Reporting and data

We’re committed to reporting our performance relating to sustainability publicly and transparently.

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We report our data voluntarily to the HESA Estates Management Record. This data is reported without context and it can be difficult to assess universities’ performance without factors such as size, research intensity, construction activity and student accommodation ownership being taken into account.

The data reported below includes our HESA submission, but also additional information to help contextualise figures in the activity of the University.

Scopes 1 and 2 carbon emissions

Scope 1 emissions are those that we are directly responsible for, for example the emissions from our fleet of University vehicles and the gas we use in our boilers for heating buildings. Scope 2 emissions are mainly those produced through the generation of the electricty we use on campus.

Scopes 1 and 2 emissions are usually reported together.

Total emissions

Reporting through the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) requires the use of gross emissions using UK grid average carbon intensity.

Because the University purchases 100% renewable electricity, the gross (ie, grid-average) figures do not accurately portray the carbon intensity of our electricity supply. The net figures therefore highlight the contract-specific emissions associated with the University’s procured electricity. Over time (from when the contracts started in 2020), the gross and net figures reported will diverge so we include both figures to show the impact of our electricity purchasing choice on our carbon emissions.  

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Gross (kgCO2e)

35,549,360

31,945,444

26,265,981

22,530,886

24,529,410

Net* (kgCO2e)

35,549,360

31,945,444

26,265,981

22,530,886

 
Emissions per/m­­²

The University’s internal floor space has grown in recent years, but our emissions per/m­² continue to be one of the lowest in the Russell Group.

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

M­­² internal space

539,405

539,787

541,966

540,037

541,216

Emissions per/m­² (kgCO2e)

66

59

48

42

45

Emissions per/£ income

The University’s research and teaching activities have continued to grow, but our emissions have fallen even while we are doing more.

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Total Income (£)

623,563,000

691,755,000

715,700,000

737,556,000

744,013,000

Emissions per/£ income (kgCO2e)

0.057

0.046

0.037

0.031

0.033

Emissions per person

Our University community continues to grow, but we are emitting less carbon per person.

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Total Students

25,100

25,665

26,175

26,455

27,160

Total Staff

6,620

6,625

6,845

7,200

7,020

Total students and staff

31,720

32,290

33,020

33,655

34,180

Emissions per member of University community (kgCO2e)

1120

989

795

669

717

 

Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions are all the other emissions produced indirectly as a result of our activity. There are 15 catagories of Scope 3 emissions identified by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The University is working to assess and measure these, but does not yet have data for all 15 categories.

Categories 1 and 2: Purchased Goods & Services and Capital Goods
Supply Chain Emissions; Categories 1 and 2 of annual Scope 3 emissions (tonnes of CO2e)
 
 

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Business Services

26,012

33,450

16,779

35,900

Paper products

232

152

492

604

Other manufactured products

6,477

4,657

4,329

8,377

Manufactured Fuels

178

199

197

343

Food and catering

2,420

1,590

458

1,071

Information and communication

19,783

      16,367

      20,708

      25,709

Medical and precision instruments

50,430

35,738

47,489

55,743

Other procurement

580

469

282

598

Construction (Category 2)

21,448

12,134

9,587

21,934

Annual Total

127,560

104,756

100,320

149,842

Category 6: Staff and Student Commuting

Staff commuting emissions (tonnes of CO2e)

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Tram

56

56

181

181

-

Train

141

141

63

63

-

Bus

186

186

353

353

-

Car

2,355

2,335

1,635

1,635

-

Total

2,738

2,718

2,232

2,232

-

Student commuting emissions (tonnes of CO2e)

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

           

Tram

186

186

21

21

-

Train

533

533

363

363

-

Bus

161

161

439

439

-

Car

1,759

1,759

1,128

1,128

-

Total

2,639

2,639

1,951

1,951

 

Waste and recycling

The University produces a wide variety of waste, from normal office and commercial waste associated with most large organisations, to residential waste at our residences, food waste from our commercial outlets, and hazardous, clinical and radioactive waste related to research. These figures are for waste and disposal by tonnage; for Scope 3 emissions relating to waste, please see above.

Waste totals

Waste by source (tonnes)

We are committed to reducing the amount of waste produced from our activities and increasing the percentage of waste that is reused and recycled.
 
We collect and report on waste produced as a result of University activities holistically:

  • Waste generated directly from our activities, for example waste generated on campus, at the AMRC, and from our commercial activities. Waste generated by the Students Union is also also included in this total.
  • Waste generated indirectly from our activities, for example waste generated from residents at University managed accommodation and the waste generated by our construction activities.
  • Other works waste is waste arising  from capital works, for example construction activities. These works can have a large impact on our waste arisings and the years where we have undertaken significant capital construction and refurbishment projects result in a significant increase in waste arisings. We only report these waste arising in the Other Works category.

We chose to take this approach to reporting as it provides a complete account of our activities and impact.
 

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Non-residential waste

2,199

1,950

3,706

1,325

1,089

Residential waste

853

583

705

434

523

Other works waste

7,805

34,036

67,068

1,796

3,113

Total

10,858

36,570

71,480

3,556

4,727

Waste disposal

Non-residential waste: direct waste from institutional activities (tonnes)

Our policy is to only send waste to landfill when we are legally obliged, for example asbestos. The table below provides an overview of the organisation’s performance, listed in order of environmental preferability.

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19*

2019/20

2020/21

Recycled

1,520

717

669

381

371

Composted

102

72

75

79

113

Anaerobic digestion

104

113

103

47

34

Energy recovery

178

941

1,199

739

498

Landfilled

229

84

1,623

51

25 

Incinerated without energy recovery 

65

21

35

48

26

Total waste generated 2,199 1,950 3,706 1,325 1,089

Performance (tonnes)

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19*

2019/20

2020/21

Total waste generated

2,199

1,950

3,706

1,347

1,069

Total recycled / recovered

1,905

1,844

2,047

1,247

1,018

Total disposed of to landfill or without energy recovery

294

105

1,658

99

51

Percentage of waste recycled / recovered

86.6%

94.6%

55.2%

92.6%

95.2%

*In 2018/19 a substantial amount of asbestos was found during a building demolition, which legally has to be sent to landfill. This is why our landfill total for this year is much higher than the long terms average.

Residential waste: indirect waste from student accommodation (tonnes)

The University owns and manages residential accommodation. Our residents are provided with general waste bins, recycling bins and food waste bins, which means all the waste generated by our residents is diverted from landfill. 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Recycled

793.1

197.1

240.4

136.5

162.1

Anaerobic digestion 

22

16.7

28.0

20.4

16.2

Energy recovery 

39.1

369.7

437.6

277.4

345.3

Total waste generated

854.2

583.3

706

434.3

523.6

Travel and transport

Commuting emissions avoided

Through our Betterpoints app, we reward staff and students for taking sustainable transport decisions to and around campus. Below is the amount of carbon emissions avoided by app users since its launch in 2019.

 

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

Number of BetterPoints App Users

1,782

1,014

1,349

Total CO2 avoided (tonnes of CO2e)

331

150

249

Bus Distance (miles)

113,564

47,696

149,095

Walk Distance (miles)

486,458

267,185

411,229

Cycle Distance (miles)

148,824

67,428

90,247

Tram Distance (miles)

22,281

6,428

25,206

Train Distance (miles)

234,957

100,030

382,375

Run Distance (miles)

45,324

25,373

27,709

Support for cycling 

Cycle parking spaces

We’re continuing to add secure cycle storage to our campus, such as our secure cycle hub.

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

2,291

2,200

2,609

2,609

2,609

Cycle Hut use

Our Cycle Hut provides free bike checks and at-cost servicing and repairs for staff and students. Below are the number of repairs and services undertaken each year.

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

741

693

782

417

297

Electric vehicle charging points

Electric vehicle charging points

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

14 18 22 29 32
Fleet

Fleet decarbonisation

We are continuing to decarbonise our fleet through the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles where possible.

The University operates a number of larger and specialist vehicles, such as tractors, refrigerated units and trucks with tail lifts, which it is currently not possible to replace with electric vehicles. When these vehicles come to the end of their operational life they are being replaced with Euro 6 Class (low emission) vehicles.

As of February 2023, of the 23 vehicles in the fleet not electric or hybrid, 15 have Euro 6 Class engines.

 

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

Total fleet

73

73

56

52

Electric and hybrid

25

31

28

29

Percent of total

34%

43%

50%

56%

 

Water

Water consumption

Total consumption (m³)

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

464,574

482,209

433,739

399,151

372,808

 

Water by category (non-residential v residential)

The University of Sheffield owners and operates its own student halls of residence, meaning our total consumption can look higher than comparative institutions which do not own and operate accommodation.

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Non- residential ()

286,980

313,246

295,305

247,484

193,842

Residential ()

177,594

168,963

138,434

151,667

178,965

Total () 464,574 482,209 433,739 399,151 372,808

Water consumption per head of campus population

 

2016/17

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

2020/21

Total Students FTE

25,100

25,665

26,175

26,455

27,160

Total Staff FTE

6620

6625

6845

7200

7020

Total Headcount

31,720

32,290

33,020

33,655

34,180

Water consumption per head of campus population (litres per person per year)

14,646

15,026

13,135

11,860

10,907

Water consumption per head of campus population (litres per person per day)

40

41

36

32

30

Our sustainability strategy

We have set the principles and direction for our sustainability strategy