Falmouth University sustainability score: 49/100
Better than 23% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Falmouth University is a specialist arts and creative education institution in Cornwall, UK, operating two campuses in Penryn and Falmouth. It is one of the UK's leading creative universities.
More about Falmouth University
Core activity spans digital media, performing arts, visual culture, and design disciplines with minimal direct environmental impact outside campus operations.
Head office GBStaff 765 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £76.9M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Falmouth University reports Scope 1+2 emissions of 2,319 tCO2e annually via statutory HESA data, with a 12.9% absolute reduction since 2005 — far short of its 50% target by 2025. Renewable energy supply is negligible at 4%, and Scope 3 emissions remain unpublished. Active campus management and supplier engagement exist, but absence of SBTi validation and material gaps to near-term targets limit credibility.
Falmouth University scores 49/100 (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 Falmouth University joint 179th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 45th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Falmouth University doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain (3/10, 4/10).
Where Falmouth 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
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- 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.
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 is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- 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 water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets4/10Its 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 Falmouth University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Falmouth University's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by Falmouth University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 2318.9 tCO2e, 2023/24 (HESA EMR Table-3, UKPRN 10008640)”
“Annual scope 1, 2 & 3 carbon emission profiles are developed in alignment with the Standardised Carbon Emission Framework (EAUC, 2022).”
“Their approach to sustainable procurement was assessed as being 'established'... on the higher end of the spectrum.”
“54 projects... expected to save 542 tonnes of carbon emissions and £150,158 on energy bills annually.”
“Penryn Campus has now seen a 65% reduction, with Falmouth Campus just behind with a 69% reduction – ahead of our target of a 50% reduction by 2025.”
“We launched our new 'Swap Shop' campaign in 2023 with the aim of helping our campus and local communities reduce resource use and waste.”
“Sustainability Report 2024, published February 20, 2025 by Falmouth University on Issuu.”
“Environment Sustainability Policy · Sustainable and Responsible Procurement · Audited Financial Statements 2024”
“Responsibility for the various aspects of Falmouth Exeter Plus's Sustainability Policy rests with individual members of CCECEB.”
“A Falmouth University graduate was uninvited from a public event intended to discuss the role of protest as a result of her Just Stop Oil protest on campus in October 2023.”
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How does Falmouth University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Falmouth University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Falmouth University is tied =45th of 67, with 7 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Falmouth University.
Aberdeen has cut operational emissions 52.5% since 2005 and publishes verified data annually, but renewable energy procurement remains near-zero at 0%, and biodiversity/waste metrics lack measurable outcomes.
See the breakdown →Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest.
See the breakdown →Manchester has science-aligned 2038 zero-carbon targets and genuine third-party verified emissions data, but is materially off-trajectory: Scope 1+2 fell only 4% in 2023 versus the required 13% annual cut, and total Scope 3 emissions rose 18% since 2018.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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