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  • Governance and policies

Governance and policies

Sustainability is one of the University of Brighton’s four core values, as outlined in the University Strategy 2019–2025.

The university recognises and values the critical importance sustainability has for the future of our students, staff, partners and community. Whether it’s through environmentally sustainable campuses and practices, a strong and protected financial position or the long-lasting knowledge and support we give our students and staff – sustainability will be highly valued, underpinning the decisions we make and the activities we do, now and in the future.

To ensure continual progress towards our sustainability goals, the university has in place a formal sustainability governance structure, with comprehensive policies, strategies and action plans as outlined below.

Our mission and values - strategy document

Governance structure

Operational sustainability 

The Sustainability Governance Board (formerly the Carbon Management Program Board) was formed in 2011, to oversee the drafting and implementation of the Carbon Management Plan. The board now oversees all elements of strategic and operational sustainability, such as:

  • energy
  • water
  • waste
  • sustainable food
  • sustainable procurement
  • staff and student engagement.

The board meets quarterly, and includes senior representation from across the university and the Students’ Union

 

Trade unions

The university works with the following trades union representatives on sustainability issues that impact on students and staff.

  • UCU
  • Unison

The university is keen to encourage involvement from trade unions in contributing to the development of a sustainable working environment, and representatives are invited to join the Sustainability Governance Board to input into sustainability decision making.

ucu_colourUnison-logo-rect

Student representation 

Students are represented by the University of Brighton Students’ Union on all university committees relating to sustainability, including: estates, planning, finance, and resource allocation.

A student representative sits on the Sustainability Governance Board, the university’s main sustainability decision-making group.

The Students’ Union President and Students’ Union Chair of Council are also members of the Board of Governors, which oversees resource allocation and finance at the university.

Additionally, student representatives sit on all Campus Management Groups, which discuss all matters relating to campus developments.

Brighton Students' Union logo

Action network 

The Sustainability Action Network (SAN) is a campus-specific forum open to all staff and students, in which they can come together to share ideas and bring about change to their local environments through grassroots action.

The university’s Sustainability Team supports the networks which are coordinated locally by those involved. There is a £250 annual budget to support each SAN, which can be used to develop and deliver activities on campus.

In September 2018 the Moulsecoomb SAN, Green Moulsecoomb, launched a campus wide tea-towel reuse system to reduce use of paper towels across the campus, which are not recyclable.

Minutes from Sustainability Action Network group meetings are shared at the relevant Campus Management Group by the Sustainability Team. 

Sustainability in Action logo

Policies, strategies and action plans

To ensure that sustainability is truly embedded throughout all our practices, the university has developed a number of policies and strategies which cover a range of working areas across the organisation.

Additionally, several policies and strategies are currently being developed to strengthen our sustainability goals, including net zero aspirations, as outlined below.

  • Sustainability and Environmental Policy Statement 2022–25
  • Ethical Investment Policy
  • Ethical Investment Statement 2021
  • The Carbon Management Plan and plans for reaching net-zero are currently under development. View the previous Carbon Management Plan 2017–2020.
  • The university is developing a new People and Nature Strategy with the School of Applied Sciences, due for completion July 2022. View the previous biodiversity plans: Biodiversity Action Plan 2009 and Watts Bank Management Plan 2013.

The university’s travel strategies and plans are being updated in 2022 and 2023. View the current plans:

  • University Travel Plan Strategy document 2010
  • City Campus Travel Plan 2016
  • Eastbourne Campus Travel Plan 2014
  • Falmer Campus Travel Plan 2010
  • Moulsecoomb Campus Travel Plan 2018
  • Cycle Facilities and Micro-mobility Policy

Other sustainability policies and strategies:

  • Sustainable Food Policy 2019
  • Procurement Strategy 2015–19
  • Sustainable Procurement Policy 2014
  • Sustainable Procurement Policy – Copier Paper (2015)
  • Sustainable Procurement Policy – Stationery and Other Products (2015)
  • Sustainable Procurement Policy – Furniture (2014)

Investment and procurement

Ethical investment 

We are fully committed to being socially and environmentally responsible in our investments, as is outlined in our Ethical Investment Policy (pdf).

We therefore do not invest in companies or funds directly involved in:

  • the production of landmines, cluster bombs, nuclear and conventional weapons
  • tobacco manufacture, alcohol, pornography, gambling
  • support of oppressive regimes
  • anti-social sales and marketing practices relating to alcohol and tobacco
  • or violations of international conventions and norms in the areas of human rights, employment practices and climate change.

We also declare that:

  • we currently hold no direct investments in extractor fossil fuel companies
  • we will never directly invest in these companies.

The policy is reported on annually to the Board of Governors, Finance and Employment Committee and Audit Committee.

We also publish publicly a list of sectors in which we invest, to ensure transparency to staff, students and the public.

Sustainable procurement 

The university has a number of policies in place to ensure that sustainable procurement is embedded across the university's purchasing practices, including:

  • all copier and printer paper should be recycled
  • staff should check the online reuse portal Warp-it prior to purchasing new furniture
  • the sustainability credentials of stationery should be considered when purchased
  • all uniforms bought for university staff should be made using Fairtrade cotton. 
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