Environmental auditing and management systems

Leeds Trinity University is working towards implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS).

In preparation for this, we are identifying our material environmental impacts and aspects and establishing an action plan to address these, including developing policies and procedures.

We are also undertaking regular audits and developing action plans for initial environmental impacts.

Waste auditing 

Leeds Trinity University produces a varied and substantial amount of waste every year. Waste has the capability of posing significant impacts on the environment if not managed effectively, including the release of greenhouse gases and pollution of local environments during processing.

Comparing waste performance data from the 2023–24 and 2024–25 academic years shows an overall reduction in waste volume, a 3% increase in the recycling rate (from 32% to 35%), and a 3% decrease in waste diverted to Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF – an energy recovery process) from 68% to 65%. This represents a significant improvement over the 2018–2019 baseline of 19.5% of waste recycled and 80.5% diverted as RDF.

A decline in recycling performance observed between the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years highlighted the need for an improved audit process to inform the strengthening of waste management infrastructure, improved guidance, and behaviour-focused interventions. Audits of receptacle provision at LTU were undertaken in Summer 2024 and again in Autumn 2024 to determine the relationship between recycling rates and bin type.

While further improvement is required to meet longer-term sustainability objectives, results indicate that ongoing efforts to review waste infrastructure, improve guidance, and promote positive waste disposal behaviours have contributed to improved performance. Recycling rates remain significantly higher than the 2018–2019 baseline, when 19.5% of waste was recycled and 80.5% was diverted to RDF.

Monitoring of 2025–26 performance is ongoing, with continued focus on waste reduction, improved segregation, and behaviour-led interventions to sustain and further improve recycling performance

Key findings included:

  • Receptacles with clear signage saw higher segregation rates compared to poorly labelled ones.
  • When recycling and general waste bins were paired together, contamination rates were reduced.
  • Newer style receptacles facilitated better waste segregation than old models
  • High-traffic areas such as the AKLC that contain newer style combined GW and DMR receptacles saw an increase in recycling volumes compared to unchanged locations.

To improve segregation rates, LTU is working on the following initiatives:

Standardising receptacle signage and lids

Colour-coded lids (green for recycling, black for waste) along with clear, graphical signage to guide users on acceptable waste types. 

Optimising bin placement

Pairing general waste and recycling bins wherever possible to simplify sorting. 

Enhancing high-traffic areas

Prioritising infrastructure improvements at key decision points, such as exits and food areas, to increase recycling opportunities. 

Targeted awareness campaigns

Supporting physical changes with educational efforts, including: 

  • Specific signage highlighting recycling benefits. 
  • Creating content for digital displays, providing guidance and reminders. 

Energy auditing

As part of the commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint, Leeds Trinity University conducts comprehensive energy audits on an annual basis. These audits are a critical component of how we manage energy and provide detailed insights into energy consumption across our campuses.

The process involves:

Data collection

Collating data on energy usage and benchmarking against a 2008/2009 base year.

Efficiency assessment

Identifying and evaluating opportunities for efficiency improvements, with regards to heating and cooling, lighting, CHP use, and building fabric. 

Equipment use analysis

Quantifying the impact of the use of equipment such as IT equipment, vending machines, and kitchen equipment on energy consumption.

Carbon impact analysis

Measuring carbon emissions associated with energy usage to track progress against LTU's net-zero ambitions. 

Continuous improvement

Presenting opportunities found throughout the audit(s) to reduce the wastage of energy waste and optimise operational efficiency.

These audits have helped inform significant investments in low-carbon technologies, including solar PV installations, LED lighting upgrades, and building management systems.

These audits also help us to validate our carbon emissions and report annually to HESA and as part of standard emissions reporting (SECR). Annual audits also ensure we remain accountable for our energy usage, continuously improving our performance in line with national and international sustainability goals. 

The annual energy audit in November 2024 found that energy consumption and carbon emissions from our Horsforth campus had risen by over 7% since the previous year. Whilst we are still recording a 29% improvement on the 20228/09 baseline year, we are taking steps to assess how energy can be reduced further. 

Travel auditing

We undertake an annual Travel survey of staff and students to quantify our carbon emissions impact from commuter and business travel against our travel carbon baselines and feed into our University Sustainable Travel plan. This survey is further supplemented by car parking audits to assess demand.

This process usually occurs in the Autumn term each year, but in 2024/25 it occurred in January 2025 to allow for time for students and staff to settle into their new commuter routines for the new Leeds City Campus.

Key findings for 2025 included:

  • The majority of staff travel to Horsforth campus alone – this is due to the out-of-town location of the campus, availability and efficiency of public transport and caring responsibilities.  
  • Over half of staff who travel to Leeds City Campus do so by train 
  • Those who currently use public transport or who would be encouraged to switch from using their cars would most like to see ‘more reliable services’ and ‘more frequent services’, followed by ‘cheaper standard fares’. 
  • Unlike many other Universities, 34% of students commute to Horsforth campus by car – this is due to convenience and journey time. Many Horsforth-based students are “commuter students” living more than ten miles away from the University and having a journey time by public transport exceeding 45 minutes. 

The key findings and actions from the student survey can be found in our Student Travel Survey - Insights.

Biodiversity auditing

As part of developing our campus masterplan, LTU has undergone numerous ecological and biodiversity audits and surveys of our Horsforth campus – including phase one habitat surveys, bat surveys, newt surveys and biodiversity baseline audits. We have also had ecological surveys carried out as part of our new city centre campus refurbishment. At the end of 2024, we developed a full baseline biodiversity and habitat assessment of our entire Horsforth campus.  

This survey indicated that as a baseline, we have over 64 “biodiversity units” across our Horsforth campus. These “units” are assessed using the latest biodiversity net gain calculators used by Ecologists. They are a way to measure the biodiversity value of a site before and after a development, ensuring that the overall biodiversity footprint is improved, not reduced. 

This provides us with a baseline from which we can manage and measure interventions and enable biodiversity enhancements aligned to our masterplan development (for which we have outline plans). We will be conducting further biodiversity surveys and audits as we bring forward enhancement projects as part of our masterplan and developing a Biodiversity Management Plan. 

Construction and refurbishment auditing

Our new Leeds City Campus has undergone numerous sustainability audits relating to the design, construction and operation of the building.

Throughout 2024, a BREEAM assessment was carried out on the design of the building refurbishment, which was awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating, with a score of 74% - Leeds City Campus BREEAM Certificate

We are awaiting the final BREEAM certification for the completion stage, following the post-construction audit carried out in early 2025.

Now that we are operational, we are also undergoing energy, water and waste auditing and monitoring to ensure that the building operates as it’s designed.