Sustainability

Page last updated:
10 May 2023

Sustainable thinking is embedded in everything we do and we are committed to improving the balance between our social, economic and environmental impacts.

There's lots of ways you can help us reduce our environmental impact, from volunteering with our Sustainability team to simply buying a reusable coffee cup! On this page you will find information about the things we are doing on campus to achieve our sustainability objectives and helpful tips and advice on how you can help us make a difference.

Our sustainability in numbers

  • 65%

    total carbon reduction since 2005.

  • 10,000 

    tonnes of demolition waste reused on site.

  • 95%

    of all waste generated by construction projects is recycled.

  • 42

    additional flora species planted on campus.

  • 99.11%

    of waste from Leeds Beckett is diverted from landfill.

  • 63%

    of our students walk or take the bus to university.

committed to a sustainable future

What we do

As a major contributor to the local area, we are working hard to increase our positive impacts on the environment, economy and society. We're proud of our achievements so far but we know there's a lot more work to do and we will continue to build on these.

Here's just some of the things we've been doing on campus:

  1. Biodiversity

    To improve the Biodiversity on our Headingley Campus, we have extensive woodland management and biodiversity programmes in place that have established over 40 new species of flora and fauna on campus since 2004. Also, all our capital development plans at our city campus include targets to improve the biodiversity of our urban environment.

  2. Carbon reduction

    Since 2005 we have reduced our carbon emissions by 65% and generate 9% of our electrical demand onsite through our Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit and Photovoltaic Arrays. This equates to over 850 thousand kWh’s of electricity, enough to power over 290 homes!

  3. Sustainable travel

    Our colleagues and students can take advantage of discounted travel passes, bike hire and bike maintenance workshops.

    18% of staff cycle or walk to work.

    63% of our students walk or take the bus.

  4. Waste

    67% of our waste is recycled and nearly a third is used to make energy.

    Less than 1% of waste from Leeds Beckett goes to landfill.

    We have achieved this by implementing recycling across a number of areas, including our construction projects, which recycle 95% of all waste generated. Over 10,000 tonnes of demolition waste has been reused on site.

  5. Sustainable construction

    Our university is one of the first in the world to get Passivhaus status for Carnegie Village Halls of Residence. Passivhaus buildings are highly insulated, keeping temperatures warm in winter and cool in summer. 

    Toilets in the Rose Bowl, on City Campus, are flushed using harvested rainwater. 

  6. BeckettSphere 

    Beckettsphere is a project based scheme that brings together colleagues and students from all areas of the university to play an active role in make LBU more sustainable.

    We currently engage more than 70  colleagues and students in the scheme and involve over 15 teams.

    Discover more
  7. Policies and strategies

    For more information about our university's sustainability objectives, copies of policy and strategy documents are available to download:

Leeds Beckett Honey jars, made from bees on Headingley Campus
Rose Bowl
Bike Shelter in Headingley Campus
The view of James Graham building and the acre
Carnegie Village exterior, brown and dark grey building with some trees in front
Broadcasting Place, from a distance through a tree
Abstract image of the interior of the Rose Bowl
working together

what you can do

Everything we do has an impact on the environment around us. However, we can all make a positive difference by making changes, big or small, to our behaviour.

Here's some of the ways you can help us to build a sustainable future:

  1. Reduce waste

    At Leeds Beckett we are working to reduce our waste and have a 'Zero Waste to Landfill' policy. You can help us by using the sorting bins around campus or, ditch the takeaway cup and purchase a reusable coffee cup from the counter.

  2. Think about food

    To minimise food waste, we’re a member of ‘Too good to go’, an app helping stores and restaurants reduce surplus food. On campus, Eco-soup works in partnership with ‘Food Revival’ to make use of surplus food to create fantastic vegan meals on a pay-as-you-feel-fair basis.

  3. Volunteer

    Volunteering with our sustainability team gives you the opportunity to help those in need, meet new people and expand your skillset. A few of the ways you could get involved include bike maintenance, organising events or working with local partners.

    Leeds Beckett Students' Union have a range of opportunities through local and student led volunteering projects. Contact the Volunteering Office (volunteering@leedsbeckettsu.co.uk) for more information.

  4. Travel green

    Get on your bike! 

    Cycling is one of the most popular ways to get around Leeds. At Leeds Beckett, we love cycling so much that you can hire a bike from us for three months at a time, use our fully equipment bike maintenance workshops and get support from our fully trained staff. If you would like to know more just email us at transport@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

Leeds Beckett reusable cups in R.B.Espresso, coffee shop in the Rose Bowl, City Campus
Cakes in R.B.Espresso, coffee shop in the Rose Bowl, City Campus
Bike Shelter in Headingley Campus

our blog

Get the latest from our blog on how our community have been making changes to help improve our environmental impact.

explore all sustainability blogs

Looking for something else?

There's lots of helpful advice and guidance on our student information pages. Try searching if you know what you're looking for or if you're not sure where to go, you can browse our A-Z.