The Bournemouth University Environmental Policy

Bournemouth University is a large organisation with approximately 1,400 staff and 17,000 students, divided between two campuses.

It enjoys a high quality environment within the setting of a bustling south coast resort. It is committed to maintaining and wherever possible, enhancing, the quality of this environment, both for people who live and work in the University and for the wider community.

Bournemouth University recognises that its activities have an impact upon the environment at local, regional, national and global levels and acknowledges a responsibility for the protection of the environment and the health of its members and the community.

Aims

The University is committed to:

• Protecting the environment and promoting the minimisation of its environmental impacts at all levels in relation to transport, waste, energy, procurement and construction both through its direct actions and through its influence on others.
• Developing a collaborative approach to environmental management throughout the University community and adopting “best practice” environmental policies and practices across the University’s Schools and Professional Services and the Students’ Union.
• Providing safe, healthy working conditions for staff and students in accordance with the University’s Health and Safety Policy and reducing impacts such as litter, graffiti and noise pollution.
• Promoting awareness amongst staff and students of how their personal actions can affect the environment and how even small changes in their actions can contribute collectively to a more sustainable future.
• Complying with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations and requirements.

Objectives

The University will seek to continuously improve its environmental performance in the areas of infrastructure and operations, academic programmes and communication.

Infrastructure and Operations

• Work with staff, students and service providers to significantly reduce the University’s waste output to landfill through the development and implementation of “best practice” waste management routines, establishing sustainable segregation and recycling regimes for an increasing range of materials and promoting waste minimisation.
• Identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption and the use of fossil fuels to significantly reduce the University’s CO2 footprint, while establishing robust systems for energy monitoring and targeting.
• Continuing to examine the possibility of acquiring electricity from ‘greener’ sources, either through the purchase of renewable energy, or through an increased use of on site renewables.
• Identify opportunities to reduce water consumption, implementing water conservation measures where possible and promoting the efficient use of water among staff and students.
• Continue to review and implement the University’s Travel Plan to ensure that it encourages reduced dependency on car use and improves the transport options available to both staff and students.
• Assess as far as possible the environmental impact of all purchases, in terms of raw materials, manufacture, distribution, use and disposal; and to assess suppliers across a wide range of areas (e.g. ISO 14001 accreditation and conformity to relevant legislation).
• Achieve, as a minimum, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ rating for all major estates projects over £2m in value and a minimum ‘Very Good’ rating for projects below that threshold.
• Aim to ensure that all major projects at the University are required to consider the environmental and carbon impacts of the project at an early stage and throughout the approval process.
• Strive to reduce the release of pollutants, to be achieved by application of appropriate discharge controls and also by initial assessment and ongoing evaluation of the appropriateness of and need for any activity which could have an impact on the environment.
• Have regard for the conservation of biodiversity in the exercise of the University’s functions, (so far as this is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions), and aim to measure, maintain and where possible enhance biodiversity on campus.

Academic Programmes

• Aim to ensure that all graduates of Bournemouth University are aware of and confident in dealing with issues relating to sustainable development.
• Aim to provide all students with knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and the need for sustainability through the incorporation of sustainable development into academic programmes.
• Provide specific programmes on a range of environmental issues and promote research related to sustainable development.
• Provide education and training on sustainable development for staff so that they can make a full contribution to the University’s agenda for sustainability and so that they can work and live in an environmentally responsible way.

Communication

• Raise awareness among staff and students about the University’s environmental impact, activities and performance and promote good practice at individual, School or Professional Service and institutional level.
• Build partnerships with the local community and national organisations to progress environmental objectives and communicate with the outside community about the University’s environmental performance and activities.

Review

• Review and publish the Environmental Policy Statement on an annual basis and continuously review the University’s environmental management procedures.
• Ownership of this policy sits with Environmental Strategy Group, which reports to University Leadership Team.

Professor John Vinney
Vice-Chancellor
April 2011