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  • Sustainability
  • 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.

Strategy document: Our mission and values

Governance structure

Institutional sustainability 

The Global Challenges Strategic Oversight Group oversees the drafting and implementation of the university's institutional sustainability work such as:

  • education for sustainability 
  • staff and student participation
  • energy
  • water
  • waste
  • sustainable food
  • sustainable procurement.

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.

UCU logoUnison logo

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.

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.

Brighton Students' Union 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.

  • Net zero strategy 2022–25
  • Carbon Offsetting Position Statement 2024
  • Sustainability and Environmental Policy Statement 2022-25
  • Sustainability and Environmental Annual Review 2025
  • Environmental Sustainability Objectives and Targets 2025
  • Ethical Investment Policy
  • Ethical Investment Statement 2024
  • Sustainable Food Policy 2025-26
  • People and Nature Plan
  • Construction and Refurbishment Process
  • Water Management Strategy 2024-25
  • Waste Management Policy

The university’s travel strategies and plans are being updated.

View the current plans:

  • Cycle Facilities and Micro-mobility Policy
  • Moulsecoomb Campus Travel Plan
  • City Campus Travel Plan
  • Falmer Campus Travel Plan.

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). View the Ethical Investment Statement 2022.

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

  • the production of land mines, 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.

The university is also a member of the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC), which is affiliated to Electronics Watch. Electronics Watch inform, organise, investigate and influence public procurement demand for decent working conditions in electronics supply chains. 

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