Environmental, Social and Governance

The responsibility for Sustainability sits under the Chief Financial Officer (interim Dr Pete Cross) and the Associate Director of Estates (interim Robert Gilbert).

There are two Sustainability Managers at the University based in the Estates and Facilities Directorate:

• Charlotte Connor – C.Connor@wlv.ac.uk – Responsible for Energy and Utilities, Decarbonisation, Biodiversity, Recycling and Engagement Activities
• Zainab Own – Z.Own2@wlv.ac.uk – Responsible for Carbon Emission reporting, Sustainable Education, ESG Reporting and energy demand reduction

Sustainability is further supported by many teams from across the University to achieve its collaborative goals.

Sustainability Champion Staff Network at the University of Wolverhampton

The University is seeking to support UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What are Sustainability Champions?

Sustainability Champions are a network of volunteers who provide a local focus point for sustainability issues.

They encourage their peers to make small changes to everyday practices that collectively make a big difference across the University.

Sustainability Champions will also provide key information to Estates and Facilities about local areas for improvement.

The Network

Each Sustainability Champion acts as champion for environmental issues within their workplace, department, or college and as a point of contact between the Sustainability Team and department staff, students, and senior management.

Support and information will be provided to Champions regarding ways to support Sustainability at the University.

Like all organisations of this size and complexity, The University of Wolverhampton has a major impact on the environment.

Due to the diverse and extensive nature of the University of Wolverhampton, there is no one-size-fits-all approach so there needs to be a local focus for activity to make the message relevant and effective.

Sustainability Champions play a key role in providing this local focus, understanding the culture of their Faculty, School, Department and Campus. Champions are empowered to encourage others to change their attitudes and behaviour to take environmental aspects into consideration.

How do I become a Sustainability Champion?

We are looking to have full representation across the University with at least one representative from each Faculty, School, and Department across all Campuses.

If you would like to join the network of Champions, please email the Sustainability Manager, Estates & Facilities at c.connor@wlv.ac.uk.

What can I do to help?

As Sustainability Champion you will be asked to feedback issues to Estates and Facilities regarding matters including energy use and recycling.

You are encouraged to remind team members to save energy by turning off computer monitors, lights and to reduce waste by recycling more.

You will be encouraged to raise ideas with your team and your manager. You will then be invited to share and discuss your ideas at Sustainability meetings set up by Estates and Facilities should you wish.

Volunteers will be supported by Estates & Facilities and will be part of an active network who shares ideas, practices, and information from across the University. Estates and Facilities will share information with Champions such as recycling rates and energy consumption. You will be encouraged to share this information within your department encouraging actions to monitor and reduce energy use and improve recycling rates.

We ask that Sustainability is factored into decision making when purchasing goods or procuring services to reduce the impact on the environment by sourcing local, recycled, and efficient goods.

We anticipate the role will take around 2-4 hours of time a month, but this can be flexible.

Monthly Sustainability ‘Mission’

There will be a monthly ‘mission’ for Sustainability Champions provided as a guide to encourage areas of development. Many areas of focus will take longer than a month to implement and to see improvements made and Champions will be asked to continue to support positive changes throughout the year. Where possible, we will ask that you can provide further quantifiable information about improvements made in your areas to promote the success of the Champions.

Stewart Chatham – As the Campus Manager at the Telford Campus, Stewart monitors lighting on and off times, footfall, and usage to ensure that the campus is managed efficiently.

Joe Craddock – Joe is the Sustainability Champion for Capital Projects in Estates and Facilities. He supports projects to ensure that they recycle, embed principles of the circular economy and ensure that energy efficiency is at the heart of designs.

Daniel Howe – Daniel is a caretaker at the Walsall Campus, he works tirelessly with his team to maintain the allotment areas, as well as supporting biodiversity by planting vegetation and looking after the grounds at the campus.

Dr Hamid Pouran – Our Academic lead and leader of the Sustainability Research Labs, Dr Hamid’s expertise encompasses climate change, policy impact, and renewable energy sustainability.

Mark Porter- As the Campus Manager at the Walsall Campus, Mark monitors campus energy usage to ensure the campus is run efficiently, he is also the recycling champion and decarbonisation lead at Walsall Campus.

Samin Wright – As the Moving manager, Samin ensures all furniture and stationary are sourced responsibly across campuses and that they are reused or donated to charities.

Luke Gillon – Our IT manager ensures all IT equipment and monitors are off while not in use and that all IT waste is recycled.  

Dr Jenni Jones – Professor in Coaching and Mentoring is supporting Sustainable Education and developing content to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor Roya Rahimi – Founder of the Marketing Research Hub and Principal Investigator of the British Council-funded Elevate project, supports women’s empowerment through digital upskilling and entrepreneurship in post-disaster Türkiye. She also leads initiatives across the West Midlands advancing SDGs 5, 8, 9, and 10. Publisher of “Sustainable development: The role of sustainability committees in achieving ESG targets"article, ranked among the top 10% most-viewed papers in Business Strategy and the Environment Certificate 

Policy and Strategy currently under development.

Sustainability Highlights from 2023-2024:

Sustainability and the Environments 2024 Highlights

University emissions have been reducing year on year since 2008 due to building improvements, demand reduction measures implementations and the decarbonisation of the UK national electricity grid. The University of Wolverhampton 2007/08 academic year baseline indicates total emissions of 16,746 tonnes of CO2e. In parallel 2023-24 analysis demonstrates an overall reduction of circa 49% as the carbon emissions had almost halved to 8,512 tonnes of CO2e.

Decarbonisation Surveys have been carried out across the Estate and have identified opportunities to reduce scope 1 (direct emissions from gas) and scope 2 (purchased electricity) carbon emissions from the University. The surveys were funded from the Salix Low Carbon Skills Fund.

The surveys will serve as a foundation to the University’s decarbonisation roadmap and will be reviewed and amended to align with Estates Master-planning. Suitable funding options for decarbonisation upgrades will be further explored.

The University has committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by at least 17% by 2030 (based on 2021-22 emissions).

The University has signed up to ‘Race to Zero’, committing to zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.

Carbon Performance Reports are published here:

Please see full reports here:

UoW - Carbon Performance Report 2023/2024

UoW - Carbon Performance Report - 2022/23

UoW Carbon Performance Update September 2023

During the academic year 2021-2022, the University emitted 8,833 tCO2e.

Please see full report here:

UoW Carbon Performance Update - April 2023

University of Wolverhampton unveils major decarbonisation project

12/05/2025

Heat pumps, solar PV, and a heat network are just some of the technologies being introduced at the University of Wolverhampton as part of an £11m project to accelerate their journey to net zero.

The University has joined forces with Vital Energi to deliver the multi-technology energy solution at their Walsall Campus, which will reduce carbon emissions by over 1,000 tonnes each year.

Gas-fired equipment and end of life boilers will be replaced with an air to water source cascade heat pump system, which recovers heat from the air and boosts it to higher temperatures to provide low carbon heating and hot water to campus buildings.

To enhance the overall efficiency of the heat pump system, Vital Energi will recover chilled water from the air source heat pumps, thereby eliminating the need to run the chillers during summer months, which will save more energy.

The university is committed to Sustainable Procurement.

The university is a responsible investor and you can find the Ethical Investment Policy here: Ethical Investment Policy - University of Wolverhampton

The Catering Department is committed to Sustainability:

View how we are doing this in our Taste@ Sustainability Bites

Opportunities are provided for students and staff to engage in Sustainability at the University.

Students dig in to help the environment flourish for Earth Day 2024:

A group of Early Childhood Studies degree students got their spades stuck into supporting the University of Wolverhampton’s Sustainability goals by planting trees across Walsall Campus.  

FEHW Tree Planting

The tree planting exercise came to fruition when Dawn Jones, Programme Lead for the Early Childhood Studies degree, and Charlotte Connor Sustainability Manager in Estates joined forces to embed the UN United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals into the Early Years course programme.   

Charlotte jumped at the collaboration, recommending a Woodland Trust scheme aimed at engaging schools and communities in getting millions more trees growing nationwide in an effort to help the UK reach its 2050 carbon net-zero target.  

The green fingered students, who joined us at the start of this academic year, joined in the project as part of their level 4 Role of Play module.

The activity, which is part of the University’s wider Sustainability Programme, allows students to actively contribute to improving the environment they learn in by increasing nature and biodiversity; whilst developing a skill set and values which they can pass on when they start to teach future generations

Dawn said: “It’s all about embedding sustainability values and capturing people at a young age.  We want our graduates to be at the cutting edge of that knowledge so they can take that out into these settings and into their practice.” 

 Charlotte said: “It’s a really good exercise for the students and assists them in understanding the implications of Carbon and the alternative routes to make a difference, supporting biodiversity, and the insects and small wildlife that are within our campus. In a few years, these trees will be grown and contributing towards the environment, absorbing carbon, helping to support our journey to deliver our sustainability goals at the University.”   

40 trees were planted over two sessions and include: rowan saplings, which grow berries that attract birds; silver birch saplings, which will naturalise with the existing trees around campus; and wild cherry saplings which also grow fruits and have pretty blossom in the spring. On the second session larger, more established fruit trees (cherry, apple, pear, plum, gage) were planted, giving a welcome boost to the scenery around the Walsall Campus grounds.  

 Dawn said: “I’m really pleased with what the students have got out of it. We’ve been able to think about how this relates to the Role of Play module, how it supports children’s learning, especially sustained shared thinking. And they’ve all gone away smiling and have really embraced the activity.”  

Selina Hall, Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, said: “There are many other benefits to developing the students’ social skills, emotional health and wellbeing, and giving them the confidence and self-assurance to lead these activities with children out in their placement settings.”  

It’s not unusual for Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing students and staff to be found enjoying the benefits of community gardening.  A few years ago, the School of Nursing established an allotment next to the sport courts at Walsall Campus, which staff and students from different courses now contribute to maintaining.  

Dawn said: “We’re very lucky that we collaborate with the School of Nursing on maintaining this lovely allotment space.  We’ve come on board, and we bring the students out here at least every fortnight for a range of modules across levels 4, 5 and 6 and we agree to develop this space as a site for outdoor learning.”   

Charlotte has identified that across the University, there’s a lot of work in the background in looking into various ways the University can be more Sustainable in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  Look out for more updates on the Sustainability Programme later in the year. 

Of course, every one of us has a role to play in helping the environment.  

Charlotte and Zainab, both University Sustainability Managers in the Estates and Facilities department, offer advice to all staff and students on the many things you can do to contribute, big or small. 

“Look out for guidance on various initiatives from correct recycling; to energy saving and making sure you off switch your lights, computers and monitors when not in use; to bringing your own re-usable water bottles and coffee cups to campus to reduce waste.  

“You don’t have to drastically change your lifestyle, even a series of little changes can really add up and make a difference at the University and to the environment.”

Earth Day 2025!

There were opportunities to learn about the carbon footprint of different items as well as the carbon impact of different forms of travel through our game.

There were also lots of planting activities around the campuses to boost wellbeing and increase biodiversity. The sunshine was a welcome addition!

A big thank you to so many people who took part and made the day a success.

On 4^th December 2024, it was announced that The University of Wolverhampton has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to drive sustainable development education and research and enhance global collaboration. Read full article.

At the heart of our commitment to sustainable practices, we've introduced a fundamental sustainability module to all Business School Students. This module is designed to provide our students with essential knowledge and skills that not only enhance employability but also prepare them for future work opportunities. Read full article. 

The School of Architecture and Built Environment embeds Sustainability into many of its courses, inviting guest lecturers to run themed events (such as Biophilic Design in December 2023) and runs the MSc Sustainability and Climate Change course.

Research from the Faculty of Science and Engineering explores sustainable solutions for revitalising Indian villages, through 'smart villages':

The new University Curriculum Framework includes Sustainability as a key focus. All course re-validation will now incorporate Sustainability.

The University purchases renewable electricity backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) certificates.

There are solar panels on buildings generating renewable energy. 2,668 MWh renewable electricity was generated on site during 2022/23, saving 552 tonnes of carbon.

A Combined Heat and Power Unit (CHP) at the City South Campus generates heat and electricity for the university saving around £300k per year running costs.

• The University encourages reducing, recycling and reusing as part of our commitment to the environment and sustainability.
• B&M are the University's domestic and general waste contractor. B&M collects general waste, paper and cardboard, dry mixed recycling, and food waste for the University. Pay attention to signage above bins providing detail about the items to place in each bin.
• What can go into Recycling Bins?
  • Clean, dry plastic bottles
  • Clean, dry tin cans
• The University recycles mixed glass from the Students Union and within Student Accommodation waste streams.
• Food waste recycling:
  • Catering teams separate food waste on our campuses and this is collected by Veolia. This food waste is delivered to an anaerobic digestion plant where it is converted into renewable energy in the form of biogas and organic fertiliser. We also recycle our cooking oil via Olleco which is converted into renewable energy.
• Coffee Cup Recycling:
  • Look out for coffee cup bins located in each Catering Outlet across Campuses. Coffee cups can’t be recycled in the recycling bins as they are coated with plastic and require specialist recycling. To reduce the waste from these, we have introduced coffee cup bins to collect cups and recycle them separately. Please take care to tip your liquid out in the marked spot before placing your cup in the bin.
• Printer Toners:
  • All used MFD (Multi-Functional Devices) toner cartridges should be returned to Digital Print Services in MKb Building, they are returned to Ricoh for recycling.
• Restore Data Shred Ltd collect our confidential paper waste and recycle it to produce other reusable products such as tissues and recycled copy paper.
• The WEEE waste is all collected by Stone, you must Log a call on Planon and fill in a WEEE Collection Request Form.
• What do I do with batteries?
  • Batteries must be disposed of as hazardous waste and must not go into general waste. They damage the environment if they go to landfill. We have 15 location points/boxes on campus for disposal of household batteries. We are part of a battery compliance scheme with a company called Ecobat. Please see attached document for your nearest locations and what you can do.
  • Batteries disposal procedure Jan 2020(Word doc 113k)
• If you have any questions about waste management, please contact the Estates and Facilities Commercial Team on f.commercial@wlv.ac.uk

The University is committed to reducing carbon emissions and has made a significant step forward by securing PSDS Funding. This was reported in the Vice Chancellors News 19^th March 2024:

• Earlier this year our Sustainability and Estates & Facilities teams made an application for Government funding to support our transition to a lower carbon future. I’m pleased to say that we’ve been successful in securing £8.6M to improve our sustainability and to deliver decarbonisation initiatives at the Walsall Campus. The University will contribute £2.5M towards the Programme which will see the installation of low carbon heating via air and water source heat pumps, solar photovoltaics, building fabric insulation and improved heating and cooling controls.
  
  
• A ’Living Lab’ will be established to benefit teaching, research and knowledge exchange at the university.

• See information about Campus travel: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/university-life/campus-travel-and-transport/
• Electric Vehicle Car Chargers:
• Users of Electric Vehicle Car Charging points on the Executive Car Park (City South Campus) and behind the National Brownfield Institute (Springfield Campus) will be charged from the start of December 2024. 

• You can locate EV Car Chargers and Bike Racks from the Campus maps:

  EV Charger and Bike Rack Locations - City Campus

  EV Charger and Bike Rack Locations - Telford Campus

  EV Charger and Bike Rack Locations - Walsall Campus

• There will be instructions on the chargers; users will need to download an app or purchase an RFID card from the respective management organisation. 
• The Executive Car Park chargers will be managed by Project EV and the National Brownfield Institute chargers will be managed by BP Pulse.
• The charging rate will be 45p per kWh, and users must move their vehicle to a non-charging car parking space within 30 minutes of the charging session ending to avoid overstay fees.
• Electric Car Charging spaces are reserved for electric vehicles.
• All other university electric vehicle car chargers are under review.

The university operates a Cycle to Work scheme

There are West Midlands bikes available to hire at the Walsall Campus and the City Molineux Campus.

• At the University of Wolverhampton, we are committed to Sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment.
• Please pledge to adopt some sustainable habits. Examples include…
  • I pledge to conserve energy by turning off lights and electronics when not in use.”
  • “I pledge to conserve water by taking shorter showers and reporting any leaks promptly.”
  • “I pledge to recycle diligently and reduce waste.”
  • “I pledge to opt for reusable containers and avoid single-use plastics.”
  • “I pledge to reduce my plastic waste by carrying a reusable water bottle and shopping bags.”
  • “I pledge to recycle diligently and properly sort my waste.”
  • “I pledge to choose sustainable transportation options like walking, cycling, or public transit whenever possible.”
• Recycling is a simple yet powerful way to reduce waste and protect our environment. At our student halls, we've made it simple for you to recycle and do your part for the environment.
• Start off by placing items in the correct bin inside; check the label on your bin! You should always have 2 bins; one for general waste and one for mixed recycling. General waste goes in black bags and recycling goes in clear bags. You can be a recycling pro in no time:
• Give bottles, jars, cans, and tins a rinse first to avoid contamination
• In the dry mixed recycling, you can place-
  • Plastic bottles
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Metal cans and tins
• Large cardboard boxes should be folded or flat-packed and placed near the appropriate bins.
• Any items that currently cannot be recycled, such as food, plastic films, used tissues, crisp packets, should go into the general waste bins.
• When your bins are full, be sure to take them down to the waste/recycling zones outside your accommodation and check the signs to place the bags in the correct zone. If you are unsure; please ask the Student Accommodation team!
• Consider donating reusable items to nearby charity shops, such as the British Heart Foundation, which supports life-saving research and offers pick-up services for larger donations. Why not pick up a British Heart Foundation Charity Bag from The Accommodation Hub and donate your unwanted goods.
• If you come across a bin with different colours or symbols, look for guidance on what can be disposed of in that particular bin. Remember, proper separation is key to ensuring that recyclable items don't end up in landfills.
• For any niche items that require special recycling, like batteries and electronics; the University provides designated drop-off points.
• Let's work together to divert waste from landfills and support a circular economy!
• Plastic bottles? Recycle them! Empty, crush, and replace the lids.
  • Give containers a quick rinse before recycling, but no need to scrub them spotless.
  • Remove any chunks of food from paper and cardboard packaging.
  • Use the scrunch test for paper: if it stays scrunched, it's recyclable.
  • Give cans and plastic bottles a quick squish to save space in the bins.
  • Don't forget to recycle from the bathroom (toothpaste boxes, toilet roll tubes, aerosols, shampoo bottles, etc.).
  • Leave lids on glass jars and bottles.
• You can also visit the Chaplaincy who run pre-loved item events. You can collect items that you need including kitchenware and you can also donate kitchen items such as pots and pans that you no longer.
• The university also works to reduce energy consumption and you will notice that the heating in your rooms is timed to come on during mornings, lunch times, evenings and weekends. We ask that students turn off lights, chargers and other electrical items when not in use. Portable heaters and fans are not permitted for fire safety reasons and to prevent interference with the heating system.
• By following these simple guidelines, you'll be doing your part in reducing waste and supporting a more sustainable future. Let's work together to improve our recycling rates and create a greener campus community!
• Living sustainably doesn't have to be complicated. Here are some eco-friendly hacks to help you reduce your environmental impact:
  • Energy Efficiency: Unplug electronics when not in use, only put as much water as you need in the kettle, don’t use portable heaters or fans, use LED bulbs, and take advantage of natural lighting.
  • Water Conservation: take shorter showers, report leaky taps and toilets, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, and fill up the washing machine when washing your clothes.
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Opt for reusable containers and shopping bags, donate or sell unwanted items, and recycle everything you can.
  • Sustainable Transportation: Walk, bike, or use university transportation whenever possible.
  • Conscious Consumption: Buy pre-loved, support eco-friendly brands, and reduce impulse purchases.
• By adopting these sustainable practices, you'll not only reduce your carbon footprint but also save money and contribute to a healthier planet. Together, we can make a difference!
• Embrace these eco-hacks and share your own tips with your fellow residents!
• Together, we can create a sustainable living environment that inspires positive change and paves the way for a brighter future.

• The University is a Member of Sustainability West Midlands
• The National Brownfield Institute hosted Sustainability West Midlands for a Nature Recovery Innovation Lab on 4^th October 2024 
• The University is collaborating with Wolverhampton City Council on the Green Innovation Corridor
• The University of Wolverhampton is committed to capacity strengthening via the Centre for International Development & Training (CIDT).

The University of Wolverhampton is committed to creating impactful contributions towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

The University of Wolverhampton is working ‘glocally’ for the Sustainable Development Goals via CIDT