University of Derby sustainability score: 50/100

·Higher Education / Universities·Last verified 27 September 2026
50
out of 100
Making progressPending ReviewMixed evidence· 12 src

University of Derby scores 50/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment — scored from public data only, no company payment can change a number. Last verified September 2026.

That places University of Derby joint 139th of 780 companies scored, and joint 39th of 66 in Higher Education / Universities.

Derby's carbon disclosures are methodologically sound but operationally modest. Scope 1+2 reductions are real but partly driven by grid decarbonisation; Scope 3 lacks verification and commuting data. Energy remains predominantly grid-sourced with minimal renewable procurement. Recycling at 35.3% trails sector peers.

Is this your company?

This score is built from public data only. If your practice is stronger than your disclosure, submit evidence for review — or challenge any question, free.

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The calculation

How is University of Derby's SINK score calculated?

Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Higher Education / Universities sector ceiling.
45 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
52 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 45) + (0.7 × 52) = 49.9
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 1
Final score
Rounded. Making progress.
50 / 100
The ten questions

What is University of Derby doing well, and where does it fall short?

Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Targets & Commitments (3/10, 4/10).

Where the evidence comes from

What evidence is University of Derby's score based on?

12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Public record
HESA Estates Management Record 2023/24

“Total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions 5187.9 tCO2e, 2023/24, UKPRN 10007851”

2024
Q1Q2Q3Q4Q6Q7
View →
[2]Self-reported
Report of the Governing Council 2024

“CO2e emissions, including those associated with waste and water, were calculated using the 2024 emission factors”

2024
Q1Q2Q3Q4
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[3]Self-reported
Carbon Management Plan

“In 2021/22 our total scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions were 5958 tonnes CO2e”

Ongoing
Q1Q3Q4Q8
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[4]Self-reported
Sustainable Procurement

“Our supply chain is the largest part of the University's carbon footprint”

Ongoing
Q2Q6
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[5]Self-reported
Environment News & Updates

“University of Derby has become part of Nature Positive Universities Alliance, a new global network of 111 universities”

Ongoing
Q5
View →
[6]Self-reported
Annual Impact Report 2021–2022: Environment & Sustainability

“The University is aiming to reach Net Zero by 2040”

2022
Q8Q10
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[7]Self-reported
Annual Impact Report: Environment & Sustainability

“Professor Miles Richardson was selected as one of the UK Government's lead authors for the Transformative Change Report”

Ongoing
Q5
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[8]Self-reported
Sustainable Food

“We do not purchase fish listed as 'fish to avoid' in the Good Fish Guide”

Ongoing
Q5
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[9]Self-reported
Waste and Recycling

“we aim to ensure none of our non-hazardous waste goes to landfill”

Ongoing
Q6
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[10]Third-party verified
University of Derby Case Study

“cut yearly water usage in the men's washrooms across all campuses by more than 23,739,965 litres”

Unknown
Q7
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[11]Third-party verified
Ecologi Case Study: University of Derby

“University applied a robust internal carbon fee of £70/tCO2e, reflecting best practice internal carbon pricing”

Unknown
Q8
View →
[12]Third-party verified
InfluenceMap Database

“InfluenceMap maintains the world's leading database of corporate and industry association lobbying”

Ongoing
Q10
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

University of Derby in context

How does University of Derby compare with other higher education / universities companies?

Where University of Derby sits among higher education / universities peers.

Among the 66 major higher education / universities brands we've scored, University of Derby is tied =39th of 66, with 5 others.

=39/66
University of Derby's rank
50
Industry average
22
Industry low
60
Industry high
How this score has moved

Has University of Derby's score changed?

today

As University of Derby's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

What's being contested

Has University of Derby's score been challenged?

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About University of Derby

University of Derby is a medium-sized UK higher education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across multiple campuses in the East Midlands. It sits in the middle tier of UK universities by student numbers and research intensity, with a stated sustainability commitment embedded in its governance structure.

Founded
—
Headquarters
GB
Employees
2,195 FTE (HESA EMR 2023/24)
Annual revenue
£219M (HESA EMR 2023/24)
Company website ↗
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