The Institute of Cancer Research sustainability score: 50/100
Better than 35% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
The Institute of Cancer Research is a specialist UK charity and research institution focused on cancer biology and treatment innovation. Based in London with campuses in Chelsea and Sutton, it employs approximately 1,540 FTE and conducts laboratory-intensive research requiring significant procurement of consumables, chemicals, and equipment.
Head office GBStaff 1,135 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £133M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
The ICR has reduced operational emissions 41% since 2005 and publishes verified data through HESA. The critical gap is Scope 3—acknowledged as over 90% of total emissions—remains unquantified and untracked. Supply chain decarbonisation is nascent. Recycling targets are missed.
The Institute of Cancer Research 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 The Institute of Cancer Research joint 155th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 38th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is The Institute of Cancer Research 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 Nature & Biodiversity Impact (3/10, 4/10).
Where The Institute of Cancer Research 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 effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- 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 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 is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its 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 water4/10No 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 The Institute of Cancer Research's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is The Institute of Cancer Research's score based on?
8 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
63% of them were published by The Institute of Cancer Research itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 4,808.9 tCO₂e (HESA Table-3, 2023/24, UKPRN 10003324)”
“Scope 1 - emissions from combustion of gas in heating boilers, emissions from burning fuel for back-up generators”
“Land Use and Ecology, Pollution and Innovation”
“SBTi Target Dashboard — no listing found for Institute of Cancer Research”
“progress against targets set out in our sustainability action plan 'Sustainable Discoveries'”
“Watts Sustainability has worked closely with the ICR for many years. A substantial project was the development of their 10-year sustainability plan.”
“I, Professor Kristian Helin, on behalf of the Institute of Cancer Research confirm our commitment to the priority areas outlined in the Concordat”
“InfluenceMap maintains the world's leading database of corporate and industry association lobbying — no ICR entry found”
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How does The Institute of Cancer Research compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where The Institute of Cancer Research sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, The Institute of Cancer Research is tied =38th of 67, with 6 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above The Institute of Cancer Research.
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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