships to asylum seekers and individuals who have been granted a status as a result of an asylum claim, but do not yet have access to student finance.
www.reading.ac.uk/about/global/sanctuary
5b University of Reading scored 1/1% for offering multiple scholarships to studenith with refugee status or humanitarian protection.
www.reading.ac.uk/news/2023/University-News/Community/University-of-Sanctuary-award-for-Reading
5c University of Reading scored 1/1% for offering multiple scholarships for the full duration and cost of the degree programme, or a full fee waiver, for people with other limited forms of leave to remain in the UK
{esd5c_evidence}
5d University of Reading scored 1/1% for offering support for living costs equivalent to that received through student finance to any of the groups in Education for Sustainable Development questions 5.a-5.c
{esd5d_evidence}
5e University of Reading scored 1/1% including any of the groups mentioned in questions 5a-d in their Access and Participation plan.
Section Total: 100%
Energy Sources
This section has been taken directly from the 2021/2022 Estates Management Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.
1a University of Reading scored 36/55% for its percentage of renewable energy generated onsite or off site compared to consumption of grid electricity.
1b University of Reading scored 45/45% for its total percentage of renewable energy purchased through green tariffs.
Section Total: 81%
Waste and Recycling
This section has been taken directly from the 2021/22 Estates Management Record fom the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.
1 University of Reading scored 37.5/50% for the percentage waste recycled, composted or anaerobically digested, excluding construction waste (that classified as “other” in the EMR)
2 University of Reading scored 25/50% for the percentage waste recycled, composted or anaerobically digested, excluding construction waste per head of FTE students and staff.
Section Total: 62.5%
Carbon Reduction
This section has been taken directly from the 2020/22 Estates Management Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.
1 University of Reading scored 40/50% for its change in carbon intensity.
2 University of Reading scored 50/50% for its reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since a 2005 baseline.
Section Total: 90%
Water Reduction
This section has been taken directly from the 2021/22 Estates Management Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.
1 University of Reading scored 50.25/67% for its water consumption per head.
2 University of Reading scored 11/33% for its use of grey or rainwater.