Õ¬ÄÐÊÓƵ

Image: UCL East, One Pool Street  - an area where the recent audit took place.

Following a thorough four-day review by external auditors involving over fifty UCL staff and students, we are delighted to announce the successful renewal of our ISO14001 and ISO50001 certifications. The audit covered areas from waste and energy management to integrating sustainability into teaching and research. We passed with no major issues and have already rectified the one minor issue identified, along with receiving several constructive suggestions to further advance our sustainability efforts.

ISO14001 and ISO50001 might sound intimidating, but they are crucial international standards for environmental and energy management, serving as globally recognised benchmarks for good environmental practice. These standards ensure that organisations identify and manage the energy and environmental risks associated with their operations and put in place systems to continuously improve. By adhering to these standards, we maintain robust processes that help us prioritise, adapt to global changes, and be prepared for the unexpected, as we've seen plenty in recent years.

ISO14001 puts in place a structure for UCL's operations to protect the environment and to meet its legal and other obligations, while ISO50001 helps us optimise our energy use and achieve cost savings. Our Sustainability Management System covers all UCL activities, from teaching and research to Estates operations. The audit highlighted the strong commitment across UCL to sustainability, including integrating these principles into our expanding estate, such as at UCL East. The auditors visited various locations, including laboratories, plant areas, and the roof garden at Pool Street, and met with academic staff, students, and support staff. 

Õ¬ÄÐÊÓƵ is dedicated to maintaining these certifications. The process involves a comprehensive audit every three years and annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement. These certifications demonstrate our commitment to stakeholders, showing that we are serious about managing our environmental impact and energy consumption efficiently. From the pandemic to the energy crisis and the opening of a new campus, UCL has managed and integrated sustainability through these significant challenges. 

The team at Sustainable UCL would like to thank everyone who contributed to the audit and helped make this recertification a success!

What’s next? 

The audit is just one part of our continuous efforts to improve sustainability across the university. We recently held our UCL Sustainability Awards ceremony and launched our latest 2022-2023 Annual Sustainability Report. In the coming months, we will be launching a brand-new Sustainability Plan to guide us to 2027 and help achieve our ambitious sustainability targets.  

Together, we can make change possible! 

• Read more about the Environmental Sustainability Management System;
• Read more about our Sustainability Strategy; 
• Read our latest Annual Sustainability Report; 
• Follow us on social media.