Sustainability for staff

Staff play a vital role in shaping a more sustainable University. This section brings together guidance, tools, learning opportunities and practical resources to support sustainability in your work, whether you're teaching, researching, managing services or making everyday decisions.

It is designed to help you understand what’s possible, build your knowledge and confidence, access support, and take action, whatever stage you are at in your sustainability journey, while connecting individual actions to the University's wider environmental and social responsibility goals.

Health and wellbeing

Find out about the health and wellbeing benefits and support available to staff.

Travel

Explore sustainable and active travel options and find business travel guidance.

Sustainable purchasing (internal login required)

Learn how responsible purchasing decisions can reduce environmental impact, support ethical supply chains and create greater social value

Sustainable research practice

Find guidance, resources and opportunities to make research and laboratory activities more environmentally and socially responsible.

Training and development

Access learning opportunities, training and professional development that help you understand, apply and lead sustainability in your work.

Policies and guidance

Browse guidance documents, frameworks and policies that support sustainable and responsible decision-making across the University.

Get involved and make a difference

Throughout the year, staff can take part in events, campaigns, volunteering opportunities, collaborative projects and funding schemes that support positive change across campus and beyond.

Join the Sustainability Community MS Team to connect with colleagues, ask questions, share ideas and stay up to date with the latest sustainability news, events and opportunities. To play a more active role, you can become a Staff Sustainability Architect, contribute to your department's Blueprint, or help deliver sustainability initiatives within your area.

Every member of staff can also help reduce the University's environmental impact through everyday actions. Turn off non-essential equipment when not in use, explore Reuse@Leeds before purchasing or disposing of items, follow sustainable procurement practices, recycle correctly and choose sustainable travel options where possible. By understanding and supporting the University's sustainability policies and environmental standards, we can all contribute to a more sustainable campus and community.

Blueprint

Blueprint is our award-winning staff engagement framework, designed to help departments of all types develop bespoke five-year plans to address the sustainability of their operations. The programme supports teams to better understand and act upon their own social and environmental impacts whilst contributing to institutional targets.

The unique framework is fully supported by the Sustainability Service and enables us to build connectivity across teams, providing opportunities for co-learning, collaboration, and sharing best practice.

Interested in creating your own Blueprint for sustainability? Email [email protected] for further information.

Staff Sustainability Architects

If you want to be part of driving sustainable change at the university then you should be a Staff Sustainability Architect (SSA). Staff in any role at the university can join our SSA network. With support from their senior leadership teams, our SSAs commit a portion of their time to act as sustainability ambassadors, working with the Sustainability Service to shape objectives which will make a real difference in their departments and promoting sustainability across every School and Service.