Sustainability

On average UWTSD uses 135,000 disposable cups a year which generates 1,599kg of waste and 34 tonnes of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere as a direct result of this waste stream.

This is the equivalent of 170 double-decker buses filled to the brim with carbon dioxide. In our efforts to reduce our carbon emissions we are looking at ways to use fewer disposable cups across our outlets, such as incentivising the use of reusable travel cups. A massive thank you to the 10% of customers who have remembered to bring their own cups.

Launching at the start of the 26/27 academic year UWTSD will be offering a reusable cup scheme at all our outlets. Simply add the £2 cup deposit when you purchase your coffee. Enjoy your guilt-free coffee. Then return the cup to any outlet for the deposit back, swap it for a fresh cup, or keep hold of it to return later. More information is available at our wonderful catering outlets.

We can only achieve our aim of reducing the amount of disposable coffee cups thrown away each year with your help.

Travel is a key policy area, both nationally and locally, that significantly impacts upon climate change. It is also a great example of how UWTSD have looked holistically at how we decrease our carbon emissions, while supporting colleagues to take their own meaningful action on reducing theirs. 

In 2022, UWTSD launched the Electric Vehicle (ultra-low emissions vehicle) Salary Sacrifice Lease scheme. This is operated by an expert in this field Knowles Fleet. Salary sacrifice is an arrangement under which you agree to give up (sacrifice) some of your gross salary (your salary before income tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) have been deducted) in exchange for a non-cash benefit, such as a car, provided by your employer. This means that you do not have to pay tax, or national insurance contributions on the amount that you give up. By signing up to this scheme, you agree to sacrifice an amount of your gross salary, on a monthly basis, in return for a brand new ULEV car. We have seen a really positive uptake on this scheme.

Electric Vehicle charging points have been installed across the majority of our estate. If you register on the Podpoint app with your UWTSD staff or student email address, the electric is charged at a preferential rate, significantly cheaper than the public rate and most commercial charging points.

In addition to these schemes much of the University fleet is now electric which is seeing the current charging points being well used.  To increase capacity to ensure that our university vehicles can be charged, UWTSD have successfully applied for a Welsh Government Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure grant that will see the additional charging points being installed in Cardiff Registry, Swansea IQ and SBC, Carmarthen Campus, and Lampeter Campus. 

A cupboard brimming with household things that you need, FREE to a good home, open to EVERYONE. The Community Cupboard has been collecting items that maybe useful to you, such as bedding, crockery, curtains, cutlery, electricals pots and pans, anything that can be put to good use. If you need something you can come to the Community Cupboard and see if we have it and you can take it home for FREE.

Donations

The Community Cupboard is based in the: 
Dylan Thomas Centre, 6 Somerset Pl, Swansea. SA1 1RR 
Open weekly.
Please contact communitycupboard@uwtsd.ac.uk

The Sustainability team have established Wellbeing walks around our campuses in Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea. 

We encourage staff and students to use the wellbeing walks as a chance to step away from lectures, coursework, and screens, to enjoy fresh air and green spaces, get moving at their own pace, and take time to reset. 

Spending time outdoors can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve concentration, lift mood, and support both mental and physical wellbeing especially during busy or high‑pressure points in the academic year.

Since 2023 UWTSD has installed 2,579 solar panels on our rooftops. You may not see them, but they are working away to generate approximately 12% of our energy consumption each year. 

In 2025 our rooftop solar generation was double what we generated in 2024 and triple what we started with in 2023. We continue to survey and look for ways to generate our own electricity. 

As for the power we cannot generate ourselves, we import only UK Renewable energy.

UWTSD are Committed to Sustainable Development

The Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) is responsible for supporting the Sustainability agenda for the University Group, and for monitoring and measuring progress against performance indicators to confirm effective implementation and alignment with organisational objectives and strategy. It will review (where appropriate) strategy and policy and approve or refer to Senior Directorate as is necessary, while working to ensure that the requirements of both UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015) requirements are met. This steering group is chaired by the Chief Operating Officer who is instrumental in driving the institutional change.

The membership of these groups ensures senior level oversight and support for this agenda, as well as ensuring engagement and consultation with senior officers in terms of wider University Group impact.  

Enabling meaningful change

Across the academic and professional services, staff members have taken on roles as champions. The Sustainability Champions and Waste Champions will be pivotal to enabling the shift in organisational culture that is required to truly embed sustainability

Across the student body, sustainability student champions are nudging their peers along the sustainability journey. The roles range from supporting litter-picks to sorting donations or running awareness campaigns. Students also have an opportunity to be co-opted onto sustainability action groups, themed groups that develop strategy and action plans in specific areas such as food or biodiversity.

Sustainability Steering Group Membership

• Chief Operating Officer – Peter Mannion
• Head of Sustainability and Environment – Dan Priddy
• Institute Deans
• Chief People Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Director of Digital Services
• Director of Estates
• Executive Head of Student Services 
• Director of Academic Services
• Head of Planning
• Students Union CEO
• Representative from Coleg Sir Gar
• Other colleagues as required

At UWTSD we re committed to delivering courses that help equip students for the future and focus on Environmental Sustainability. We aim to help develop your knowledge, understanding and skills to best equip you for your tie after university.

We run several sustainability specific courses such as:

• Sustainable Construction (MSc)
• Sustainability Leadership (MBA)
• Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change (BSc)
• Energy and Environmental Engineering (BEng)

But we don’t stop there! Education for Sustainable Development is the business of all our subjects. Our courses are being mapped to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and our Sustainability Team support guest lectures across the curriculum looking at how environmental sustainability is relevant to your area of study.

For general enquiries around sustainability please email sustainability@uwtsd.ac.uk with further information available from the Sustainability Contacts below.