University of Salford
From Estates to Everyone: A Whole Institution Sustainability Transformation at Salford
Finalist, Sustainability Institution of the Year
Finalist
About
The University of Salford has transformed sustainability from an Estates-led operational function into a whole-institution approach embedded across governance, strategy, curriculum, research, operations and partnerships. Sustainability is now a core delivery theme in the University Strategy 2025–2030 and is integrated into major governance and decision-making structures, ensuring it shapes investment, planning and delivery. This shift has driven measurable impact, including a 78% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since 2005–06, a 37% improvement in energy efficiency since 2016-17, and a rise from 122nd in 2010 to 5th in 2025 in the People & Planet University League. Beyond environmental performance, the University model drives wider civic and societal impact through research innovation, education, partnerships and community engagement offering a practical and replicable whole-institution sustainability transformation.
Top 3 learnings
- We demonstrated that integrating sustainability in decisions, governance, and feedback-loops turns strategy into consistent impact.
- Whole-university ownership strengthens engagement, accountability, and impact while creating opportunities to support and celebrate achievements.
- We found that place-based partnerships and research-led delivery amplify institutional and societal impact.
What it means to win
This award celebrates the commitment of our staff, students and partners in making sustainability part of how the University works, learns and leads, while recognising The University of Salford as an example of how sustainability can be embedded across governance, strategy, operations, curriculum, research and civic partnership to deliver meaningful institutional and societal impact. It will also help us amplify this learning across the sector and further accelerate our work on climate action, social value and whole-institution change.
SDG
| 2026 | |
| Sustainability Institution of the Year | |
| Finalist, UK and Ireland |
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