University of Hull sustainability score: 29/100
Better than 5% of Higher Education / Universities
Below expectations starts at 31. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Hull is a mid-sized UK public research university based in Hull, England. It serves students across engineering, health sciences, arts, and business disciplines.
More about University of Hull
The institution operates a single urban campus with research strengths in flood resilience and environmental science.
Head office GBRevenue ~£201MWebsite ↗
University of Hull tracks Scope 1+2 emissions but has no Scope 3 quantification. Its flagship 2027 carbon neutrality target collapsed in June 2024 when the VC admitted it was impossible; the central solar farm was shelved due to grid constraints until 2034. Gas heating dominates; renewable generation remains negligible. Waste performance is strong, but energy strategy has stalled.
University of Hull scores 29/100 (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 Hull joint 753rd of 1,023 companies scored, and 64th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Hull doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Controversies & Red Flags (6/10, 6/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain and Energy Source (2/10, 2/10).
Where University of Hull 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.
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow its emissions are falling.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain2/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are falling3/10No evidence its emissions are falling.
- How clean its energy is2/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- 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 targets3/10No specific targets with dates.
- How openly it reports5/10No dedicated sustainability role, board oversight or public report.
- Its record on controversies6/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
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 Hull'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 Hull's score based on?
8 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by University of Hull itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Sustainability Report 2024/25 · Sustainability Report 2023/24 · Sustainability Report 2022/23”
“Annual carbon emissions were estimated at 9,830 tonnes of CO²e.”
“Carbon Emissions in Tonnes CO2e 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 Water 62 55 16 12 20”
“the vice-chancellor has admitted the university's long-heralded commitment to become carbon neutral in 2027 'is now impossible to achieve'”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24.”
“due to the inability of the national electricity grid being able to accept power from us in sufficient quantities until 2034, some elements of our carbon neutral strategy will need to change.”
“Gas boilers provide space heating in almost all campus buildings”
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How does University of Hull compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Hull sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Hull sits 64th of 67.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Hull.
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See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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