About Us
Sustainability
Sustainability and environment at Arts University Plymouth
At Arts University Plymouth, we recognise sustainability as a core principle in everything we deliver, and we are committed to continually improving our environmental performance.
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth has actively embraced sustainable practices throughout the facilities from reducing food waste and increasing recycling to reducing our carbon footprint with the use of electric vehicles and LED lighting.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth purchases 100% of its electricity through energy suppliers with no greenhouse gas emissions. In September 2022 the university replaced the gas furnace in our glass department with an electric furnace, which will reduce the annual energy consumption by 4/5ths and is forecast to reduce our carbon footprint from hot glass by over 39 tonnes each year. We’re also continuing an initiative that when lighting across all campuses needs to be replaced we install LED bulbs, which not only improves the light quality in our working spaces, it also reduces the amount of electricity that we use on lighting by around ⅔.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We were thrilled to be shortlisted for <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/arts-university-plymouth-shortlisted-for-company-of-the-year-in-the-national-sustainability-awards">Company of the Year and for the Facilities Management Award in the National Sustainability Awards 2022</a>!<br /> <br /><a href="https://pca.objects.frb.io/production/files/Main-menu/Sustainability/Environment-Sustainability-Policy-2021_22.docx.pdf">Read our Environmental and Sustainability Policy. </a><br /></p>
<ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We use <a href="https://pca.objects.frb.io/production/files/Main-menu/Sustainability/Arts-University-Plymouth-Sustainability-Certificate.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">100% renewable electricity</a>.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have solar panels installed on our Charles Cross roof, generating electricity every day.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We aim to recycle at least 2/3rds of all waste generated in our classrooms and offices.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have a food waste collection in The Refectory, which is collected for composting.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">The Refectory also offers used coffee grounds to staff and students for use as fertiliser in gardens, allotments and more.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have a contemplative garden in our Tavistock Place courtyard for students, staff and local wildlife to enjoy.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have an electric van to transport goods between campuses.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We offer 2 x Cycle to Work bicycle schemes to enable staff to cycle to work.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We are updating our lighting to LED to reduce our electricity consumption.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We are rolling out building fabric improvements to windows and roofs across campuses</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">In Spring 2021 we installed data loggers on all our water meters to prevent water wastage across all campuses.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We use local contractors to support local livelihoods and reduce travel mileage where we can.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We are working with Plymouth City Council who are rolling out a scheme to install 525 e-bikes across the city in the first stage of the sustainable travel plan for Plymouth. The university will be taking part in the scheme by allowing Plymouth City Council to site and install 6 ebikes at the front of our Tavistock Place campus.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have shower facilities at our Tavistock Place campus for those students and staff wishing to cycle or run to the University, which enables us to promote a green travel to work and study scheme.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have secured funding for net zero carbon support which includes a high level assessment of our greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint which allows the University to have a well informed and achievable plan for our emissions reduction trajectory.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">We have registered with Plymouth Plastic Free Directory, which is an initiative aimed at providing a comprehensive listing of businesses, organisations and communities who have and are making efforts to reduce their plastic use.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Our Head of Facilities is focused closely on improving the everyday sustainability of all our campuses.</p></li></ul>
Students from our Pre-Degree & Sixth Form campus get immersed in nature at Poole Farm Plymouth, in partnership with Green Minds.
<p>We've partnered with several local and national organisations to highlight and share resources to improve sustainability, not only on campus but across our city too. Explore them below.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/research/supported-projects/green-minds">Green Minds</a></li><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/research/supported-projects/smart-citizens-programme-scp">Smart Citizens Programme</a>. Explore <a href="https://smartcitizen.me/kits/14699" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the results of the Environmental Data Kits</a> active across Plymouth.</li><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/resources/fab-lab">Fab Lab Plymouth</a></li><li><a href="https://plasticfree.plymouthsoundnationalmarinepark.com/directory/arts-university-plymouth/">Plymouth Plastic Free Directory</a></li><li><a href="https://www.eauc.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The alliance for sustainability leadership in education (EAUC)</a>. EAUC aims to inspire, promote, and support change towards best practice sustainability within the operations, curriculum, and research of the UK Further and Higher education sector. As the sustainability champion for universities and colleges in the UK, EAUC positions sustainability at the heart of each member institution’s core strategy, and can help our institution to achieve our sustainability commitments. EAUC Membership has no limits on numbers, which means that all staff, students and student representatives at Arts University Plymouth can create accounts with EAUC. To join, click <a href="https://www.eauc.org.uk/members/choose_subscription.php?type=institution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> and select Arts University Plymouth from the drop down list. <br /> </li></ul>
