Cardiff Metropolitan University sustainability score: 53/100
Better than 64% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a public higher education institution in Wales offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across business, engineering, health, and arts disciplines. It serves students across two urban campuses in Llandaff and Cyncoed.
Head office GBStaff 1,435 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £145M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Cardiff Met has reduced Scope 1+2 emissions 60% since 2005 and holds ISO 14001 certification, but supply chain mapping remains incomplete and recycling lags sector targets at 49%. Scope 3 quantification relies on partial procurement data. No SBTi validation and no executive pay linkage to sustainability weaken governance claims.
Cardiff Metropolitan 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 Cardiff Metropolitan University joint 86th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Cardiff Metropolitan University doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Emissions Trajectory (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 4/10).
Where Cardiff Metropolitan 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 chainMap its full value chain and run a supplier engagement programme.
- 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 operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain4/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less 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 Cardiff Metropolitan University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Cardiff Metropolitan University's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
75% of them were published by Cardiff Metropolitan University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 2023/24: 2,793,800 kg CO2e (HESA Table-3, UKPRN 10007854)”
“Our current Carbon Management Strategy 2024-2030 aims to build on the strong energy performance of the University”
“In 2019/20, we captured, analysed and reported on other Scope 3 emissions for the first time”
“'Halve the Half' initiative delivered a 33% reduction in gas use, a 10% cut in electricity use and 20% reduction in water consumption in two years”
“Cardiff Metropolitan University has received the 'Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership' award at the Times Higher Education Awards 2025”
“SBTi Target Dashboard: no record found for Cardiff Metropolitan University”
“The University will achieve its goal of becoming Net Zero Carbon for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030”
“Carbon Management Plan 2024–2030 sets out our carbon baseline, targets, action and ambition to achieve Net Zero Carbon”
“All consumables and parts are fully recycled”
“Cardiff Metropolitan University has been awarded silver for improving sustainability throughout its estate in the AUDE Awards 2025”
“Paper is FSC accredited, sourced from sustainably managed forests”
“Financial Statements 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 published on Cardiff Met governance pages”
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How does Cardiff Metropolitan University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Cardiff Metropolitan University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Cardiff Metropolitan 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 Cardiff Metropolitan 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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