The University of Essex has been placed 36th in the People and Planet University League table 2025/26, and scored top marks in key areas such as Engagement, Environmental policy and Staff sustainability.
Compiled annually by the student campaigning network, People and Planet, the university league table is the only comprehensive and independent league table of 147 UK universities ranked by their environmental and ethical performance.
Each of the scores are based on a range of criteria, using a combination of information available on university websites and aspects of data submitted as part of the Higher Education Statistics Agency return.
Essex’s Director of Sustainability, Rob Davey, said: “While the improvements we are making are not always obvious, this ranking offers an insight into the steps we are taking to make the University more sustainable.
“We have made steady progress each year within the University League, which really emphasizes the ongoing progress Essex is making to lower its environmental impact and enhance social responsibility.”
Key to Essex’s rise up the rankings has been its Sustainability Sub-Strategy, which was launched in 2021.
The strategy has been the driving force behind key changes such as embedding best practice through policy and extracurricular opportunities offered to students.
Essex’s reliance on carbon emissions has also reduced thanks to the installation of thousands of solar panels on University buildings.
In sub-categories of this year’s People and Planet rankings, Essex scored highly for Education (20th), Carbon Management (=21st) and Carbon Reduction (25th).
Source: Adapted from an article published by the University of Essex