Campus Services
Our Campus Services have various initiatives in place to reduce our energy consumption and to promote recycling, and each year we submit a climate change report to the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN).
Our Climate Action Framework, outlines potential projects and process changes that we can consider in order to reduce our carbon footprint to net zero.
We hope that while you are studying with us, you can play your part in helping us to minimise waste, reduce our energy use and recycle as much as possible.
Sustainable Food and Catering
At Heriot-Watt University, we recognise that the food we procure, prepare and consume has a significant impact on the health of our communities, the environment, and the wider economy. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we have been working to ensure that our food and catering services support responsible resource use, reduce environmental impacts, and promote health and wellbeing across our campuses.
This approach supports Heriot-Watt University's wider sustainability ambitions and aligns with the University's Procurement Strategy and obligations under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. Through our food and catering activities, we seek to improve health, wellbeing and educational outcomes for students, staff and visitors while supporting sustainable food production, reducing waste, promoting high standards of animal welfare, and delivering broader social, environmental and economic benefits.
Read more about sustainable food and catering.
Residential and Cleaning Services
Residential and Cleaning Services are embedding sustainability into everyday operations by focussing on reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and sourcing responsibly. Following a review of their activities, the team made an active decision to place sustainability as a highly visible and measurable focus area.
They have positioned sustainability at the centre of their work, setting clear objectives and integrating environmental and social considerations into daily decision-making.
Their ongoing programme of improvements includes empowering staff through training, exploring process innovation, and implementing practical actions that support more sustainable residences and cleaning operations. This approach reflects a wider commitment to making sustainability a core part of how services are delivered across the University.
By developing a forward plan, and engaging stakeholders in these efforts, Residential and Cleaning Services are helping to ensure that sustainability becomes a defining part of life at Heriot-Watt University.
The plan reflects a broader cultural shift, one where sustainability is not an “add-on”, but a core value shaping how services are delivered across residences and cleaning operations.
As the RCS team shows, meaningful change happens when commitment meets action. Staff, students, and other stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the plan, support its delivery, and take inspiration from its example, helping to make sustainability a defining part of life at Heriot-Watt University.