Plymouth maintains first class status in green university rankings

Plymouth University has maintained its place at the top table of higher education sustainability.

The University has again been named in the top two institutions in the country in the annual People and Planet Green League.

Plymouth remains the national league's top overall performer since it began in 2007, on the back of it being placed in the top five of the UI GreenMetric World Universities Ranking 2012.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University, said: “At Plymouth, we take our social responsibility very seriously and sustainability is a key influence in everything we do. It is embedded across our exciting and innovative curriculum, our world class research, and the development and management of our campus. This ranking acknowledges our status as a national pioneer, but by constantly striving to push the boundaries, we can create a greater impact and transform more lives in the future.”

The People and Planet Green League is the UK's only comprehensive and independent green ranking of universities, and assesses their environmental and ethical performance. It awards First Class 'degrees' to the greenest, and Fail to those doing the least to address their environmental impacts.

Plymouth was among 43 institutions to achieve a ‘First’ in 2013, scoring a total of 59 points out of a possible 70, just half a point off the top spot.

The University improved its score from 2012, with the judges recognising the success of its environmental and carbon management systems, its sustainable curriculum, its Fairtrade and sustainable food programmes, and its increased use of renewable energy.

This year, the University has strengthened its dedicated sustainable education support team, led by the Head of Education for Sustainable Development, Professor Stephen Sterling, who also published a definitive book on the subject, The Sustainable University – progress and prospects.

Hannah Smith, Green League Manager at People & Planet, said: “Plymouth University has consistently been at the very top of People & Planet's Green League since its launch and we consider them among the pioneers leading the higher education sector's transition to a low-carbon future. Plymouth's staff and students should be particularly proud of their sector-leading approach to sustainability in the curriculum, carbon reduction and ethical procurement.”

Nationally, the People & Planet Green League table reveals the Higher Education sector is gradually going greener and, for the first time, all universities assessed now have an environmental policy.

UK universities are also doing more to improve graduate prospects by preparing them for the future low-carbon economy and increasing their focus on sustainability in the curriculum; 47% of universities gained full points for integrating sustainability into the curriculum, compared to 27% just two years ago.