Staff Sustainability Induction Resources

Sustainability sits at the heart of The University of Leeds. We take our responsibility to have a positive impact on society and the environment very seriously and believe that we all have a part to play in this.

We have gathered all our sustainability training resources and further links into this webpage to make it easy for all staff, especially when starting out, to understand the University’s Sustainability Strategy, and how they can contribute to sustainability at the University.

The Sustainability Service oversee and support the University to deliver the University’s Sustainability Strategy. All staff must be aware of this Strategy, which is accessible online.

You should also be aware of some of the University’s key strategic commitments in relation to sustainability. These include:

The University of Leeds Climate Plan

In September 2019 we announced our Seven Climate Principles to tackle the climate crisis. We use these principles to guide all University activity in moving towards a sustainable, low carbon future.

In November 2021, the University Council unanimously approved the University Climate Plan and a dedicated net zero plan that underpins it. Read more here.

Single-use plastic free pledge

In 2018 the University of Leeds and Leeds University Union made a collaborative pledge to remove single-use plastic across all of our operations by 2023.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

These interconnected 17 goals, each address global challenges such as poverty, climate change, equalities, peace and justice and provide a framework for our work on sustainability.

The University has signed the SDG Accord, a commitment to embed the SDG’s into everything we do. Find out more about some of the ways we contribute towards each of the SDG’s here.

All staff are required to complete two training modules, which are available on Minerva.

Sustainability in Practice training module

All staff must complete this module as part of your induction and then retake it on an annual basis to make sure you are up to date with sustainability at Leeds.

The University Environmental Management System (EMS)

You also need to learn about our Environmental Management System (EMS) and how this may relate to your role.

There are many ways to get involved with sustainability at Leeds: from formally committing a proportion of your time, with support from your manager, as a Staff Sustainability Architect; to getting involved with our Biodiversity Community. Take a look at the number of ways you can contribute to sustainability at the University.

• Become a Staff Sustainability Architect
• Develop and work towards a School/Service level sustainability action plan through Blueprint
• Become a Positive Impact Partner and work with the third sector
• Become involved in Living Lab projects, using the campus as a test bed to find solutions
• For staff with teaching responsibilities, learn more about incorporating Sustainability into the Curriculum
• Get involved with the diverse biodiversity activity on campus

Take a look at our Get Involved webpage for more.

Simple environmental practices at work can go a long way when we act as a University community. Take a look at the suggestions below for ways to reduce your impact at work, and help us to become a more sustainable University.

• To save energy and carbon, non-essential equipment must be turned off at the end of the day and during University closures (unless equipment is required for research or health and safety reasons).
• Before any items are purchased or disposed of, individuals should first consult the Reuse@Leeds website.
• Staff with purchasing responsibilities should be aware of the University sustainable procurement standards and processes. See the procurement section in our Environmental Management System (EMS).
• Environmental Compliance: We all have a responsibility to ensure the University complies with relevant sustainability standards and policies. Take a look at these on our EMS.
• All staff should be aware of local recycling facilities and what can be recycled at the University. Further information and a copy of the recycling and waste guide is available online.
• All staff should be made aware of sustainable travel options and benefits available to them.

If you have any questions or need help then please get in touch with us at sustainability@leeds.ac.uk