Imperial College London sustainability score: 50/100
Better than 35% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Imperial College London is a public research university, headquartered in London, UK. It specializes in science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM).
More about Imperial College London
As a Russell Group institution with significant research output, it operates multiple urban campuses (South Kensington, White City, Hammersmith) plus Silwood Park estate.
Head office GBStaff 8,530 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £1.33B (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Imperial has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 49% from 2005 baseline and reports via statutory HESA data, but relies on unverified Scope 3 estimates and unbundled renewable certificates. No absolute Scope 3 target exists. Credible 2024 journalism documented fossil fuel holdings and ongoing energy company partnerships before partial divestment.
Imperial College London scores 50/100 (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 Imperial College London joint 155th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 38th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Imperial College London doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Emissions Trajectory (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Targets & Commitments (3/10, 4/10).
Where Imperial College London 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
- Its effect on natureAssess its effect on nature and publish a basic environmental policy.
- Its climate targetsMake its targets science-based, or commit to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- 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 chain6/10No 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 nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- 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 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.
- Its record on controversies7/10Points 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 Imperial College London's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas Imperial College London's score changed?
Imperial College London's score has moved from 53 to 50 across 2 recorded reviews, down 3 points.
- 53 → 50-329 October 2026
Figures corrected from Imperial's own 2023-24 report; the stored total had left out Scope 3.
- Scored 5327 September 2026
Initial public score 53 (publish-draft)
What evidence is Imperial College London's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
67% of them were published by Imperial College London itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 42,411.4 tCO2e, 2023/24 (HESA Table-3, UKPRN 10003270)”
“With 83% of our emissions being scope 3, everybody has a part to play”
“Business travel: 34,473 tCO2e (17%)”
“From 2022-23 onwards, we have reported our carbon emissions using the EAUC Standardised Carbon Emissions Framework”
“Scope 3 emissions of goods and services were calculated based on the approach used in HESCET and Net Positive's Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool”
“We are buying electricity backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO)”
“A Biodiversity and Habitat Survey was undertaken by the College in 2021 to inform college-wide greening efforts”
“Our sustainable travel policy has helped us build a stronger approach to reducing our scope 3 emissions, with a 34% fall in emissions from business travel”
“Imperial wants to reduce travel emissions by 25% by 2026”
“SBTi Target Dashboard lists companies with validated or committed targets — Imperial College London not found”
“Imperial stands as one of the few Russell Group universities still investing its endowment in fossil fuels”
“Seaweed-based packaging expected to replace more than 450,000 single-use plastic items on campus a year”
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How does Imperial College London compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Imperial College London sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Imperial College London is tied =38th of 67, with 6 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Imperial College London.
Glasgow Caledonian University reports comprehensive Scope 1+2 emissions data with a verified 27.7% reduction since 2005, but remains entirely gas-powered with zero renewable energy.
See the breakdown →CCCU has cut operational emissions 51% since 2005 and ranks gold-tier for energy efficiency among UK universities.
See the breakdown →Teesside University has cut operational emissions 42% since 2005 and maintains zero waste to landfill, backed by statutory HESA reporting.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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