University of South Wales 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 South Wales is a public research and teaching institution based in Wales, with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, and Cardiff. It teaches across engineering, business, health, and creative disciplines.
Head office GBStaff 2,450 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £243M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
USW has delivered solid operational emissions cuts (63% Scope 1+2 reduction since 2005) and locked in 100% renewable electricity since 2016/17, but recycling performance collapsed from 48% to 34% year-on-year, and supply chain emissions—89% of total footprint—remain unverified and largely unmanaged. Targets are self-set without SBTi validation.
University of South Wales 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 South Wales joint 86th of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of South Wales doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (9/10, 7/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Resource Use & Waste (4/10, 4/10).
Where University of South Wales 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
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles wasteReport measurable waste or recycling targets publicly.
- 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 chain5/10Most 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 nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No 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 South Wales'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 South Wales's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
70% of them were published by University of South Wales itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 5,597.4 tCO2e (HESA Table-3, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007793)”
“emissions data calculated using physical data and the application of the UK Government Conversion Factors (2023) for company reporting”
“Over 80% of our estate has been converted to LED lighting”
“Ensure 80% of top 50 suppliers (by spend) have a carbon footprint on Net Positives by end of 2028”
“USW has purchased 100% renewable electricity since 2016/17”
“Bird and bat boxes are in place on Treforest and Glyntaff Campuses”
“USW's choice to remove fossil fuel companies from its investment portfolio made it the final Welsh university to join the initiative”
“The University of South Wales has now become the latest Welsh University to boycott fossil fuel industry recruitment through its careers service”
“our carbon strategy has been developed to complement our USW 2030 Strategy and will enable the university to achieve our vision to be net zero by 2040”
“USW has achieved a 38% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions since 2018/19”
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How does University of South Wales compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of South Wales sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of South Wales 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 South Wales.
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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