University of Bath sustainability score: 49/100
Better than 23% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Bath is a research-led institution in the UK, specialising in engineering, science, and management disciplines. With significant campus operations in Southwest England, it ranks among the UK's top research universities and is a material energy and resource consumer with a multi-million-pound capital estate.
Head office United KingdomStaff 3,495 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £391M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
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. Supply chain engagement, nature disclosure, and external verification are absent.
University of Bath scores 49/100 (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 University of Bath joint 179th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 45th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Bath doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (3/10, 4/10).
Where University of Bath 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
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- Its effect on waterMeasure its water footprint and set reduction targets.
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 falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No 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 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 University of Bath's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is University of Bath's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
60% of them were published by University of Bath itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions: 12,605.2 tCO2e (2023/24, UKPRN 10007850)”
“Reasonable Assurance can be given with respect to the accuracy and reliability of carbon footprint data”
“methodology that also materially complies with the EAUC Standardised Carbon Emissions Reporting for Further and Higher Education”
“Our new Sustainable Procurement Policy enables purchasers in the University to make choices that reduce supply chain emissions”
“Our solar panels, although significant, typically only generate less than 1% of our total electricity use”
“Horseshoe Bat Activity Surveys 2019 — ecology and biodiversity advice provided for campus masterplanning”
“UK's first pilot recycling facility for single-use plastic lab waste is based in a repurposed greenhouse on the University of Bath campus”
“Richard Jackson, the University's Director of Sustainability and Space Management, said: 'A key to our growing impact is our whole-institution approach'”
“University of Bath researchers are set to demonstrate the potential of an innovative new water recycling technology after winning major funding from Ofwat”
“In comparison to last year, our total carbon footprint has increased by 24%”
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How does University of Bath compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Bath sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Bath is tied =45th of 67, with 7 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Bath.
Aberdeen has cut operational emissions 52.5% since 2005 and publishes verified data annually, but renewable energy procurement remains near-zero at 0%, and biodiversity/waste metrics lack measurable outcomes.
See the breakdown →Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest.
See the breakdown →Manchester has science-aligned 2038 zero-carbon targets and genuine third-party verified emissions data, but is materially off-trajectory: Scope 1+2 fell only 4% in 2023 versus the required 13% annual cut, and total Scope 3 emissions rose 18% since 2018.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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