Teesside University sustainability score: 51/100
Better than 45% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Teesside University is a mid-sized UK higher education institution based in Middlesbrough, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple disciplines. The university serves students and operates a £300m campus masterplan combining academic facilities with research and student services.
Head office GBStaff 2,175 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £222M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Teesside University has cut operational emissions 42% since 2005 and maintains zero waste to landfill, backed by statutory HESA reporting. Critical gap: no Scope 3 emissions disclosed despite material supply chain exposure. No published net-zero target exists; the institution acknowledges it must do more but remains without SBTi alignment.
Teesside University scores 51/100 (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 Teesside University joint 129th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 31st of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is Teesside 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 Targets & Commitments (2/10, 3/10).
Where Teesside 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.
- Its climate targetsSet specific targets with dates.
- 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 chain2/10No 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 is5/10Less 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 water6/10No water stewardship programme or verified fall in water use.
- Its climate targets3/10No specific targets with dates.
- 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 Teesside University's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Teesside University's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
42% of them were published by Teesside University itself; the rest come from independent sources.
7 of 12 sources are independent of the company.
“4,910.5 tCO₂e total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 2023/24, HESA Table-3 (UKPRN 10007161)”
“Annual Environmental and Social Governance Report 2022/23 — EcoCampus Gold accreditation confirmed”
“EcoCampus provides third party verification via UKAS accredited partners”
“Scope 3 emissions figures are included separately in the Environmental information statistics tables for most HE providers”
“extension of emissions measurement in UK universities to include Scope 3 generally represents a very large (>400%) increase”
“Of the 136 HE providers who submitted data for the past two years, 96 (71%) saw a decrease in emissions”
“University reduce its carbon emissions by almost a third, as well as reduce water usage by 142,000 cubic metres”
“177 x 250w solar panels generate green electricity 365 days a year, providing a renewable energy source”
“all new builds achieving the building sustainability rating standard (BREEAM) and sustainable procurement practices embedded in masterplan projects”
“Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25 — Teesside University, Ambition Delivered Today”
“dedicated approach to its environmental responsibilities and is aware of the impact the University's operations can have”
“Leading the way - that's how we've ranked Teesside University on its plan to reduce emissions and fight climate change”
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How does Teesside University compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where Teesside University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Teesside University is tied =31st of 67, with 6 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Teesside University.
Edinburgh Napier has achieved substantial operational emissions reductions (49% absolute since 2018/19) and maintains transparent public reporting via HESA.
See the breakdown →UAL has verified operational emissions reductions (48% since 2005) but supply-chain emissions remain unquantified and rising.
See the breakdown →Warwick has met interim carbon targets through operational gas phase-out and renewable electricity, but Scope 3 emissions—three-quarters of its footprint—lack annual disclosure and reduction milestones.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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