Policies, strategies and reports

• University of Essex Land Sequestration Report 2022

This report details the assessment of the quantity of CO2e absorbed by university owned land (sequestered) per year.

Carbon Management Plan

We will be developing a new Carbon Management Plan over the coming months as part of our Sustainability Sub-Strategy 2021-28. The principles of our current plan still remain while this work is undertaken.

The existing Carbon Management Plan sets out the steps necessary for the University to achieve its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 43 percent by 2020 from a 2005 baseline. 

• Carbon Management Plan 2016-2023  (.pdf)

The University is currently developing its new Carbon Management Plan, and will also produce a more detailed Decarbonisation Plan later in 2024. The focus remains on an overall reduction in carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency, with our net zero target set for 2035, as detailed in the Sustainability Sub-Strategy. The new CMP will be reviewed and approved at senior management level, and updated on this page as soon as possible. (Updated June 2025)

Approximately 60 percent of all the University’s Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions are from student accommodation (including external student accommodation).

• Carbon Emissions Report 2022-23

This report provides a detailed analysis of our scope 1,2 and 3 emissions for 2022-23.

• Road to Net Zero Emissions Management Plan 2021 (.pdf)

This report, produced by consultants LCMB, details are scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions baseline, and advised our approach to making a net zero commitment. It identifies opportunities for carbon reduction across our three campuses and indicates investment required to achieve our ambitions.

• Scope 3 Emissions Report (.pdf)

As we develop our work on Scope 3 emissions, we have undertaken an initial exercise to assess data we currently hold.

• Carbon Reduction Plan (.pdf)

F Gases

The University's HVAC and refrigeration is maintained to comply with high standards to prevent escape of gases. Any refrigerants removed during the maintenance process are handled by a registered waste carrier.

Hazardous products

Our School of Life Sciences carefully manages the disposal of any hazardous wastes, and laboratory staff adhere to a comprehensive Waste Disposal Handbook (.pdf).

The energy policy outlines the university’s commitment to minimising energy consumption in order to avoid unnecessary expenditure, protect the environment and prolong the useful life of fossil fuels.

• Energy Policy (.pdf)

• Student and Staff Engagement Plan (.pdf)

The Student and Staff Engagement Plan sets out the university’s stance on maximising sustainability engagement throughout each campus. This includes marketing strategies, education and events.

The Statement of Investment and Banking Principles sets out the University’s agreed approach to ethical investment and banking. This policy is reviewed by the Investment Committee, with approval given by the University Steering Group. Details of the Investments Committee and its members can be found in the full list of the Committees of Council. (.pdf)

• Investment Sector Weights 2025 (.pdf)
• Investment Sector Weights 2024 (.pdf)
• Statement of Investment and Banking Principles 2024 (.pdf)
• Investment Sector Weights 2023 (.pdf)
• Investment Sector Weights 2022 (.pdf)
• Investment Sector Weights 2021 (.pdf)

The University of Essex Portfolio Overview lists all investments made over the recent financial year, as a percentage of the overall fund.

• Financial Procedure Note 24 - Procurement of Supplies November 2020 (.pdf)

This Financial Procedure Note provides additional guidance and supplementary information in regards to the University's Financial Regulations.

The University’s Financial Regulations specify the procedural and ethical expectations for research funding and gifts.

The sustainable food policy outlines Essex Food’s commitment to sustainability. The scope of this policy does not extend to the SU Bar and the SU Kitchen, for which the University does not have responsibility. When the University outsources catering contractors, they must adhere to the standards outlined within the sustainable food policy, as outlined in our tender specification documents.

• Sustainable Food Policy 2023 (.pdf)

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report on Access supports the Education Committee in setting the priorities for 2021-22 and beyond in relation to equality and diversity matters, to ensure that every student can achieve their potential.

• Equality Diversity and Inclusion report on Access (UG and PG) and UG Continuation.

The gender pay policy outlines the University’s commitment to providing and promoting equal pay.

• Gender Pay Report 2020 (.pdf)

Our people supporting strategy describes the University’s action plan to establish, monitor and promote parity of pay, equality and diversity and health safety and wellbeing among other things surrounding our employees.

• People Supporting Strategy (.pdf)

Matters around ethics of organisations are covered in our Code of Good Research Practice (.pdf). For example, we do not undertake research of which the primary purpose is for defence/military use, or accept funding from the tobacco industry. Visit the Research Governance pages for more information.

Outsourcing staff

The University makes minimal use of outsourced/contract staff and will assess occurrences on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with People and Culture and our Central Procurement Unit. Where outsourced staff are deemed necessary, suppliers will be expected to demonstrate that pay and conditions for their staff working at the University align with the University's own staff contracts, as part of the tender process. 

For example, the below wording has been included in a previous tender question:
The supplier will ensure that staff allocated to this contract are paid as a minimum the current Living Wage. The supplier shall also ensure that if any additional hourly rates are charge for Bank Holiday working, that staff working Bank Holidays receive this additional pay in the normal proportions. The supplier shall also ensure that it complies with the restrictions of the Working Time Directive in relation to working time, rest breaks and holiday entitlement.

Student support

The University offers support for living costs for students through a number of different funds. You can find out more information in our student finance section.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

Backed by the Minister for Higher and Further Education, former Equalities Select Committee Chair Maria Miller MP and campaign group #CantBuyMySilence, The University of Essex commits to not using Non-Disclosure Agreements to silence people who come forward to raise complaints of sexual harassment, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying.

• Sustainability Sub-Strategy and Climate Action Plan 2021-28 (.pdf)

The Sustainability Sub-Strategy is our overarching document for all sustainability-related issues. The document itself is a combination of policy and strategy. It begins by outlining our commitments to sustainability and ends with a set of SMART targets to aid us in fulfilling these commitments.

• Sustainability Sub Strategy (SSS) Annual Report 2024 (.pdf)
• Sustainability Sub Strategy (SSS) Annual Report 2023 (.pdf)
• Sustainability Sub-Strategy (SSS) Annual Report 2022 (.pdf)
• Sustainability Sub-Strategy (SSS) 2016-19 (.pdf)
• Sustainability Sub-Strategy (SSS) Annual Report 2019-2020 (.pdf)
• Sustainability Sub-Strategy (SSS) Annual Report 2018-2019 (.pdf)
• Sustainability Sub-Strategy (SSS) Annual Report 2017- 2018 (.pdf)

The Sustainability Sub-Strategy is reported on annually to University Steering Group (USG) to update on progress made against our core objectives.

• Sustainable Travel Plan 2021-26 (Master) (.pdf)
• Sustainable Travel Plan 2021-26 (Colchester Campus Sub Report) (.pdf)
• Sustainable Travel Plan 2021-26 (Southend Campus Sub Report) (.pdf)
• Sustainable Travel Plan 2021-26 (Loughton Campus Sub Report) (.pdf)

The Sustainable Travel Plan outlines a package of measures to promote the use of sustainable modes of transport and to encourage a reduced reliance on private cars.

University of Essex Travel Decision Tree (.pdf)

Whether you are travelling for work in the UK or internationally, it is important to consider the carbon impact of your journey. Our Decision Tree helps you to review your plans for the most effective option. In the first instance you should always determine whether travel is essential, given the excellent video conferencing options we have at our disposal (Zoom or Microsoft Teams). Our travel booking providers Diversity and Key) can help you select environmentally efficient journeys. If a route you want does not appear in searches, you can contact them for a tailored itinerary (for example if you would like to book a ferry).

This document sets out the procedures relevant to our environmental commitments to waste management.

• Waste and Recycling Policy 2025 (.pdf)

The tables found in the below documents break down the waste data of each respective year for the University by category and proportion recycled.

• Waste Data for 2024 (.pdf)
• Waste data for 2023 (.pdf) 

• Waste data for 2022 (.pdf) 

• Waste data for 2021 (.pdf) 

• Waste data for 2020 (.pdf) 

• Waste data for 2019 (.pdf)

Management

Our Maintenance team have detailed plans of campus that indicate the flow of our drains, which either run into sewers or directly into the water course. Consequently all discharges are carefully managed to avoid pollution incidents. 

Our Grounds team uses a clear water wash pad which uses recycled rain water to wash their vehicles and machinery. The wash pad also captures any oil or fuel leaks within the system, it is then cleaned and reused.