2030 Sustainability Strategy
Flinders University is committed to sustainability, inclusivity, and global responsibility, we will confront challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequalities and lead society towards a brighter future.
Our 2030 Sustainability Strategy is a 'living' document meant to guide and inform our work.
By integrating these pressing issues into our strategic agenda, conducting research, offering sustainability-focused and inclusive educational programs, implementing sustainable practices across all functions, and engaging with external networks, we will actively address societal needs and advance sustainability on a local, national, and global scale.
Principles
Our Strategy focuses on our strategic pillars, each with its own focus areas, objectives and actions:
Flinders University is the top performer for 'Energy and Climate’ in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index.
We are the first institution in the world to earn a coveted Gold rating under the newly released version 3.0 of the international Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
Focus areas
Learning & Teaching
Review sustainability in the graduate outcomes, topics and courses across the University
Offer sustainability-focused undergraduate and graduate-level degree courses
Develop a sustainability teaching grant that targets interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability
Track the sustainability literacy of students during orientation and graduation
Track societal sustainability contributions of alumni
Identify sustainability topics formally to help students distinguish from other courses
Leverage existing teaching and research outputs to create interdisciplinary sustainability educational opportunities
Energy, Buildings & Construction
Maintain 100% renewal electricity in SA
Major projects minimum rating of 5 Star Green Star, Gold WELL and /or LEED Certification
No new natural gas from 2024
Embed sustainability through Design Guidelines and Standards
Aim to replace 80% of hydrofluorocarbons by 2030
Improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2030
Develop energy storage to support electrification
Develop energy rating system for building tune-ups and operations
Resource Recovery
Reduce waste by 30% by 2030
Recover high-value deposit recycling materials, electronics
Reduce hazardous and medical waste
Implement 100% commercially compostable food packaging by 2025
Eliminate single-use disposable plastic across food services and retailers
Governance and Framework
Our 2030 Sustainability Strategy contains targets, commitments and actions in the key areas of research, education and operations. It's driven by the understanding that partnering and collaborating with business, industry, government and communities is key to achieving our goals.
Our Strategy
The Flinders University 2030 Sustainability Strategy outlines the bold action we’re taking for a better world.
Our Supporting Policies
We’re committed to embedding sustainability throughout our institution, incorporating our sustainability priorities into areas such as our investment and procurement policies.
Our Sustainability Advisory Group
Representatives from around the University are collaborating in the Sustainability Advisory Group to guide our commitment.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at Flinders
Flinders University conducts an annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory in line with the GHG Protocol's Corporate Standard, using an evidence-based approach to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the development and implementation of targeted initiatives.
Learn more about our decarbonisation roadmap through to 2030.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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