Our projects and ongoing progress

On this page you will find snapshot of projects and examples of significant progress planned and achieved during recent years. The examples support ongoing and sustained reduction in operational carbon emissions, wider carbon emissions as well as our overall environmental impact.

Biodiversity

The incredible array of work led by colleagues and volunteers through the Lion's Gate and Sighthill Gardening Group continues. Up to date information is available within the project blog.
A nature and thinking route within the grounds at our Craiglockhart campus is currently under development. Trails have been cut and historic fences removed to provide further access around the campus. The development will continue into the 2023/24 academic year.
Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association (ENSA) were awarded £2,660 from the Keep Scotland Beautiful Community Climate Asset Fund during our 2021/22 academic year. The fund continues to support growing spaces at our Craiglockhart, Merchiston and Sighthill campuses.
A new grounds management tender was developed and implemented within the 2021/22 academic year. Six environmental questions were embedded within the tender covering biodiversity; chemical management; compliance and legislation; strategies and policies; volunteers; waste. The six questions represented 24% of the total potential tender score.

Divestment

At the end of the 2020/21 academic year we publicly announced that the University and the Development Trust had removed all direct investments from fossil fuel companies. More information is available within the Finance and Procurement page. Student members of the Edinburgh Napier Sustainable Society were instrumental in encouraging this decision, highlighting the strength of collective and purposeful student voices in leading change.

The divestment decision has led to further action at the University including a review and update of the Ethical Investment Policy in 2021/22. The Policy is available within the Finance and Procurement page.

Energy and Utilities

The University commissioned building condition and low/net zero heat audits of all campuses and student accommodation sties at the start of the 2022/23 academic year. The vast array of information gleaned and recommendations provided by the commercial bodies commissioned to conduct the work will support the development of fundamental energy management projects.
The University manages £312,500 of Salix funding to support the development of projects that will reduce electricity and gas consumption, alongside reduction in associated carbon emissions. Projects within the 2022/23 academic year include the installation of new LED lighting at our Craiglockhart and Sighthill campuses. For more information covering historic projects led visit the Reducing our Energy and Water page.
The Maintenance Team within Property & Facilities continue to use the Building Management System (BMS) to manage gas consumption effectively, only using resource when required.
The University continues to procure 100% renewable electricity. All energy consumed is backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO). More information is available within our Divestment page.

Food

The Meat Free Monday initiative led by the catering team has been identified and promoted as a good practice example through the McCartney Meat Free Monday campaign.
The international coffee chain historically housed at each of our campuses has been replaced by new Edinburgh Espresso Labs, working in partnership with Coffee Conscience. The company already had a strong presence at the university but this development will further develop our working relationship, linking to the community projects they lead.
The catering team are looking at programmes of work to further develop and highlight all existing work in place including procuring from local companies.

Laboratories

The lab team within the School of Applied Sciences, led by Lisa McMillan and Jo Brown, continue to develop the lab plastics recycling programme. To date, the programme has seen a significant overview of practice from use of equipment, decontamination and segregation. The good practice developed has been shared by Lisa, Russell and Jo throughout a variety of networks and events.

The team gained Silver Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) accreditation for four lab spaces at our Sighthill Campus within our 2022/23 academic year. Further development through the LEAF programme will support an ongoing assessment and overview of all environmental sustainability opportunities within lab spaces including energy efficiency and reduction. To support this area of work a Green Lab Working Group has been set-up within the University.

Offset

Throughout the process of agreeing our carbon reduction commitments, we recognise that in order to achieve net zero emissions and act on our wider and legacy emissions, we will need to use ethical offset to build on mitigation, efficiency and reduction.

Professor Mark Huxham (School of Applied Sciences) and other colleagues within the University enable and support fantastic work led by the Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services (ACES).

This includes academic and research links to all work carried out. At the end of the 2022/23 academic year the University agreed to further support ACES by investing in opportunities to increase offset opportunity through the Vanga Blue Forest Project. The University will continue to work collaboratively with peers through the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) and Scottish Government to discuss and agree future offset activity.

Procurement

The procurement team continue to lead and support a wide array of environmental sustainability work. There is a fantastic overview of the Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) Sustain Project and Supply Chain Code of Conduct on the APUC website.

The embedding of environmental sustainability within procurement is vital for achieving our net zero carbon and all wider environmental sustainability targets set. The Grounds Management Tender (highlighted in the Biodiversity section above) is a great example of embedment, including best practice and legislative requirements.

Space

We have employed a postgraduate intern throughout our 2022/23 academic year to lead space utilisation surveys throughout our campuses. The information gleaned is invaluable and has increased knowledge of how we use our buildings, notably with hybrid and flexible ways of working. This information also supports energy management and wider environmental sustainability impacts.

Travel

A University wide travel survey was run throughout October and November 2022. The survey was specifically launched to review changes in post-pandemic travel habits. 10% of students and 44% of staff responded to the survey. The results will be used alongside the results of surveys carried out in March 2020 and March 2017 and will support the development of a new Travel Plan focused on the day-to-day commute.
Ten new 7kW electric vehicle charging points were installed at our Sighthill campus. The units were fully funded by the University. Installation of the units meets one of the core commitments embedded within the Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Additional units at Craiglockhart and Merchiston campuses are currently being investigated.
We have gained support from Cycling Scotland to embed a Campus Cycling Officer (CCO) within the University for 34 weeks within 2023/24 academic year. The CCO will further develop and build upon the work led by previous CCOs covering an array of cycling and active travel projects.

Waste

We have continued to work with UniGreenScheme and Tes-Amm to sell and reuse electric and electronic items no longer required by the University.
We have further developed our work within the 2022/23 academic year to reuse furniture and other items internally and work with charity partners externally before recycling.