Robert Gordon University is a public research institution in Aberdeen, Scotland, with approximately 14,840 students.
Is this your business? Add your evidence →
RGU has delivered a 50.9% absolute emissions reduction since 2005 and exceptional waste performance (98.4% recycling), but renewable energy procurement remains negligible at 0%. The institution lacks comprehensive Scope 3 quantification, third-party assurance of emissions data, and SBTi validation—typical weaknesses for mid-sized universities still building climate infrastructure.
Robert Gordon University scores 56/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Fees pay for the review, never the result. Last verified September 2026.
That places Robert Gordon University joint 34th of 847 companies scored, and joint 4th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where Robert Gordon University sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, Robert Gordon University is tied =4th of 67, with 3 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No published comprehensive Scope 3 total identified.
89.5% standard grid supply. £2.1M Salix Finance loan funded efficiency upgrades (LED, AHU refurbishment, variable drives) but no renewable procurement strategy in place.
No SBTi validation identified.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Evidence that isn't public can count through an evidence review.
Use this score in tenders
Send the link, or the one-page score sheet. It links back to this page and every source. Free.
Open the score sheet →Add your evidence, £99
Scored low because little is published? Send us your evidence. A person reviews it and your score reflects what you really do. Done within 5 working days.
Evidence review →Go tender-ready, £495 a year
A yearly rescore, a check of up to 25 key suppliers and a score badge for your website (coming soon).
Get in touch →Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain and Energy Source (4/10, 4/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Robert Gordon University.
Manchester Met has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 65% since 2005 and publishes audited sustainability data annually.
See the breakdown →Lancaster has cut operational emissions 44% since 2005 and installed significant renewable capacity, but recycling collapsed to 28% from 72%, masking weak resource management.
See the breakdown →LJMU has achieved genuine absolute emissions cuts (65.5% since 2005) backed by statutory HESA data and ISO 14001 verification.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 14 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale14 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 4,470.2 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10005500”
“140 HE providers submitted Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions data to HESA through the Estates management record for the year 2023/24”
“Robert Gordon University Sustainability Report 2023-2024 (PDF 3MB)”
“RGU sustainable travel page, cited as evidence of Scope 3 travel reporting in carbon management plan”
“RGU has implemented carbon reduction upgrades including refurbishing air handling units, upgrading car park lighting to LED, and installing variable speed drives”
“Waterside Farm is a 55-acre site; the restoration project is one of the biggest biodiversity projects known at a university campus in Scotland”
“22 hectares of floodplain land at Waterside Farm on the opposite side of the river; ongoing restoration as a nature reserve”
“RGU is working alongside environmental consultancy firm The Habitat People to bring it back to its more natural state”
“RGU reduction and recycling of waste sustainability page”
“RGU's journey to net zero, carbon management plan with named responsibilities and reporting mechanism”
“Robert Gordon University has agreed to exclude all firms involved in fossil fuel extraction from its investments”
“RGU is committed to supporting the Scottish Government's ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2045”
“RGU Sustainability Group — sustainability governance structure”
“RGU sustainability statement and policy page”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Robert Gordon University is a public research institution in Aberdeen, Scotland, with approximately 14,840 students. RGU operates campuses across urban and semi-rural settings, delivering teaching and research across engineering, health, business, and creative disciplines. As a UK higher education provider, it reports via statutory HESA records.
One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Checking a company?
Search free →Asked to prove you're sustainable?
Get your business scored, free →Been scored?
See what's behind your number →Fees pay for the review, never the result.