Policy and Strategy

At Swansea University, our Sustainability Policy is endorsed by the Vice Chancellor and is the core of our Environmental Management System. This is supported by our recently expanded team and a dedicated budget that increases annually.

Our policy outlines our commitment to ensuring our research, teaching activities and operations promote and support a sustainable future for all, whilst protecting the environment.

Supporting the policy, is our comprehensive Sustainability Strategy 2016-2020. The strategy demonstrates our commitment to the University having a net positive impact on sustainable development in how we operate our business.

Our Sustainability Strategy focuses on eight main sustainability opportunities identified for the University:

1) Lower Carbon

Our Lower Carbon theme encapsulates carbon and water management by driving reduction in consumption and optimising efficiency, including in the construction and refurbishment of University assets. Emissions and discharges, other than carbon, are referenced under Culture & Community.

2) Minimal Waste

Our Minimal Waste theme commits us to effectively managing waste and using resources efficiently to reduce our production of waste; and to managing waste in ways that minimise negative environmental impact and maximise positive social impact

3) Biodiverse Campuses

Our theme of Biodiverse Campuses commits us to the protection and enhancement of the biodiversity of our campuses, and to communicating their value as important green corridors to staff, students and our local community.

4) Sustainable Travel

Our Sustainable Travel strategy theme commits us to optimising the travel and transport of Swansea University staff and students to, from and between our campuses in the most sustainable manner practicable.

5) Positive Procurement

The Positive Procurement strategy theme commits us to enabling staff and students to make more sustainable purchasing choices and to motivating University suppliers and contractors to offer sustainable products and services.

6) Wellbeing and Health

Our commitment to Wellbeing and Health encompasses the various means of support we have in place to improve the health and wellbeing of staff, students and the wider University community

7) Culture and Community

Through our Culture and Community strategy theme, we are committed to embedding a comprehensive environmental management system within the University (including the management of emissions and discharges) and to engaging and collaborating with staff, students and the local community on sustainability issues.

8) Knowledge and Skills

The Knowledge and Skills strategy theme commits us to equipping staff, students and the local community with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to create a more sustainable future for all.

For each of the eight strategy opportunities, there is an associated series of objectives and targets, identified to deliver the prescribed aim.

We update our objectives and targets each year, building on the previous year’s activities and achievements.

The University's Senior Leadership Team review our sustainability performance and strategy development each year through the Corporate Responsibility Committee.