Anglia Ruskin University sustainability score: 53/100
Better than 64% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Anglia Ruskin University is a multi-campus UK higher education institution with 21,130 FTE students and staff across Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough, and Writtle. It operates four urban campuses and houses the Global Sustainability Institute conducting research on biodiversity, nature risk, and climate policy.
Head office GBStaff 2,505 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £382M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Anglia Ruskin has achieved measurable carbon reductions (40% absolute Scope 1+2 vs 2005) and secured zero-carbon electricity via power purchase agreement. Critical gap: Scope 3 emissions remain unquantified despite a travel management system in place. Targets extend to 2045, missing SBTi alignment. Governance is standard for UK HE; nature and waste strategies lack quantified outcomes.
Anglia Ruskin University scores 53/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified September 2026.
That places Anglia Ruskin University joint 86th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Anglia Ruskin University doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 4/10).
Where Anglia Ruskin University lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Emissions from its supply chainMeasure most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles wasteReport measurable waste or recycling targets publicly.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain4/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is7/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water5/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Anglia Ruskin University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Anglia Ruskin University's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
27% of them were published by Anglia Ruskin University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Table 3, Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions: 4781.7 tCO2e (2023/24), UKPRN 10000291”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“ARU uses TEAM's Sigma energy monitoring and targeting software to monitor energy use across the estate”
“ARU's environmental footprint has been reduced annually by 361 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to energy savings of 1.77 GWh”
“tree planting with the students union”
“Professor Aled Jones, lead author of the report and the Director of the Global Sustainability Institute at Anglia Ruskin University”
“We do not send any waste materials to landfill sites — all our waste is either reused, recycled or used to create refuse derived fuel”
“We are partners in the Green Economy Coalition and the Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) network”
“Written evidence, Global Sustainability Institute, Anglia Ruskin University”
“Leading the way — that's how we've ranked Anglia Ruskin University on its plan to reduce emissions”
“Sustainability Strategy 2020-26, incorporating sustainability and environmental awareness in teaching, research and University operations”
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How does Anglia Ruskin University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Anglia Ruskin University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Anglia Ruskin University is tied =16th of 67, with 9 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Anglia Ruskin University.
Strathclyde has cut absolute emissions 40% since 2018/19 and publishes credible HESA-verified data, but missed its own 70%-by-2025 interim target by half.
See the breakdown →Bristol has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 56% since 2005 and publishes verified data.
See the breakdown →Birmingham City University has documented operational carbon cuts of 59% since 2005, backed by statutory HESA data and ISO 14001 certification.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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