Heriot-Watt University sustainability score: 48/100
Better than 18% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Heriot-Watt University is a research-led institution in Edinburgh, Scotland, with five campuses across the UK, United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia. It serves students and staff across engineering, sciences, business, and social sciences.
More about Heriot-Watt University
Active in climate research and doctoral training.
Head office GBStaff 2,255 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £292M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Heriot-Watt has reduced operational emissions 38% since 2005 and committed to net-zero by 2035, but lacks SBTi validation and reports no quantified Scope 3 total. Recycling sits at 42.3%—below sector average. Material weakness: £7m in fossil fuel funding since 2016, with Shell Building on campus and explicit commitment to continue fossil research partnerships.
Heriot-Watt University scores 48/100 (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 Heriot-Watt University joint 211th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 53rd of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Heriot-Watt University doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Emissions Trajectory (6/10, 6/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Energy Source (3/10, 4/10).
Where Heriot-Watt 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.
- 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 chain3/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is4/10Less 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 waste4/10No 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.
- Its record on controversies5/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
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 Heriot-Watt University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Heriot-Watt University's score based on?
13 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
23% of them were published by Heriot-Watt University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
10 of 13 sources are independent of the company.
“11,102.2 tCO₂e total Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, 2023/24 (HESA Table-3, UKPRN 10007764)”
“Heriot-Watt University identified an error in the previously submitted figure for 'The weight of CO₂e for leased vehicles'”
“We have plans in place to enhance our understanding and reporting of our wider scope 3 emissions, largely in relation to travel and our broader supply chain.”
“annual reduction of approximately 155-160 tCO2e... transform Lord Home Hall's outdated fossil fuel infrastructure into a cutting-edge heat pump installation”
“more than 13,000 lights replaced in recent years... LED street lighting installation at the Edinburgh Campus was completed in 2014”
“380 acres of park and woodland... Green Flag Award reflecting achievements across criteria including access, biodiversity, conservation and community involvement”
“ECOWILD will provide us with the scientists we need to lead the way in ecological restoration”
“The return of 100,000 oysters is a significant step in improving water quality and enhancing marine biodiversity.”
“Heriot-Watt University has taken £7m from fossil fuel companies in recent years... no minutes are taken during advisory board meetings”
“the Shell Building at Heriot-Watt University's School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, and has nine core industry partners: BP, Cairn Energy...”
“Research undertaken by openDemocracy and published in November 2023, found that between 2016 and 2023 Heriot-Watt was in receipt of £7m in financial contributions from oil and gas companies.”
“buildings, business travel, management of waste and water consumption, across Scopes 1 to 3. Annual emission performance – Scottish campuses”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does Heriot-Watt University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Heriot-Watt University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Heriot-Watt University is tied =53rd of 67, with 2 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Heriot-Watt University.
Coventry University has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 15.5% from 2005 baseline and locked in £13M in capital decarbonisation projects, but Scope 3 remains entirely unquantified.
See the breakdown →Birkbeck has achieved a 56% absolute emissions reduction since 2005 and holds ISO 14001 certification with public annual reporting.
See the breakdown →Bath has reduced Scope 1+2 emissions 51% since 2005 and publishes annual carbon data, but renewable energy procurement is negligible (<1%), Scope 3 remains volatile at 89% of footprint, and net zero targets are under review.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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