Policy

All of our Policies and Procedures are available on our Policies, Plans and Procedures page.
Our overarching Policy is the Environmental Sustainability Vision, Policy and Strategy. 

Our Sustainability Ambition Statement sets out our vision, aims and key ambitions to ensure that Durham University delivers its mission of excellence in education, research and wider student experience in the most sustainable way possible.

Please view our Environmental Sustainability Action Plan and Indicators.

Human Resources

The Environmental Sustainability Strategic Planning Group oversee the University's Environmental, Vision, Policy and Strategy and are an advisory body to the UEC.

Policy and Strategy documents, governance, committees and working groups.

Please visit the About Us page for more detail on our Energy and Sustainability Team and other environmental staff at the University.

The Energy and Sustainability Team have fund allotted for Energy and Infrastructure Projects and Behavioural Change programmes. 

Environment Champion Scheme – there is a Champion for each Department, Professional Support Services and College.
More Information on the Environment Champion Network.

Auditing and EMS

After achieving the EcoCampus Gold Award in June 2020, we gained Platinum in December 2020 and renewed it in December 2021, 2022 and 2023 following external audits. To view our certificate please visit our Environmental Credentials page.

To view EcoCampus Procedure please visit our Policies Page.

In 2020 the SDG Group hired two student interns who audited the Modules across all Faculties reviewing the learning objectives, their environmental, social, economic or cultural impact, and keywords relating to the SDGs. Audits of the Colleges involved interviews with College staff, Student Environment Officers and JCR Officers/Presidents.

Ethical Investment and Banking

Durham University has an active Ethical Investment Policy which applies to all our investments and is publicly available and has been signed off by University Executive Committee. It is available at  Ethical Investment Policy 

This policy seeks to support the University "to pursue an ethical approach" and to go beyond enabling investments "in any public company operating clearly within the law". It states that “the University has committed to sustainable investment by positively supporting investments in sustainable companies and through establishing restrictions on some types of investments. More specifically the University will not invest in companies that generate revenue from the manufacturing or production of tobacco, armaments or fossil fuel extractive companies”. 

Durham University’s Annual Report includes a financial review as well as financial audit findings, including against the FRC’s ethical standard. It outlines the members of the Finance Committee, which includes student representation via the Student Union, as well as its work. Last year’s annual report is available at Durham University Annual Report 2024. 

Ethical Careers and Recruitment

Durham University’s Careers and Enterprise centre works to help students, staff and alumni make career plans and take the next steps to getting where they want to be. Information on the service and staff is available at Meet the team - they are not part of a combined careers service but does work with GTI and Jisc to support the career activities of students and graduates. 

The Careers Service has an active and publicly available policy – see Vacancy-Advertising-Policy---2025.pdf (reviewed June 2025). This covers the criteria which must be met in order for the careers service to work with third-party employers. 

Carbon Management

In 2011, the first Carbon Management Plan was created with the Carbon Trust, setting our targets in line with Government and Hefce targets, relating to 2013/14 and 2020. Within this plan set out a five-year plan to achieve the intermediate target of 2013/14 to review the progress of the 2020 target. We are currently in the final stages of developing a new Sustainability Strategy and Carbon Management Plan to take us to 2030. We have worked with the Carbon Trust to develop a Science-Based Target that's aligned to a pathway that limits warming to 1.5C.

Our new Carbon Management Plan contains detailed information about our carbon emissions and the actions we will take to reduce them.

• Carbon Management Plan 

We continue to monitor and report our carbon footprint in line with this policy. In the last five years, we have reduced our footprint by 34%.
An analysis of Carbon, Energy and Water Targets set out in the Sustainability Action Plan was undertaken in January 2020 and reported to the ESSPG in February 2020.

The University currently has 17 Colleges, we monitor Energy, Water and Waste from these sites (we are working with CLV to monitor usage at John Snow and South). Building energy and water use is reported to UEC annually, and student awareness campaigns are run throughout the year to reduce consumption. The analysis of Carbon, Energy and Water reviewed the use of residential buildings, this was reported to the ESSPG in February 2020, view the presentation Energy Water KPI Analysis 2021

Workers Rights

Durham University has gained formal accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation, as part of our ongoing commitment to fair pay for staff.  Why Join Us? - Durham University

From 1 April 2024 a Real Living Wage Supplement will be applied to increase the hourly rate (and corresponding annual 
salary) for points 6 to 13 of our Pay Spine. The supplement will ensure that staff on the lowest points are paid an hourly rate that is higher than the Real Living Wage Foundation hourly rate (currently £12) at appropriate incremental steps.

For more visit Human Resources & Organisational Development: Salary - Durham University

The University has been accredited by the Fairtrade Foundation since 2007. In 2019 we began working towards becoming a Fairtrade University with the Fairtrade Universities and Colleges Award.  In 2021/2022 the NUS and Fairtrade Foundation audited our work and awarded Fairtrade University status, which expired on 30 June 2024. We were audited in May 2024 and have received Fairtrade Status which will expire on 31st July 2026. The Procurement, Catering and Retail Teams consider Fairtrade, Rain Forest Alliance, and Organic Cotton where possible.

The University is affiliated with Electronics Watch for more information view the Modern Slavery Statement 21-22

Sustainable Food

Our Sustainable Food Policy 2021 was approved in 2021.

In 2021/2022 we started to work toward the Food Made Good rating - we have been awarded one star at 55% which covers our College Canteens and Cafes. We have a target to achieve 2 stars by 2025.

The University has been accredited by the MSC since 2015, and we won the University of the Year Award in both 2015 and 2016.

CSER Policy

Durham University actively works with its food suppliers to maximise the use of local growers and local produce. One example is the engagement with J.R. Holland Food Services to identify local fruit and vegetable growers, resulting in seasonal produce sourced within 25 miles of the University. The University sources its milk and yoghurt from Embleton Hall Dairies based in Durham.

Free drinking water is available in all of our Cafes with additional water fountains across the Estate.

A number of Colleges maintain their own allotments. 

Student Volunteering has many Environmental Volunteering Projects, including Beyond Food and Feeding Families. The Beyond Food project works with Trussell Trust’s Durham food bank to provide food parcels for disadvantaged families in the east of Durham. The food collection boxes are placed in colleges and the project leaders arrange for pickup and collection by the Trussell Trust’s Durham Foodbank.
During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catering Team worked with local food banks to redistribute food. (East Durham Trust Article)

Staff and Student Engagement

For us to achieve the ambitious targets set out in our Action Plan, we need to make sure all staff and students are aware of their role in creating a more sustainable University. We have a well-established network of staff and student Environment Champions to support us in our plans, acting as a vital network for communication. A Staff and Student Engagement Strategy is available. Further policies can be found on our Policies, Plans and Procedures page.

Staff and student engagement forms part of our Action Plan. The Environmental Sustainability Strategic Planning Group (ESSPG) has representation from all four academic faculties, the Colleges, Professional Services and the Students’ Union.

This is achieved through the Environmental Sustainability Strategic Planning Group (ESSPG) as well as, through our Environment Champion and Student Environment Representative networks across all parts of the University.

Material is sent out to all colleges and departments for inclusion in student and staff induction. This includes a short presentation, full details in the student handbooks, livers out guide and the Environmental Sustainability Online Training Module accessible to both staff and students.

The Energy and Sustainability Team organise an annual Sustainability Event, our Greenspace Festival, with the support of other teams in the University. We also work with local organisations and charities who are welcomed along to event to promote sustainability in the local area, including The Ugly Fruit Group and Recyke y'Bike. We invite all staff, students, and the local community to get involved.

ESSPG and the Energy and Sustainability Team design a Calendar of awareness-raising events and activities for each academic year around each of our sustainability icons each month, on how people can take action and what the University's targets are MyGreenspace Calendar 2023-2024.

View our online campaigns:

• Greenspace Sway
• Switch off campaign
• Fairtrade Fortnight
• Biodiversity

Members of the Energy and Sustainability Team participate, and in some cases lead on, many working groups and committees that are internal and external to support and advise on local community projects and strategies, regarding the estate, travel, sustainability and engagement. In 2021, we held our first open Greenspace Festival which showcased the work of local charities, student groups and research at the University.

Durham Energy Institute (DEI) works with communities to support local energy projects and to inform local discussions on energy issues such as fracking and heat networks. It also works with local authorities and regional bodies on regional energy projects and has a school outreach programme on energy education and encourages engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects. For more information on the DEI please visit their webpage.

Staff and Student Volunteering Teams run a wide range of projects within the local community, they work with local councils and charities to raise money, volunteer and mentoring. Our SDG Group is in partnership with the council, volunteers' teams and other members of staff to develop an interactive programme on the UN SDG's through workshops for local schools.

Student Volunteering: Hedgehog Friendly Campus, Beyond Food, Balsam Bashing and many more...

All staff and students can apply for support from the Ring-Fenced Carbon Budget for a project that will save carbon, up to £10,000 per project and a total of £100,000 is allocated to fund these projects internally. Please note applications are currently closed for this scheme.

For examples of successful fund applications please email the team.

All new starters complete the Environmental Sustainability Online Training Module which is part of every member of staff induction checklist with HR.

The Trade Unions are invited to attend meetings, such as the Integrated Sustainable Travel Plan Steering Group (ISTPSG) and the Vehicle Parking Working Group (VPWG).

The Estates Team publish upcoming plans on the website which is open for feedback from all members of the public. Key Projects have a Students’ Union representative who attends meetings and reviews plans.

Student representatives, including from the Student's Union, are members of our Environmental Sustainable Strategic Planning Group (ESSPG) - ESSPG Membership 2023/24.

The Durham Students' Union (DSU) announced a Climate Emergency in November 2019. They are undertaking a sustainability audit. The Energy and Sustainability Team have supported the DSU with advice on energy, waste and water management as well as carrying out on-site audits. The Sustainability Coordinator has been working closely with DSU and has supported events and campaigns.

Durham University is committed to Education for Sustainable Development – this is included within our overarching University Strategy and ‘A Sustainable Future’ is one of four transversal strategies. Durham’s Environmental-Sustainability-Vision,-Policy-and-Strategy-July-2023.pdf also includes explicit reference to the inclusion of ESD within our curriculum.

Our offer of educational programmes on sustainability can be found here: Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability - Durham University This includes Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes, covering many subject areas (SDGs Education - Durham University), as well as free online courses and videos (Our offer of free online courses - Durham University).

Our Annual Report links to the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout, including its reviews of ‘Research and Engagement’ and of ‘Educational Excellence’ and ‘Wider Student Experience’.

Durham’s SDG Group - Durham University ‘focuses on supporting and communicating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) oriented research, teaching, the overall student experience and global strategy’ and is chaired by Professor Petra Minnerop - Durham University. It is advisory to the Durham’s Global Strategy Group, which is chaired by PVC Global Professor Claire O'Malley - Durham University and which, in turn, is advisory to UEC, on which she sits.

Durham and brings together colleagues from all faculties to plan and review activity. 

In 2020 the SDG Group hired two student interns who audited the Modules across all Faculties, reviewing the learning objectives, their environmental, social, economic or cultural impact, and keywords relating to the SDGs. Audits of the Colleges involved interviews with College staff, Student Environment Officers and JCR Officers/Presidents. 

Led by academic registrars, we are currently mapping where our curriculum impacts on the SDGs across all disciplines. This is helping us understand gaps and opportunities to embed sustainability. 

The SDG group is currently working with the Durham Centre for Academic Development - Durham University (DCAD) on an initiative to provide further accessible SDG training for all staff as well as students which will ensure this work can be further embedded within the curriculum. This builds on existing offers, such as the Greenspace online modules which are available for all staff and students. 

DCAD also leads the university’s mission to decolonise the curriculum, launched in November 2020 (see details at Decolonising the Curriculum - Durham Centre for Academic Development). This is a collaborative initiative which involves multiple stakeholders through institutional workshops and toolkits for teaching and learning. The Durham Students' Union (DSU) partner this work (and created a Decolonisation Hub) as do faculty representatives across departments. 

The initiative is structured around: 

• Taught Programmes: Led by DCAD, this includes faculty-level workshops and curriculum reviews to embed diverse perspectives. 

• Research Practices: Coordinated with the Research Methods Centre - Durham University, focusing on inclusive methodologies and ethical research design 

Some faculties have developed further frameworks for ESD, such as Durham University Business School whose ‘Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability Steering Group’ (ERSSG) has developed an ERS Strategy, in which they have committed to support the Education and Student Experience strategy and to further develop the resources to support the embedding of ERS within the curriculum. The Steering Group is chaired by Associate Dean for Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability, Laura Marsiliani's Homepage. She is also and Fellow of the Durham Energy Institute and Centre for Sustainable Development, Law and Policy and Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Environmental and Energy Economics as well as a Member of the Durham University observer delegation at UN COP. The Business School prepares a PRME SIP Report annually – see previous reports at Durham Business School | UNPRME

Progress on this work is included in the Durham University Annual Report 2024, which is linked throughout to the SDGs and reviews annually all areas of activity, including ‘Educational Excellence’. 

We also regularly review and publicly report on progress around integration of all the SDGs in research, teaching, learning and action: see Sustainable Development Goals - Durham University.

Our university-wide Sustainable Development (SDG) Group includes a wide membership from every academic faculty as well as professional services, such as the Greenspace Team and links to the Environmental Sustainability Strategic Performance Group (ESSPG).  It coordinates reporting and evidence gathering on the implementation of SDGs across the university and reports to the Global Strategy Group, which is chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global) – this group advises UEC.

At Durham we encourage our academic teaching and research staff to embed sustainability into their curriculum and research projects and to align university activities with the UN SDGs.  

Our Sustainable Development (SDG) Group also supports academic staff to integrate the SDGs into their curriculum and research and includes representation from every faculty. It promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and engages with local and global stakeholders to bring further support and opportunity to the university. 

Our Environmental Sustainability Vision Policy and Strategy outlines the University’s commitment to supporting our staff to integrate sustainability into all elements of the University’s mission. The Environmental Sustainability Online Training Modules produced by the University’s Greenspace team (2019 onwards) are free and accessible to all staff and students. 

The new training being developed by DCAD will offer further training which brings in social and economic sustainability as well as environmental sustainability resources.

Durham University actively uses its estate as a living laboratory for research, particularly in sustainability, ecology, and conservation.  

When the university first developed our Biodiversity Strategy, we developed research techniques as part of the development of our Baseline Biodiversity Audit, which recorded 983 species across the university estate. This underpins our Biodiversity Net Gain target setting and action plan and reviewing and has seen several internships created for research projects. We continue to undertake research in this space including Wildflower Meadow Trials with side-by-side contrasting experimental rewilding experiments at the Botanic Garden and college grounds: Biodiversity - Durham University The wildflower meadow trial continues in 2025 and our research staff are recalculating our Biodiversity Net Score in Summer 2025 using Natural England’s 4.0 metric. 

Another example is the Rewilding and Reconnecting Durham University Estate project. This initiative, led by a Durham University Natural Sciences student in collaboration with university staff, explores how rewilding principles—like reintroducing locally extinct plant species—can be applied across university-owned wildland. It combines historical research, fieldwork, and experimental planting in partnership with the Botanic Garden to assess biodiversity impacts. 

This case study focuses on permaculture principles being used on our estate: Permaculture+BioBlitz_Living Lab_Final 

We also work on projects which connect our estate to natural neighbouring spaces, such as where Our scientists are supporting Durham Cathedral to bring swifts to nest - Durham University and our Pioneering collaboration will create new Green Corridors in the North East - Durham University.

The university supports and promotes research projects for Sustainable Development.  

We have the dedicated Durham Energy Institute and Centre for Sustainable Development, Law and Practice, These ensure interdisciplinarity across academic activities and support sustainable policy and law-making. Since 2020 the University as had observer status to the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity: COP Steering Group - Durham University. This enables us to integrate research findings into global and national policy and law frameworks.  

In addition, research in a wide a range of schools and faculties addresses environmental and social sustainability, from Biosciences biodiversity and climate research and the Geography Department’s work on climatology and glaciology (see a fuller list of Geography projects here: Durham University Geography - Research and Impact) to our Business School’s research on interactions between natural and social systems (Sustainability - Durham University Business School). 

Our SDG portal includes examples of both actions and research being taken forward for each of the 17 different SDGs. 

In 2022 we launched our Strategic Research Fund for sustainability projects (SRF - Durham University). This commits £18 million over four years. The four sustainability projects funded by SRF are: 

• SMART Soils Lab: Pioneers nature-based engineering to restore degraded soils by enhancing the soil microbiome, supporting sustainable land use and climate resilience. 

• Just Transitions to a Net Zero World (JusTN0W): Develops interdisciplinary legal, policy, and technological solutions to ensure equitable and socially inclusive pathways to decarbonisation. 

• Responsible Space Innovation Centre: Advances sustainable space exploration by integrating science, governance, and industry to protect the orbital environment for future generations. 

• Heritage 360 (H360): Reimagines natural and cultural heritage research through interdisciplinary approaches that link environmental sustainability, social justice, and community well-being. 

In the Durham SOFI (Soft Matter and Functional Interfaces Centre for Doctoral Training) programme (a PhD program based in Chemistry and Physics which aims to inspire students to solve solutions to problems in sustainability on an industrial scale), students have the chance to develop business ideas. Low Carbon materials are a company set up by PhD students as a result of the programme, which reduces plastic waste by incorporating waste plastic in concrete and construction materials. 

Durham’s Global Challenges Centre for Doctoral Training has been hosting PhD students to take forward interdisciplinary work on a range of global challenges, all of which are aligned to UN SDGs. The 26 projects, led by researchers from 15 different departments across three faculties, all involve working with partners in one of the 17 DAC nations. Details are available here: Our Projects - Durham University

Our Research Integrity Policy and Code of Good Practice - Durham University outlines expectations for ethical conduct, including how research is designed, funded, and managed. It notes that 

“Any project where any of the following may apply requires ethical review: 

1. the funder or collaborator’s ethos and values are at odds with the University’s; 

1. the funder or collaborator has a poor ethical track record that has not been addressed, for example in relation to human rights violations or significant environmental harm; 

1. a third party may exert influence which conflicts with the principles of academic freedom, e.g. in restricting publication or influencing research design, or could adversely impact future research or relationships. 

1. the funding may have been obtained in an unethical way.” 

The university is also a signatory to the UK Concordat to Support Research Integrity which ‘asks universities, research institutes and individual researchers to commit to ensuring their work is underpinned by the highest standards of rigour and integrity’. 

In early 2025 Durham University also signed the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, both of which promote transparency, accountability, and ethical collaboration. 

This page outlines our approach to Research governance, ethics and integrity: Ethics & Governance - Durham University

Fair access and excellent education for all: We welcome students from all backgrounds with merit and potential and we have robust systems in place to ensure our admissions process is fair and transparent 

Our Access and Participation Plans - Durham University for this and previous academic years reaffirm our commitment to widening participation in higher education. This page is regularly updated with college and department scholarships which offer a range of support from fee waivers to living cost contributions for the university: College and Department - Durham University and wider scholarship information can be accessed at: Scholarships - Durham University. 

Durham is one of 80 UK universities which offer sanctuary scholarships to Undergraduate and Postgraduate students, including full fee waivers. Offers are updated annually: Student Action for Refugees - Scholarships Provided by Universities 

Other examples of further dedicated support include the Helen Sharp Undergraduate Scholarship in Modern Languages and the Hefin Rees KC scholarship in Law, available for 2025-26, which explicitly welcome applications from asylum seekers, refugees, care-leavers, and students of Black heritage. 

Durham’s EDI policies cover all protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010. We protect refugees and asylum seekers through the protected characteristics. We are proud to endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter and, as a member of the supporting organisation, we support the vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and offers sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy.

Energy 

Waste and Recycling

Waste Management Policy. For more information on our campaigns and recycling procedures, please visit our Waste webpage.