RU's Environmental Strategy

We create and communicate knowledge about environmental issues and sustainable development and show responsibility and new thinking on environmental matters in our everyday actions and operations.

Pillars of the environmental strategy

Teaching

Aim

Environmental issues and sustainability will be visible and integrated into teaching activities and learning material in all Schools at Reykjavík University.

Steps

• During orientation for first-year students they will receive an introduction to the RU environmental strategy.
• Reykjavík University will offer short introductory courses for all RU students and staff on environmental issues, sustainable development, and social responsibility.
• Reykjavík University will provide longer interdisciplinary courses for all RU students on environmental issues, sustainable development, and social responsibility.

Progress Indicators

• Number of environmental/sustainability courses offered.
• Number of students in environmental/sustainability courses.
• Student satisfaction in environmental/sustainability courses (teaching evaluation).

Research

Aim

Research at Reykjavík University will emphasise the creation of new knowledge and the development of solutions in different academic fields to tackle future challenges in the areas of environmental issues and sustainability.

Steps

• On the RU environmental strategy website there will be an an overview of projects at RU which concern environmental issues and sustainability – completed projects, current projects, and ideas for projects.

Progress Indicators

• Number of projects concerning environmental issues and sustainability visible on the RU environmental strategy website.

Transport

Aim

Transport to and from Reykjavík University will be effective, environmentally friendly, and conducive to better health.

Steps

• RU will ensure an encouraging environment and good facilities for walking and cycling to and from the University.
• RU will work to establish sound public transport to and from the University and encourage the use of public transport with good facilities and effective information dissemination.
• RU will encourage employees and students to share cars (carpool) to and from the University by offering a special service Web site, “HRfar”.
• RU will encourage the use of environmentally friendly cars and carpooling by offering those who drive environmentally friendly cars and share cars priority parking by the University.
• RU will encourage environmentally friendly and healthy modes of travel for employees and students by offering electric cars and electric bikes for traveling to and from events outside the University during the day.
• The RU environmental strategy website will feature a calculator for CO₂ emissions, calorie burning, and fuel costs for different travel modes to and from RU in addition to a “quarter-hour map” which shows walking and cycling distances from RU.
• RU will develop an incentive system to encourage environmentally friendly modes of travel for employees and students.
• The RU timetable (the starting time of the day's first classes) will be adapted to times of peak traffic in the area in consultation with the City of Reykjavík and large workplaces nearby.

Progress Indicators

• Travel modes of employees and students to and from RU (measured in an RU travel habit survey administered every two years).
• Estimated emission of greenhouse gases from transport to and from RU, based on the results of the RU travel habit survey.
• Use of electric car/electric bike rental.

Operations

Aim

The operations of Reykjavík University will be exemplary in regard to environmental issues.

Steps

• RU will develop an environmentally sound procurement policy, for example, as regards cleaning products and toilet articles, computer equipment, printer cartridges, disposable consumables, stationery, and paper. Rules will be set concerning the use of this equipment to minimise waste and refuse.
• RU will encourage recycling and garbage sorting with accessible containers in various locations within the University accompanied by detailed instructions.
• RU will encourage students and employees to reduce paper use by introducing and promoting electronic teaching and promotional material, setting printers to duplex printing, etc.
• RU will design all promotional material in accordance with environmental emphases (for example, minimise the use of printing ink and use electronic material where possible).
• RU will use the best software solutions available at each time to minimise unnecessary printing and avoid paper waste.
• The printing quota which is included in tuition fees will be reduced to make students more aware of the cost associated with paper and printing and to cut back on printing.

Progress Indicators

• Paper use.
• Electricity use.
• Amount of sorted garbage to be recycled, such as bottles, cans, paper, and corrugated cardboard.
• Success indicators will be developed further as part of the new procurement policy.

Community

Aim

Reykjavík University will strive to communicate information on environmental issues, sustainability, and its environmental strategy to students and employees within RU as well as to the general community.

Steps

• RU will publish information on its website about environmental issues and the University's environmental work.
• RU will aim to increase interest in and awareness of RU's environmental work with promotional material in the lobby and other public spaces within the University.
• Clear and accessible information on public transport, walking, and cycling will be made available in the lobby, on the RU website, and in the promotional material of meetings and conferences held by RU.
• RU will participate in international collaboration in the fields of environmental issues and sustainability.

Progress Indicators

• Visits to the RU environmental strategy website.
• Participation in the international collaboration of universities and other parties in the fields of sustainability and social responsibility.

Enforcement

• Reykjavík University enforces laws and regulations which have been set regarding environmental issues and concern the operations of RU. RU furthermore aims to obtain a certification for its environmental work.
• Reykjavík University continually works to enforce, introduce, and develop its environmental strategy, monitor results, and improve success in environmental issues. For that purpose, steps have been defined which will be taken to achieve the aims of the environmental strategy and success indicators established to monitor the results of RU's environmental work.