University of Sunderland sustainability score: 54/100
Better than 79% of Higher Education / Universities
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
University of Sunderland is a UK higher education institution, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across business, engineering, health, and social sciences. A mid-sized urban campus university, it operates across two main sites in Sunderland and London.
Head office GBStaff 1,855 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)Revenue £224M (HESA EMR 2023/24)Website ↗
Sunderland has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 67.5% since 2005, backed by HESA statutory data and interim milestones to 2030. Scope 3 remains unverified and unquantified; supply chain engagement is nascent, phased in only from September 2025. No SBTi validation weakens credibility of net-zero claims.
University of Sunderland scores 54/100 (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 Sunderland joint 71st of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 11th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
What is University of Sunderland 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 Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 5/10).
Where University of Sunderland 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 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.
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 is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- 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 targets5/10Its 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 Sunderland's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas University of Sunderland's score changed?
University of Sunderland's score has been reviewed 2 times and currently stands where it started, at 54.
- 54 → 547 November 2026
Correction, 7 November 2026: removed an unsourced emissions figure and gave the university's own wording instead. Score unchanged.
- Scored 5427 September 2026
Initial public score 54 (publish-draft)
What evidence is University of Sunderland's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
60% of them were published by University of Sunderland itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 4,250.9 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007159”
“by 2023/24 we've reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 67% compared to 2005/6”
“Scope 3 emissions from our supply chain are estimated to be four times greater than the emissions from our built estate”
“a 20% reduction in the University's carbon emissions over the last 12 months”
“As of December 2024, we have nine solar arrays capable of generating 870,744 kWh per year”
“Obtaining independent, external verification of the University's biodiversity contribution (see Baseline report)”
“the University has undergone an audit to prove that its environmental risks are well managed”
“Gary Stubbs of the University of Sunderland were crowned Staff Sustainability Champion”
“Environmental information for UK higher education providers is collected as part of the Estates management record”
“recognised as a finalist in the 2024 Green Gown Awards UK & Ireland due to its sustainability action”
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How does University of Sunderland compare with other higher education / universities companies?
Where University of Sunderland sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Sunderland is tied =11th of 67, with 4 others.
Who scores higher in Higher Education / Universities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Sunderland.
Aberystwyth has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 50% from 2005 baseline and publishes statutory HESA data annually, backed by £10m renewable investment.
See the breakdown →DMU has cut operational carbon 62% since 2005 via efficiency gains, but supply chain emissions are rising 40% above baseline.
See the breakdown →Edinburgh has cut operational carbon intensity 35% over a decade and acquired 5,035 hectares for habitat restoration, but leaves Scope 3 emissions unquantified.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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