Sustainable business operations

Climate, biodiversity and circularity are important, overarching themes in WUR’s operations. WUR carefully considers the social impact of all decisions that are made in these areas.

Read how WUR is achieving sustainable business operations

Sustainable plans

In our Strategic Plan 2019-2022 (and the update 2022-2024) we give priority to promoting the vitality of staff and students, to offer healthier and more sustainably produced food in our canteens, and to reduce our food waste.

WUR in sustainability rankings

In the 2023 GreenMetric ranking, Wageningen University & Research is in first place, for the seventh consecutive time, making it the greenest and most sustainable university in the world.
The Times Higher Education Impact Ranking assesses how organisations across the globe score with regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
WUR ended in 32nd place in the 2023 Transparancy Benchmark of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and has the highest score of all Dutch universities.

Facts and figures

In 2019, WUR’s CO2 emissions were 50% lower compared to 2010.
WUR is contributing to the energy transition: in 2022, 67% of its energy was generated sustainably.
In 2022, 65% of WUR’s waste was separately collected.
During the 2023 Biodiversity Challenge, 1373 species of plants, birds, insects, mushrooms, shellfish, mammals, fish, amphibians and algae were recorded on Wageningen Campus.

Other initiatives for sustainable business operations

WUR UP TO

As part of the WUR UP TO initiative, WUR shows where it is contributing to sustainable operations in our buildings and on Wageningen Campus.
Nature Positive University

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is one of the founding members of the global Nature Positive Universities Alliance, launched today during the UN biodiversity summit.
Green Office Wageningen

Green Office Wageningen keeps us sharp by asking critical questions about sustainability. Refer to the Green Office Wageningen pages for more information.