Our environmental policies

Environmental policy

Our latest Environment Policy states our responsibilities, objectives and targets to ensure the environment is central to our business. Our Environmental Management System (EMS) ensures we are committed to the prevention of pollution and continual improvement in environmental performance. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Our Environmental Policy is supported by an annual Environment and Sustainability budget of £30,000. Many sustainability and renewable projects are included within the Estates Capital Projects Plan. The 2022/23 Plan includes a number of funded sustainability projects such as the installation of LED lighting, installation of solar panels, the purchase of reverse vending machines and feasibility funding for low carbon technologies such as hydropower. Biodiversity projects such as tree planting and wildflower planting are funded through the maintenance budget.

Staff and students are encouraged to get involved in the monitoring and development of the Environmental Policy. Examples of recent staff and student engagement include:

• Habitat and species surveys on campus
• The creation of a biodiversity action plan
• Sustainability workshops to feed into the development of our new Business School
• Stakeholder workshops contributing to our roadmap to net zero carbon

If you're a student who would like to have an impact on the University's Environment and Sustainability agenda, you can get involved by joining the #DerbyGoesGreen Project. Please register your interest by completing the form below. 

Biodiversity Action Plan

We have created plans for each of our sites to encourage more wildlife on our campuses. These plans were created with input from ecology academics, students from the Hedgehog Friendly Campus group as well as grounds staff. Actions from these plans include:

• Creating more 'no-mow' and wildflower areas 
• Leaving log piles in areas where it is safe to do so
• Installing more hedgehog houses, bird and bat boxes
• Planting of more shrubs such as hazel and rowan
• Developing a sensory garden at the Buxton site

Ethical Investment Policy

The University has a publicly available Investment Policy, which has been approved by the University's Governing Council and is reported on at a senior level. The Policy has a section dedicated to socially responsible investments.

Staff, students and external governors sit on the Governing Council and there is also a Student Liaison Committee between the Union of Students and the University, where ethical investments can be discussed.

Sustainable Food Policy

The University of Derby believes in minimising our impacts on the environment and being a sustainable organisation. As part of this work, we realise that food produced, purchased and consumed on our sites can have a significant impact. Our own in-house catering provision at Buxton and Leek College is working to improve sustainable practices within the food and drink available at our University.

Animal Welfare

• Red tractor meat, which ensures higher welfare standards for the animals is supplied within our catering provision
• Our eggs are barn produced in the food we produce
• Our fresh or frozen fish is sourced from Marine Stewardship Council Certified suppliers

Sustainable Procurement

• We purchase local and seasonal produce, wherever possible
• We are a Fairtrade University which means that we are supporting farmers overseas to ensure that they get a fair price for their crops and that they have better working conditions
• We support sustainable water charities

Healthy University Students and Staff

• Our catering staff are aware of healthy food and special diets.
• Healthy options are available at all sites.
• Choices are available to enable a balanced diet

Catering Staff Training and Awareness

• The catering staff receive environmental and sustainability training
• The team are working to reduce food waste. All our used cooking oil is recycled
• Free drinking water is available at all food outlets and at water fountains around the campuses (if you have a re-useable bottle or cup)

Water fountains are available on most floors of our buildings. Key locations include the first floor of the Kedleston Road library, B Block entrance foyer, Union of Student's foyer, T Block back entrance foyer, Kirtley back entrance foyer, Markeaton Street canteen corridor, One Friar Gate ground floor cafe area, the main foyer of Britannia Mill, the upper ground floor at St Helena, the ground floor of the Devonshire Dome and the foyer of the William Morris building.

University of Derby's Union of Students

The Union of Students is committed to promoting sustainability among its members.

Find out more about the Union of Students' sustainability initiatives