Leeds Beckett University sustainability score: 50/100
Better than 35% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Leeds Beckett University is a public higher education institution in Leeds, England, serving over 22,000 students across two campuses. It operates research institutes in sustainability and business.
More about Leeds Beckett University
As a UK university, its environmental footprint spans campus operations, procurement, student and staff commuting, and research activities.
Head office GBStaff 2,225 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £257M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Leeds Beckett has reduced operational emissions 72.5% from a 2005 baseline and publishes verified data via HESA. Critical gap: zero quantified supply chain emissions despite 22,000 students and material procurement. Scope 3 measurement is nascent; no SBTi validation or standalone impact report exists.
Leeds Beckett University 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 Leeds Beckett University joint 155th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 38th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Leeds Beckett 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 Energy Source (2/10, 4/10).
Where Leeds Beckett 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 operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain2/10No 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 is4/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its 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 reports5/10No dedicated sustainability role, board oversight or public report.
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 Leeds Beckett University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Leeds Beckett University's score based on?
9 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
44% of them were published by Leeds Beckett University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 4858.2 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10003861”
“Since 2005 we have reduced our carbon emissions by 65%”
“Leeds Beckett University has been working to reduce the emissions associated with its estate for nearly two decades”
“procuring 70% of our goods and services in West Yorkshire”
“Projects are linked to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, audited annually”
“Ecoprod works with many universities – read our case study from Leeds Beckett University”
“achieve phased targets set within the Biodiversity Management Plan (Woodland) 2016-2025”
“The LSI has been helping set the standard in Building Performance Evaluation research landscape for over 30 years”
“InfluenceMap maintains the world's leading database of corporate and industry association lobbying of climate policy”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does Leeds Beckett University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Leeds Beckett University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Leeds Beckett University is tied =38th of 67, with 6 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Leeds Beckett University.
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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