University of Greater Manchester sustainability score: 22/100
Better than 2% of Higher Education / Universities
Below expectations starts at 31. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Greater Manchester (formerly University of Bolton) is a post-1992 teaching-focused institution with approximately 12,570 students and 700+ staff across a compact urban campus in Bolton and additional Greater Manchester sites. It prioritises vocational and professional education within the UK higher education sector.
Head office GBRevenue ~£60MWebsite ↗
University of Greater Manchester publishes no emissions data, renewable energy figures, or waste metrics. A sustainability committee exists since 2019, but no formal targets, annual reporting, or science-aligned commitments are public. The institution operates at small scale with low direct environmental exposure but zero measurable accountability infrastructure.
University of Greater Manchester scores 22/100 (Significant gaps) 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 Greater Manchester joint 945th of 1,023 companies scored, and 66th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Greater Manchester doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Transparency & Accountability (8/10, 3/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint: Operations (1/10, 2/10).
Where University of Greater Manchester 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 own operationsPublish emissions figures for its own operations, even an estimate from energy bills.
- Emissions from its supply chainAssess where its supply-chain emissions come from.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations2/10No emissions figures for its own operations, not even an estimate from energy bills.
- Emissions from its supply chain2/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are falling2/10No evidence its emissions are falling, not even from energy bills or mileage.
- How clean its energy is1/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature2/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste2/10No active waste reduction, reuse or repair shown.
- Its effect on water2/10No monitoring of water use, or no measures to reduce it.
- Its climate targets2/10No specific targets with dates.
- How openly it reports3/10No published sustainability data, or no one named as responsible for it.
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 Greater Manchester's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas University of Greater Manchester's score changed?
University of Greater Manchester's score has been reviewed 2 times and currently stands where it started, at 22.
- 22 → 227 November 2026
Correction, 7 November 2026: removed an unsourced emissions figure. Score unchanged.
- Scored 2227 September 2026
Initial public score 22 (publish-draft)
What evidence is University of Greater Manchester's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
27% of them were published by University of Greater Manchester itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“A sustainability committee was launched during 2019 and the University is constantly evolving its practices.”
“It has approximately 11,000 students and more than 900 academic and professional staff.”
“138 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the optional Estates management record.”
“The tables include data for the academic years 2015/16 to 2023/24.”
“University of Greater Manchester – 11.3%.”
“Its friendly and inclusive main campus near the centre of Bolton in Greater Manchester is home to 6,000 undergraduates.”
“With a student body of around 11,000 you will get the best of all worlds at the University of Greater Manchester.”
“The University of Bolton is a finalist in the prestigious Green Gown awards.”
“In conjunction with the University of Greater Manchester, Bolton College has created an electric and hybrid vehicle workshop.”
“Working towards Net Carbon Zero in line with government targets through our Environmental Strategy Framework.”
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How does University of Greater Manchester compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Greater Manchester sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Greater Manchester sits 66th of 67.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Greater Manchester.
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