University of Derby is a medium-sized UK higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple campuses in the East Midlands.
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Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest. Scope 1+2 reductions are real but partly driven by grid decarbonisation; Scope 3 lacks verification and commuting data. Energy remains predominantly grid-sourced with minimal renewable procurement. Recycling at 35.3% trails sector peers.
University of Derby scores 50/100 (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 University of Derby joint 149th of 847 companies scored, and joint 39th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where University of Derby sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Derby is tied =39th of 67, with 5 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No green tariff contracted.
No single verified Scope 3 aggregate published.
No SBTi validation; limited Scope 3 targets.
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.
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Get in touch →Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (3/10, 4/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of Derby.
Glasgow Caledonian University reports comprehensive Scope 1+2 emissions data with a verified 27.7% reduction since 2005, but remains entirely gas-powered with zero renewable energy.
See the breakdown →CCCU has cut operational emissions 51% since 2005 and ranks gold-tier for energy efficiency among UK universities.
See the breakdown →Teesside University has cut operational emissions 42% since 2005 and maintains zero waste to landfill, backed by statutory HESA reporting.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 12 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale12 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 5187.9 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007851”
“CO2e emissions, including those associated with waste and water, were calculated using the 2024 emission factors”
“In 2021/22 our total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions were 5958 tonnes CO2e”
“Our supply chain is the largest part of the University's carbon footprint”
“University of Derby has become part of Nature Positive Universities Alliance, a new global network of 111 universities”
“The University is aiming to reach Net Zero by 2040”
“Professor Miles Richardson was selected as one of the UK Government's lead authors for the Transformative Change Report”
“We do not purchase fish listed as 'fish to avoid' in the Good Fish Guide”
“we aim to ensure none of our non-hazardous waste goes to landfill”
“cut yearly water usage in the men's washrooms across all campuses by more than 23,739,965 litres”
“University applied a robust internal carbon fee of £70/tCO2e, reflecting best practice internal carbon pricing”
“InfluenceMap maintains the world's leading database of corporate and industry association lobbying”
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University of Derby is a medium-sized UK higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple campuses in the East Midlands. It sits in the middle tier of UK universities by student numbers and research intensity, with a stated sustainability commitment embedded in its governance structure.
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