Research into Sustainability

Two research taking measurements from plants in a lab.

Lancaster University is contributing to a sustainable future through world-leading research and collaborations with partner organisations and communities, encompassing social, health, economic and environmental sustainability.

Assessing research related to six of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the QS has awarded institutions around the world with medals based on their focus on ‘Environmental Impact’. The gold-rated SDGs are affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15).

Sustainability across Lancaster's research

Academics and researchers from across Lancaster University are working to address the climate emergency in diverse ways.

Professor Jess Davies

60 Seconds with... Professor Jess Davies from Lancaster Environment Centre. Jess is the Director of Centre for Global Eco-Innovation and a Professor of Sustainability who specialises in the role of land and soils in creating sustainable food, climate and water futures. In this video, Jess explains how her work with carbon capture in soil, could help solve the Climate Emergency.

Dr Ana Costa

60 Seconds with... Dr Ana Costa - a senior lecturer in at Lancaster University. In this video, she explains how her work is focusing on the re-use of materials in construction to reduce the carbon footprint of building work.

Dr Celine Germond-Duret

60 Seconds with... Dr Celine Germond-Duret, a Lecturer in Environmental Politics and Policy in the department at Lancaster University. Celine is interested in marine policy and the blue economy, international climate politics, and indigenous peoples.

Dr Michael Stead

60 Seconds with... Dr Michael Stead. Michael is a Lecturer in Sustainable Design from Imagination Lancaster, our open and exploratory design research lab. His work aims to develop innovative design approaches and tools in collaboration with industry, policymakers and the public to raise awareness and support adopting sustainable and equitable data-driven technologies and related practices.

Victoria Simpson

60 Seconds with... Victoria Simpson, a Psychology PhD student at Lancaster University. Here she explains more about her research into the barriers to being vegan and how this impacts children's diet choices.

Examples of our research

Concordat for Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice

Lancaster has become a signatory of the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. The voluntary concordat has been co-developed by the UK research and innovation (R&I) sector and represents a shared ambition for the UK to continue delivering cutting-edge research, but in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way. Signatories of the Concordat will be asked to demonstrate how they are reducing the environmental impacts and emissions associated with research and innovation.

Concordat letter of commitment

Sustainability news

A view of the HIC building on campus

Wellbeing – for people and planet

The 2025 Planetary Health Report Card has been released, and Lancaster Medical School has been ranked sixth in the table of UK Medical Schools. 
Margaret Fell Lecture Theatre full of people at a conference

Hosting green events using Greengage’s EVENTsmart Carbon Calculator

Lancaster University Conferences & Events+ has taken a sustainable step in hosting green events by adopting Greengage’s EVENTsmart Carbon Calculator. 
Garden at LU Ghana

Sustainability updates: recycling, gardening and planting

This spring has brought a flurry of gardening projects and spring-cleaning suggestions. Here are some examples of positive change on and off campus this March.
British Heart Foundation bins

Don’t ditch it. Donate it.

As part of the Don't Ditch It, Donate It campaign, everyone is encouraged to donate unwanted clothing or household items to help the British Heart Foundation by using one of the new donation bins dotted around campus.
L - R Ian Sturzaker (Landscape Manager) holding the award, Chris Ingleby (Grounds Supervisor), Mark Gould (Grounds Team Member and Thomas Heppell - Mooney (Grounds Team Member) being presented their award by David Hart, Managing Director – Kubota UK

Lancaster University’s Grounds team scoops two national awards

The team behind Lancaster University’s award-winning 578- acre estate has won two prizes at the national Grounds Management Association (GMA) Industry Awards 2025.
Two bikes parked in the new cycle storage racks and the adjacent bike repair stand.

New bike repair stand installed opposite the LICA building

A new public bike repair stand has been installed opposite the LICA building entrance, along with improvements to the adjacent open-access cycle storage racks, which now provide more parking for cyclists.

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