Sustainability at the University of Kent

Two University of Kent students help out in the Kent Community Oasis Garden.

Growing a sustainable future

Sustainability at Kent.

Sustainability needs everyone taking part. At Kent we have plenty of projects, societies and initiatives to get involved with, from our community garden to BioBlitz and gleaning. We have already achieved so much, so join us, make your mark and contribute to our transition to a sustainable university, and help make the future look a little greener.

14%

Reduction in Scope 1 & 2 Carbon Emissions (compared to 2018/19 baseline)

1291

Undergraduate modules mapped against the UN Sustainable Development Goals

29th

Place in the people and Planet University League table up 12 places from 2021

1141 kg

Of food grown by volunteers at our Kent Community Oasis Garden

43%

Of vehicles in our fleet are electric.

13.5

Tonnes of food waste diverted from landfill to anaerobic digestion

Top 30

We're ranked in the top 30 vegan-friendly universities in the UK (PETA)

Reuse, recycle

Staff and students have reused 157.4 tonnes of items through schemes such as Canterbury Freecycle.

Signed up

In 2018 we signed an agreement to incorporate the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into everything we do.

Get involved!

Biodiversity on campus

Campus isn't just home to our students, meet who else we share our campus with!

A Kent icon

Rabbits are everywhere on campus, we even have one as our mascot!

Award winners

It's us who won the Wilder Kent Gold Award for our support of natural spaces, but the fox also deserves some praise!

Early risers

If you're walking through our woodlands for your 9am lectures, we are sure our squirrels will keep you company.

Eyes on the skies

If you take the time to look up, you'll see a huge range of avian life on campus, from kestrels, to gulls, pigeons and rooks.

Mallards and moorhens

We have so many amazing natural spaces on campus, including our ponds. The perfect place for headspace.

Below the surface

Upper Eliot pond is home and sanctuary to a protected species of Great Crested Newts.

Right to food.

Mission 1

Putting the Right to Food on the World Stage.

Mission 2

Transforming Food Systems through teaching and research.

Mission 3

Tackling food insecurity, while promoting a healthy and sustainable food community at the University.

Mission 4

Addressing food inequality in our region.

Kent Gleaning Collective

If like us, you believe that everyone has the right to healthy and affordable food, working to reduce food waste is a great place to start.

Gleaning project
University of Kent students at their latest gleaning site.

Kent Stars

Climate Champions

The Sustainability Working Group (SWG) were recently awarded the Climate Action Award for their sustainability initiatives, including climate café events, the plant-based loyalty card on campus and the Kent BioBlitz event.

Read their story

Kent Community Oasis Garden

KentCOG has been a welcoming space on campus for everyone – students, staff and local volunteers – to grow seasonal food, meet new people and improve wellbeing since 2018. Now, for the first time in the University’s history, Kent’s catering department has been able to purchase fresh produce from KentCOG to create some delicious daily specials at our café in the Gulbenkian Arts Centre.  

Two of our student volunteers, Charlie and Ameira, talk about what the garden means to them.  

Learn more
Volunteers in the Kent Community Oasis Garden.

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