Soaring from a “Fail” to a First Class Award place in only two years is impressive by anyone’s standards. With a score of 42.5 out of 70 Swansea University has risen to 39^th place from 70^th in the league table of 143 universities this year, having failed to score in the previous year.   

Professor Iwan Davies, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Internationalisation, with a responsibility for Estates Management said: “We are absolutely delighted with the rapid improvement to our ranking in the Green League and look forward to being recognised for our work in this field into the future. Our first class staff and students have really stepped up to the mark in helping the University improve its performance in this area, and it is thanks to all of them that we can take pride in our new league status”.

The university scored full marks in the Sustainable Food area - our Catering Department are one of the first in the UK to gain the Soil Association Food for Life Bronze Award. The University has also made great strides in improving carbon management and renewable energy.

The People and Planet Green League awards UK Universities degree-style classifications based on their environmental and ethical management and performance. Educational institutions pit their eco-credentials against each other and there is tough competition as students want their universities to be sustainable institutions.

Dr Heidi Smith, the University’s Sustainability Manager said: "Swansea University is thrilled with its improved position in this year’s Green League. This was a result of key work undertaken during the year including the publication of a Carbon Management Plan,  introduced a new Sustainability Strategy, the Baycycles free cycle loan scheme, the Biodiversity Action Plan and nature trail on campus, and a range of other staff and student engagement projects.

“Although this demonstrates excellent progress, we recognise that there is still much we can do to improve further the University’s environmental performance. As a research intensive university, reducing our use of natural resources is going to be difficult for us compared to some other institutions; however, we are determined, through staff and student engagement, to become as efficient as we possibly can."

The Green League is the only ranking of all UK universities by environmental and ethical performance. It is based on information submitted by universities to People & Planet, the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment. The People & Planet network consists of groups at universities, colleges and schools, plus many other individual supporters.

The full Green League table data can be accessed at: http://peopleandplanet.org/greenleague

For more information about the Sustainability policies within Swansea University visit http://www.swan.ac.uk/sustainability