Reporting and data
We’re committed to reporting our performance relating to sustainability publicly and transparently.
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 (m³)
286,980
313,246
295,305
247,484
193,842
Residential (m³)
177,594
168,963
138,434
151,667
178,965
Total (m³) 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