Dr Georgiana Allison - Head of Sustainability
Focus: - Scope 3 - Curriculum - Governance
Sustainability resources
Links and resources for staff.
Sustainability is at the heart of Lancaster University. We want to enable people to ask questions, share their stories, request resources, and support making more sustainable choices at work. Sharing your sustainability stories across the University with other staff members can also help inspire others. If you have organised an event, included sustainability in your teaching, embedded environmental issues into a policy, raised money for charity or anything else to do with sustainability, let us share your story — email sustainability@lancaster.ac.uk.
Our strategy
Lancaster University is a leader in sustainability, taking bold and urgent action to tackle the climate and ecological crisis and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2035. The University has a clear vision and plan to embed sustainability in everything it does, from teaching and research to campus operations and partnerships.
The University is also committed to supporting the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and creating a positive impact for people and the planet.
We recognise that traditional Facilities-led approaches to sustainability management are no longer appropriate. Like most organisations, we now understand that 80% of our carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions arise because of the individual decisions we make at work, from how we choose to travel, to how we spend our money.
As a team, we are moving away from the traditional approach of focusing on high visibility but low carbon impact (for example, waste management) and instead prioritising areas with lower visibility but much higher carbon impacts.
Meet the team
If you would like to find out more about Sustainability at the University, you can send us an email or explore the team profiles below and contact an individual directly. We aim to answer all internal emails within three working days, and all external emails within five working days.
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Jon Mills - Carbon, Environment and Sustainability Manager
Focus: - Carbon data - Policy development - Engagement
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Darren Wilkinson - Sustainability Coordinator
Focus: - EMS improvements - Sustainability operations - Engagement
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Natalie Bauer - Sustainability Marketing & Communications Officer
Focus: - Sustainability webpages - Sustainability communications - Engagement
Ways you can help
Sustainability in labs
Developed by Sustainable UCL, the LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) framework describes sustainability criteria against which individual labs can be audited, with the aim of achieving Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditation. By taking part in the programme, laboratories will help reduce their carbon emissions, and save plastics, water, energy and other resources while creating an environment that supports research quality.
Business travel
The new travel decision tree and travel guidance aims to support sustainable travel choices, specifically for academics and staff travelling on business on behalf of the University.
Following feedback, we have created a Train travel guide which shows the suggested train routes to some of our most frequently-travelled destinations in Europe.
Sustainable events
The new sustainable events guidance aims to support making your event more sustainable, from decoration to venue choices and food options.
Additionally, the Lancaster Conferences and Events+ team have been awarded Greengage ECOsmart Platinum accreditation for their sustainable initiatives and practices and you can work with them to organise your next campus event.
Find out about sustainabilityFrequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we are asked
Questions about how to get involved or help
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Sustainability should also be considered in all marketing and events at the University. We now have branded merchandise guidelines to ensure that any giveaways are done with sustainability in mind. There are also sustainable print options available for banners and printed resources from Creative Studio. Avoid waste by reusing banners and marketing collateral as much as possible.
Each faculty now has a sustainability committee which feeds into the University’s Climate Emergency and Sustainability Group. If you belong to a faculty, please get in touch with the relevant contact below.
FASS - Julia Gillen or Olga Gomez
FST - Phil Barker
FHM - Carol Holland
LUMS - Izzy Hoggmascall
Commercial Services - Jo Hardman
If you belong to a division or department, please contact Dr Georgiana Allison to discuss which of the existing groups you may wish to join.
Cycling is one of the most sustainable modes of transport. There is a wealth of facilities on campus to support and encourage cycling to and from campus, including a cycle path link to the city, secure cycle parking, shower facilities and changing rooms. A Stagecoach bus service also runs from the Underpass to the city centre every 10 minutes and stops at various locations on campus.
We can accommodate short-term placements to UG and PG students who are required to carry out a placement as part of their degree programme.
If you are interested in working with us, please contact Dr Georgiana Allison g.allison@lancaster.ac.uk
Questions about statistics or data
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Information on energy and utility consumption, for the University as a whole or specific buildings can be obtained from the University Energy manager Avery Chong. Information on carbon emissions and waste and recycling can be obtained from Jonathan Mills.
To obtain a copy of the University’s ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) certificate or other EMS documentation please contact Jonathan Mills.
We have lots of quantitative and qualitative information about sustainability at Lancaster. Please contact sustainability@lancaster.ac.uk with your specific information requirements.
The university has committed to achieving Net Zero carbon from scope 1 and scope 2 sources by 2030 and scope 3 sources by 2035. You can find out more about our carbon footprint on our carbon emissions webpage.
The Wind turbine produced enough electricity to power around 14% of campus every year. Find out more about the wind turbine, along with plans for the upcoming Solar PV Farm by visiting the Energy and Carbon webpages.
Other questions
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The Curriculum Transformation Programme will streamline the design, shape and delivery of Lancaster University's curriculum. Together, staff, students, and other stakeholders will co-create a signature curriculum that is sustainable, inclusive, distinctive and attractive.
Sustainability will be embedded at all levels throughout the curriculum.
Lancaster University is not registered with a carbon offsetting scheme. If you have a question regarding our approach to achieving Net Zero carbon, please get in touch with Dr Georgiana Allison.
Examples of best practice
We’re not working in isolation, there are lots of fantastic and engaged colleagues across the university working on sustainability within their areas. Here are just some examples: