Sustainability has always been at the heart of what we do, not just in the role we play in creating sustainable communities through the provision of vital qualified public service staff such as teachers, nurses or operating theatre staff but also as a major employer and consumer of resources.
Edge Hill University has been providing higher education for more than 125 years and currently offers provision in over 200 degree routes to over 14,000 students.
The University takes great effort and pride in designing and building new facilities of the highest quality not just in aesthetic terms but in the sustainable way in which those buildings operate.
We are working hard to manage the impact of travel to and from the University and to reduce the size of our carbon footprint.
In everything we do we are committed to improving the environmental performance of the University for the benefit not just of those currently engaged with the University but those students, staff and other stakeholders who will be part of our wider Edge Hill Community in the future.
Policies, strategies and plans
Edge Hill’s Institutional Health, Safety and Environmental Policy clearly articulates the University’s commitment to managing the environmental impacts of our activities. This is supported by our Environmental and Sustainability Policy, which reinforces the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Our Environmental Sustainability Strategy translates these policy declarations into meaningful objectives and targets, and sets out how we intend to deliver these in the accompanying action plan. Updates will be provided against the action plan on an annual basis.
Targets and strategy
Objectives
To provide buildings that inspire staff and students in their daily activities through actively supporting:
- The reduction of energy and water usage
- The reduction of waste produced
- Biodiversity
- Sustainable procurement practices, and
- The travel policy
Targets
- Design and construct buildings to exceptional environmental standards – ongoing target
- Recycle at least 80% of all construction waste – ongoing target
- Carry out an upgrade of the heating and lighting of Stanley and Clough wings of the Main Building, moving away from a more energy and carbon intensive wet heating system and increasing the thermal insulation of the building – by end of 2022
Objectives
- To reduce the environmental impact and costs arising from energy use in buildings through the better management of resources and increased energy efficiency, and reduce emissions from fuel consumption by our vehicles, as well as meeting the requirements of legislation.
- Take a whole-organisation approach so that carbon reduction becomes embedded in management decision-making across the full range of the University’s operations, and by undertaking projects that will lead directly to measurable emissions and energy consumption reduction.
Targets
Edge Hill University will reduce CO2e emissions for scope 1 and 2 activities as outlined in the Carbon Management Plan.
- Edge Hill University will become carbon neutral by 2030
- Develop proposals for the installation of Photovoltaic cells on additional campus buildings to provide optimum energy generation and reduce carbon emissions – end of 2022
- Review pool fleet options with a view to introduce lower emission vehicles – end of 2022
Objectives
- To ensure that staff and student voices are heard together
- Increase community engagement with events, activities and actions that Edge Hill University undertake regarding sustainability
Targets
- Increase the number of partner organisations involved in SustainNET by a minimum of 2 per year – ongoing target
- Run at least one event per year that is open to staff, students and the wider community to promote sustainability – ongoing target
- Increase the number of students becoming Sustainability Champions each year by 5% – ongoing target
- Undertaken regular stakeholder engagement for policy development – ongoing target
Objectives
- To protect and increase current levels of biodiversity on campus
- To monitor discharges and emissions to land, air, and water to ensure effective controls are in place to reduce emissions and manage the risk of pollution
- Increase engagement opportunities for staff, students and the community
Targets
- Continue the use of native tree planting in landscaping and all new tree planting should look to prioritise the use of native trees – ongoing target
- Ensure 100% compliance with all legislation relating to emissions to air, water and land – ongoing target
- Prevent harmful levels of algal build up on all Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) – ongoing target
- Create a Hedgehog Friendly Campus working group and gain Silver Hedgehog Friendly Campus status – by December 2022
Objectives
- To significantly reduce the environmental impacts of our waste production in accordance with the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover through reducing volumes of waste generated by our activities and increasing resource reuse and recovery
- To manage residual waste in accordance with best practice
- Ensure that waste is considered a resource by staff and students
Targets
- To increase recycling rate to 60% by 2025
- To decrease waste arisings by 5% by 2025 based on 2017 baseline of 0.037 tonnes (per staff and student FTE)
- Investigate the feasibility of divesting from single-use plastics and non-biodegradable disposables by 2025
Objectives
- To help people travel to work and study while minimising pollution, congestion and the overall environmental impact that will help the institution grow in a sustainable way
Targets
- Reduce the percentage of single occupancy car journeys made to the University by staff and student to 55% and 37% respectively by 2025
- Assess feasibility of increasing permanent bicycle storage sites by 2025
- Review pool fleet options with a view to introduce lower emission vehicles – end of 2022
- Carry out a feasibility study for the installation of electric vehicle charging points on campus – end of 2022
Objectives
- To reduce the environmental impact and costs arising from water use through the better management of resources
Targets
- Reduce mains water consumption by 3% (per student and staff FTE) from a 2010/11 baseline by 2025
- Increase grey water usage through irrigation pitches from out holding tanks under the sports pitches
Objectives
- To encourage and support staff, students and the wider community to make sustainable lifestyle choices
- Embed ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ within the curriculum and all aspects of student life and learning
Targets
- Embed ESD within the curriculum by 2025
- Each student to receive sustainability based induction – ongoing target
- Provide interdepartmental collaborative initiative promoting the principles of global sustainable development – ongoing target
- Improve environmental awareness signage around campus and encourage conservative use of resources by way of education – by summer 2023
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each Goal and target by 2030.
The University is working hard to contribute towards achieving the UN Sustainability Goals.
See our contributions towards goals UN Sustainability GoalsWhat we do
Get involved
Edge Hill University aims to increase awareness of environmental and sustainability issues by organising events and campaigns that enhance understanding and provide practical ideas and solutions that students, staff and the local community can benefit from.
In November 2021 we ran a hugely successful Sustainability Festival to coincide with COP26. The festival ran for a week and featured a range of stalls and activities to engage staff, students and the wider community in sustainability practices.
Moving forward we are looking to reinstate Green Week in February of each year as a way to support sustainability at Edge Hill University.
Drop us an email if you are interested in our opportunities: [email protected].
Travel
Edge Hill is one of the largest employers in the local area and we recognise the impact our presence has on the local transport infrastructure and our role in helping reduce congestion, noise and environmental impact.
Tips for getting around How to find usMeet the team
For any enquiries, or to contact any of the below staff call us or drop us an email.
Or write to the following address:
Facilities Management – Edge Hill University
St Helens Road
Ormskirk
Lancashire
L39 4QP
United Kingdom
Adrian McGillion
Director of Facilities Management (SMT)
I am the senior lead for environmental sustainability within Edge Hill University, ensuring that we have long-term strategies and plans in place for carbon emission reduction and positive environmental change.
I commit to the continued provision of adequate financial and physical resources, and to the further embedding of a positive culture, to ensure that environmental sustainability remains a priority for our University.
Keziah Stott
Corporate Sustainability Manager
It is my job to develop, manage and implement the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy. I work with internal and external stakeholders in an effort to improve and embed environmental sustainability across the University.
My role also includes providing inductions for staff and students regarding sustainability at Edge Hill University. All new staff undertake online training regarding sustainability, and a sustainability stand is present at staff and student induction events.
Peter Roberts
Head of Risk, Assurance and Business Support (SMT)
I am responsible for overseeing the Corporate Sustainability Service Area, supporting with long-term strategies and plans for risk management and carbon emission reduction.
Tina Hanson
Site Services Manager
My role requires me to manage the day-to-day waste and recycling contract on campus, monitor data and identify programmes to reduce waste and increase recycling.
David Grime
Catering & Events Manager
I am responsible for developing and implementing a sustainable catering service, including management of the sustainable food policy, increasing the procurement of environmentally and ethically sound goods, overseeing Vegetarian Society accreditation and the Soil Association’s ‘Food for Life’ catering mark, providing healthy meals and promoting healthy eating on campus, and identifying waste reduction and recycling opportunities.
Felicity Gannon
Sustainability Officer
I support the Corporate Sustainability Manager in delivering the Environmental Sustainability Strategy. My role also includes running our engagement projects.
Sustainability champions
University-wide
We have a network of 48 Sustainability Champions who work in a range of roles across the University.
Our Sustainability Champions meet on a regular basis to discuss sustainability at Edge Hill University, feed into policies/strategies and generally improve the environmental performance of the University.
Sustainability Champions feedback to their departments on relevant actions and participate in our Sustainability Leadership Programme to recognise positive actions in sustainability both within the University and the wider community. This programme launched in April 2022 and was reported on in the May 2022 Sustainability Champions meeting.
Dave Oldham
Director of Capital Developments
I am in charge of overseeing the University’s Estates Strategy and Master Plan, ensuring that the principles of sustainable development are incorporated at all stages. This includes the design, development and construction of award-winning sustainable buildings, incorporating renewable energy sources where appropriate and the responsible management of waste from construction and refurbishment projects.