Cranfield University sustainability score: 54/100
Better than 79% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Cranfield University is a UK-based postgraduate-focused research institution specialising in aerospace, defence, engineering, and sustainable technology. It operates a campus with an on-site airport and research facilities across Bedfordshire, employing staff and students.
Head office GBStaff 1,900 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £219M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Cranfield has cut operational emissions 51% since 2005 and publishes credible data, but Scope 3 remains unmeasured and unverified. Supply chain emissions dwarf direct operations yet lack published figures. Energy remains gas-dominated despite solar expansion. No red flags found.
Cranfield University scores 54/100 (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 Cranfield University joint 71st of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 11th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Limited evidence. This score rests on 12 sources, 83% of them published by the company itself. Every source cited here passed the same quality checks as any other score: all live, none from data aggregators. There is simply less of it.
What is Cranfield 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 Energy Source (3/10, 5/10).
Where Cranfield 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 chainAssess where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- How clean its energy isShow at least half its energy is renewable, with a transition plan.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
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 chain3/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is5/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- Its effect on nature5/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste6/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- 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 reports7/10No 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 Cranfield University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Cranfield University's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
83% of them were published by Cranfield University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Limited data coverage. This assessment is based on 12 sources, 83% of which are self-reported by the company. Scores may change as independent evidence becomes available.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 9,070.7 tCO₂e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007822”
“The output of the CHP in 2023/2024 was 7,616,771 kWh consuming 21,001,228 kWh of gas”
“Cranfield University is officially certified for ISO 50001 for its energy management system”
“The scale dwarfs current Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Further work is required to ensure the accuracy of the data.”
“On 23 March 2023, Cranfield University worked in partnership with Earthwatch UK to plant a Miyawaki (Tiny) Forest”
“A successful re-certification audit was carried out by BSI in May 2023”
“In 2020, the University committed to a new target for 'Zero Avoidable Waste' by 2030”
“85 projects…reduce their carbon emissions by 1,919 tonnes every year”
“The University has set an ambitious new target to reduce water consumption by 50% by 2030, against a 2010 baseline.”
“metering and monitoring capability across the Cranfield campus is insufficient to quantify which are the most significant users”
“The Board for Energy and Environment reports to the University Executive and Council on energy and environmental issues”
“Since 2013 the University has been steadily improving habitats on site, increasing the areas targeted for biodiversity actions”
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How does Cranfield University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Cranfield University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Cranfield University is tied =11th of 67, with 4 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Cranfield University.
Aberystwyth has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 50% from 2005 baseline and publishes statutory HESA data annually, backed by £10m renewable investment.
See the breakdown →DMU has cut operational carbon 62% since 2005 via efficiency gains, but supply chain emissions are rising 40% above baseline.
See the breakdown →Edinburgh has cut operational carbon intensity 35% over a decade and acquired 5,035 hectares for habitat restoration, but leaves Scope 3 emissions unquantified.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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