University of Brighton sustainability score: 53/100
Better than 64% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Brighton is a public research and teaching institution in the UK, with campuses in Brighton and Eastbourne. It serves approximately 15,600 students across multiple schools including engineering, health professions, business, and creative industries.
More about University of Brighton
A comprehensive research institution within the UK higher education sector.
Head office United KingdomStaff 1,885 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £211M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
University of Brighton has cut operational emissions 45% against 2009/10 baseline through solar and efficiency gains, with mandatory HESA reporting to prove it. Scope 3 supply chain emissions remain unquantified and public. The 2050 net-zero target lacks SBTi validation. Biodiversity and waste programmes exist but lack formal quantification.
University of Brighton scores 53/100 (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 Brighton joint 86th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Brighton 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 (4/10, 4/10).
Where University of Brighton 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 chainMeasure most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions.
- Its climate targetsMake its targets science-based, or commit to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How clean its energy isShow at least half its energy is renewable, with a transition plan.
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 chain4/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No 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 nature5/10Its 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 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.
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 Brighton's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas University of Brighton's score changed?
University of Brighton's score has been reviewed 2 times and currently stands where it started, at 53.
- 53 → 537 November 2026
Correction, 7 November 2026: removed an unsourced emissions figure. Score unchanged.
- Scored 5327 September 2026
Initial public score 53 (publish-draft)
What evidence is University of Brighton's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
36% of them were published by University of Brighton itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“6,209.7 tCO₂e total Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, 2023/24, UKPRN 10000886”
“45.6% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions against a 2009–10 baseline”
“Scope 3 emissions figures are included separately in the Environmental information statistics tables for most HE providers”
“Educational Institutions: The University of Brighton, Greater Brighton Metropolitan College, and fifteen Sussex schools.”
“Net Zero Carbon Management Strategy 2022–25 with 2026 Update”
“The Director of Estates and Facilities Management is the accountable lead for environmental and corporate sustainability performance”
“For 2024/2025 the university aims to renewing its Bronze accreditation (achieved in 2021/22) and work towards the Silver accreditation”
“chalk grassland restoration in partnership with Sussex Wildlife Trust, supporting one of the area's most important natural habitats”
“The Brighton Waste House: a building constructed using over 85% waste material and a living laboratory for ecological architectural design.”
“In 2023, students and staff protested in opposition to the university's plans to make 110 staff redundant.”
“InfluenceMap maintains the world's leading database of corporate and industry association lobbying of climate policy around the globe.”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does University of Brighton compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Brighton sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Brighton is tied =16th of 67, with 9 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Brighton.
Strathclyde has cut absolute emissions 40% since 2018/19 and publishes credible HESA-verified data, but missed its own 70%-by-2025 interim target by half.
See the breakdown →Bristol has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 56% since 2005 and publishes verified data.
See the breakdown →Birmingham City University has documented operational carbon cuts of 59% since 2005, backed by statutory HESA data and ISO 14001 certification.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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