This achievement comes as a result of implementing an accredited framework for managing and maintaining sustainability, known as an Environmental Management System, which the University has had in place since 2013.

The University of Bedfordshire has recently improved its sustainability through campaigns such as Target Zero, launched in January 2020, and was praised during this latest audit for a commitment to having a science-based carbon reduction target and to produce zero carbon by 2050.

EcoCampus inspects higher and further education institutions’ progress through four phases of certification, measured against an international standard. At each stage, an independent audit is carried out to assess whether an institution meets the necessary requirements to be awarded Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

In compliance with the EcoCampus Platinum standard, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Rebecca Bunting was interviewed about the University’s sustainability strategy as part of the audit.

About the achievement, Alistair Burg-Broquere, Director of Estates and Facilities at the University, said:

This is a great result for the University, retaining Platinum status is a real endorsement of our long-term approach and commitment to sustainability over many years and, critically, into the future.

Whilst we were confident that our Environmental Management System would be shown once again to be amongst the very best in the sector, we know we cannot be complacent or stand still - there are always areas we can continuously improve upon.

Moving forward, this will very much be our focus across all our campuses as we develop our future Estates Strategy.

Adam Higgin, Head of Sustainability, is delighted by the audit’s result but says Bedfordshire’s community can still play their part at home. He said:

Staff and students can contribute to the University’s sustainability targets personally by considering the environmental impacts of the products they buy. Not all countries that manufacture the products we buy, such as clothing, have the same environmental standards as the UK or EU, and this is worth thinking about when making purchases.

In general, we can all buy and waste less by reusing or repairing things, recycling packaging and using less water and energy wherever we can.

After moving the University’s Environmental Management System over to the EcoCampus standard in 2016, Bedfordshire was subsequently awarded Silver in 2017, Gold in 2018 and Platinum in 2019. Bedfordshire has also maintained a strong position in the People & Planet UK university ‘Green League’.

For further information on how the University of Bedfordshire is committed to sustainability, visit: www.beds.ac.uk/sustainability