University of Derby sustainability score: 50/100
Better than 35% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Derby is a medium-sized UK higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple campuses in the East Midlands. It sits in the middle tier of UK universities by student numbers and research intensity, with a stated sustainability commitment embedded in its governance structure.
Head office GBStaff 2,195 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £219M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest. Scope 1+2 reductions are real but partly driven by grid decarbonisation; Scope 3 lacks verification and commuting data. Energy remains predominantly grid-sourced with minimal renewable procurement. Recycling at 35.3% trails sector peers.
University of Derby 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 University of Derby joint 155th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 38th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Derby 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 Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain (3/10, 4/10).
Where University of Derby 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.
- 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.
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 falling5/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- 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 Derby'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 Derby's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
67% of them were published by University of Derby itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 5187.9 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007851”
“CO2e emissions, including those associated with waste and water, were calculated using the 2024 emission factors”
“In 2021/22 our total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions were 5958 tonnes CO2e”
“Our supply chain is the largest part of the University's carbon footprint”
“University of Derby has become part of Nature Positive Universities Alliance, a new global network of 111 universities”
“The University is aiming to reach Net Zero by 2040”
“Professor Miles Richardson was selected as one of the UK Government's lead authors for the Transformative Change Report”
“We do not purchase fish listed as 'fish to avoid' in the Good Fish Guide”
“we aim to ensure none of our non-hazardous waste goes to landfill”
“cut yearly water usage in the men's washrooms across all campuses by more than 23,739,965 litres”
“University applied a robust internal carbon fee of £70/tCO2e, reflecting best practice internal carbon pricing”
“InfluenceMap maintains the world's leading database of corporate and industry association lobbying”
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How does University of Derby compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Derby sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Derby is tied =38th of 67, with 6 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Derby.
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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