University of South Wales is a public research and teaching institution based in Wales, with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, and Cardiff.
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USW has delivered solid operational emissions cuts (63% Scope 1+2 reduction since 2005) and locked in 100% renewable electricity since 2016/17, but recycling performance collapsed from 48% to 34% year-on-year, and supply chain emissions—89% of total footprint—remain unverified and largely unmanaged. Targets are self-set without SBTi validation.
University of South Wales scores 53/100 (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 South Wales joint 80th of 847 companies scored, and joint 16th of 67 in Higher Education / Universities.
Where University of South Wales sits among higher education / universities peers.
Among the 67 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of South Wales is tied =16th of 67, with 10 others.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No TNFD disclosure or verified ecosystem restoration beyond campus.
HESA 2023/24 records 34% recycling rate—down sharply from 48% in 2022/23, missing the 70% target for 2025.
No SBTi commitment or validation.
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 (9/10, 7/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Resource Use & Waste (4/10, 4/10).
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above University of South Wales.
Strathclyde has cut absolute emissions 40% since 2018/19 and publishes credible HESA-verified data, but missed its own 70%-by-2025 interim target by half.
See the breakdown →Bristol has cut Scope 1+2 emissions 56% since 2005 and publishes verified data.
See the breakdown →Cranfield has cut operational emissions 51% since 2005 and publishes credible data, but Scope 3 remains unmeasured and unverified.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 10 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale10 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 5,597.4 tCO2e (HESA Table-3, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007793)”
“emissions data calculated using physical data and the application of the UK Government Conversion Factors (2023) for company reporting”
“Over 80% of our estate has been converted to LED lighting”
“Ensure 80% of top 50 suppliers (by spend) have a carbon footprint on Net Positives by end of 2028”
“USW has purchased 100% renewable electricity since 2016/17”
“Bird and bat boxes are in place on Treforest and Glyntaff Campuses”
“USW's choice to remove fossil fuel companies from its investment portfolio made it the final Welsh university to join the initiative”
“The University of South Wales has now become the latest Welsh University to boycott fossil fuel industry recruitment through its careers service”
“our carbon strategy has been developed to complement our USW 2030 Strategy and will enable the university to achieve our vision to be net zero by 2040”
“USW has achieved a 38% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions since 2018/19”
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University of South Wales is a public research and teaching institution based in Wales, with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, and Cardiff. It teaches across engineering, business, health, and creative disciplines.
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