Operations
Through transparent governance, ethical supply chains, and cross-institutional collaboration, we embed the SDGs within our operational framework.
Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice
Queen Mary is a signatory of the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, and is committed to embed sustainability in research in line with the 6 priority areas of the Concordat and collaborate with the sector to drive a just environmental transition.
The Food Made Good Standard
This year, we achieved one star in the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good standard. Part of the framework includes supporting the community, treating staff fairly, feeding people well and supporting farmers and fishers. Our meaningful work being done in community engagement and partnerships with organisations like the Ocean Regeneration Trust, plus regular plant-based options, were highlighted as illustrating how our operations are having a positive impact in our community.
Sustainability Action Plan
The University’s new Sustainability Action Plan aligns its operations with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Created through collaboration across university departments, this set clear targets across operations, engagement, research and innovation and education.
Sustainable Laboratories (LEAF)
Queen Mary works with labs and researchers within the university to achieve the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework, a certification scheme helping labs reduce their carbon emissions. This focuses on areas like equipment, people, waste, sample and chemical management and research quality. Depending on actions taken, labs are awarded either Bronze, Silver or Gold.
We currently have two gold, 11 silver and 29 bronze certified labs.
Angry Monk
Through a partnership with Angry Monk, the Queen Mary University kitchen is able to incorporate imperfect and out-of-shape produce into their salad bar and daily meals, saving unwanted fruit and vegetables from being wasted.
Pursuing net zero
Queen Mary University has pledged to support the government’s ambition of reaching net zero by 2050. This involves reducing our scope 1 and 2 emissions (tCO2e) by 18% by the end of 2027/27, against our 2023/24 emissions, as outlined in our Sustainability Action Statement (2025/26-2027/28.)
Recently a new project was implemented in our Joseph Priestly data centre, estimated to reduce the university’s Scope 1 emissions by 625 tonnes of CO2e annually, with a net annual reduction of circa 553 tonnes of tCO2e when accounting for a modest increase in electricity-related emissions.
Reuse and collecting for good
We partner with the British Heart Foundation to offer clothing collection bins on site, encouraging students and staff to donate unwanted clothes instead of throwing them out.
We also partner with our Students’ Union and accommodation providers to deliver the annual student Reuse Fair. Each year students moving out donate thousands of items, which are then sorted and redistributed to incoming students. This year we diverted over 1 tonne of items from landfill, reaching over 400 students. The scheme also raises funds that we reinvest into sustainability activities such as canal cleans and our Climate Action Week.
Equitable Partnerships toolkit
Recently our CIVIC team launched the Equitable Partnerships for Civic Engagement toolkit, as part of Research England’s National Civic Impact Accelerator programme (NCIA), led by Sheffield Hallam University.
The aim of the toolkit is simple: to help make partnerships fairer, longer lasting and more impactful. It builds on workshops held in London, Sheffield and online with more than 50 partners from universities, local authorities, health organisations and community groups.