When we talk about sustainability in schools or universities, we often focus on the big ideas-climate education, greener campuses, and so on. But behind the scenes, there’s another part of the story: compliance. And for UK education institutions, it’s becoming an increasingly important piece of the puzzle.

Take energy use, for example. If your school or university owns buildings, chances are you’re already familiar with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). These are more than just pieces of paper-they reflect how efficient your buildings are, and in some cases, they’re a legal requirement. But keeping them up to date can be tricky, especially when budgets are tight and buildings are old(1).

Then there’s the new climate action planning push from the Department for Education. The government’s goal is for every school to have a sustainability lead and a climate action plan by end of 2025. It’s an ambitious target-and one many schools support-but there’s still confusion over how to write these plans and what’s expected in them(2).

Waste management is another area where rules matter. Whether it’s food waste in a canteen or old science equipment in a lab, schools and colleges need to make sure they’re disposing of things properly. Not doing so can lead to fines-and it undermines sustainability goals too(3).

Larger institutions, particularly universities, may also have to deal with more formal reporting frameworks like Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR). That means tracking emissions, energy use, and sometimes even supply chain practices. It can feel like a lot-but it also helps institutions understand their impact more clearly(4).

And if a school or college is bidding for public contracts, they’re expected to show how they support the government’s wider sustainability aims. That means procurement, transport, and even uniforms are starting to fall under the sustainability umbrella(5).

The good news? Compliance doesn’t have to be a burden. With the right systems and support, it can become a tool for positive change. But it does require attention-and it’s not something that the education can afford to ignore.

Bibliography

1 Energy Performance Certificates for your business premises (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/energy-performance-certificate-commercial-property

2 Sustainability leadership and climate action plans in education (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sustainability-leadership-and-climate-action-plans-in-education

3 Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/simpler-recycling-workplace-recycling-in-england

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/modern-slavery-bill

4 Environmental reporting guidelines: including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting requirements  (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-reporting-guidelines-including-mandatory-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reporting-guidance

5 The Procurement Act 2023: A short guide for suppliers (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-short-guides/the-procurement-act-2023-a-short-guide-for-suppliers-htm