Sustainability | Research & Knowledge Exchange

A man and a woman sitting on a bench

We are committed to upholding sustainable research practices, undertaking sustainability-related research, and celebrating the valuable contributions creativity can bring to solving complex, global issues. 

What's covered?

Our research and knowledge exchange is focused on delivering impact at a national and international scale, but also on creating benefit for the communities we serve.

Our research will actively contribute to the generation of new ideas and innovations that contribute to fighting the causes of, and adapting to, the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, while our knowledge exchange leverages our resources and expertise to support evidence-based, positive action for change across business and society. 

Welcome to our allotment, brought to you by 'Green Living' a student society

Our targets

Goal 1

To coordinate and nurture sustainability-related research.

Goal 2

To ensure environmental impact is a key consideration in our approach to research design and delivery, by developing a framework.

Goal 3

To leverage our research expertise in creativity and technology to support local and regional partners to engage with sustainability challenges and to make positive change.

How we're going to do it

 

A) Develop a project-level sustainability tool that will ensure environmental impact is a key consideration in our approach to research design and delivery, and to embed this tool across research and knowledge exchange planning processes by September 2025. This will enable us to measure how embedded sustainability is in practice. 

B) Create a central intranet repository of guidance on sustainability in research and knowledge exchange by January 2025. 

C) Annually audit current environment-related research and knowledge exchange activity via departmental research plans, to map against external benchmarks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, UKRI, and ‘People, Place and Planet’ starting from July 2024. 

What we've done so far

Discover our sustainability-related research projects.

Image of a drop of water and dye surrounded by ants
Mapping Emergence - Antwork 3

Mapping Emergence

Mapping Emergence is a creative exchange between art, science, and social insects, our project asks:...

Mapping Emergence
A bee hovering by a blue Bee Brick in the wall
Bee Brick lead image

Bee Brick

Bee Brick is an innovative product, offering the dual function of being a construction material that...

Bee Brick
Ecover
Ecover

Ecover: Laundry Research

Ecover commissioned advertising academics to carry out research to inform a campaign to tackle over ...

Ecover: Laundry Research
coastal image of sea and land
Landscape stories R&KE

Landscape Stories

This project began with the Falmouth University-National Trust (2020) Landscape Research Group pilot...

Landscape Stories
Juvenile lobsters in a white growing tray
Lobster Grower juvenile tray

Lobster Grower & Lobster Grower 2

Lobster Grower is a consortium led project, working to establish a low-carbon method of rearing lobs...

Lobster Grower & Lobster Grower 2
Springboard Studios research project patterns on the sand
Springboard Studios research project

Springboard Studios

Can participation in non-assessed, altruistic, creative learning experiences in blue spaces, contrib...

Springboard Studios

Explore our sustainability themes

Panoramic view of Penryn Campus with buildings and trees
Penryn Campus Pano 2021

Physical Estate & Operations

Creating carbon reduction targets that will streamline our operations and enhance our environment. ...

Physical Estate & Operations
Students sat on low chairs working in front of large window looking through to the library on Penryn campus.
Facilities: Library 6

Learning & Teaching

Equipping our students with the knowledge to make sustainable choices and changes when they graduate...

Learning & Teaching

News & stories

The Falmouth community is full of inspiring people making a positive impact on the environment. Scroll through our reel of stories to discover who's been hitting the headlines.

Panoramic view of Penryn Campus with buildings and trees
Penryn Campus Pano 2021

The Future Is Green: Sustainability-driven business events begin

25 October 2024

Last week, Falmouth University proudly hosted the first in-person training day for The Future is Gr...

The Future Is Green: Sustainability-driven business events begin
KELP! 2023
KELP! 2023

‘KELP!’ wins Best UK Short Documentary at Big Syn International Film Festival 2023

20 November 2023

KELP!, a film directed by Marine & Natural Photography BA(Hons) graduate Caylon La Mantia and senior...

‘KELP!’ wins Best UK Short Documentary at Big Syn International Film Festival 2023

'Swap Shop' supports our campus community and promotes sustainability

07 September 2023

Rehome donated items through our campus Swap Shop initiative.

'Swap Shop' supports our campus community and promotes sustainability
Green Gown Awards
Green Gown Awards

Falmouth University shortlisted at prestigious sustainability awards

03 August 2023

Falmouth University has been announced as a finalist at the 2023 Green Gown Awards UK and Ireland un...

Falmouth University shortlisted at prestigious sustainability awards
Close up of volunteers planting tree in the ground during Falmouth University's community tree planting event
Tree Planting Day - 8

Falmouth University community plants 500 trees in partnership with PlantOne

21 June 2023

Through its partnerhsip with PlantOne, Falmouth University has planted 500 trees at the Trefusis Est...

Falmouth University community plants 500 trees in partnership with PlantOne
Stall at Falmouth University's Fairtrade Fortnight event
Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 5

Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 at Falmouth University

25 May 2023

Here's how Falmouth engaged with Fairtrade Fortnight 2023. 

Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 at Falmouth University
Green Gown Awards
Green Gown Awards 2

Win for Falmouth University at sustainability awards

10 November 2022

Falmouth University is delighted to have won the Green Gown Award for ‘Reporting with Influence’...

Win for Falmouth University at sustainability awards
Researcher Tom Hull walking through a gate in a field, photo taken from behind
Tom Hull - landscape

Wild Voices: The "sound of extinction" by Tom Hull

12 August 2022

This piece was written by Tom Hull, a researcher at Falmouth University. He is a specialist in wild ...

Wild Voices: The "sound of extinction" by Tom Hull
An owl perches on a solar panel
Solar panels

Falmouth increases solar panel presence on campus

10 August 2022

Falmouth University are significantly increasing the amount of solar panels on roofs at Penryn Campu...

Falmouth increases solar panel presence on campus
A series of plants in small pots
Plant plug

Plant partnership launched with Cornish company

10 August 2022

Falmouth University has partnered with Rocket Gardens, a Gweek-based mail order company supplying pl...

Plant partnership launched with Cornish company
A bag of food waste
Food waste edit

Falmouth conducts food waste separation trial

10 August 2022

Falmouth University have launched a pilot project to reduce more waste on our campuses by separating...

Falmouth conducts food waste separation trial
A man stands by a project display at
AP Holm

Student takes home sustainability award at Interior Educators 2022

02 August 2022

BA(Hons) Interior Design student Ashley Powell has seen his shortlisted project 'holm' rise to ...

Student takes home sustainability award at Interior Educators 2022
Students walking away from the Stannary
Penryn Campus Sus Background
The Sustainability Café is located on the first floor of the Stannary extension

Falmouth University shortlisted for two Green Gown sustainability awards

22 July 2022

Falmouth University has been shortlisted for two prestigious sustainability awards. In associatio...

Falmouth University shortlisted for two Green Gown sustainability awards
The Sdgs Grid
The Sdgs Grid

Falmouth ranked as Top 10 Institution by 2022 SDG Teach In

06 May 2022

For the second year in a row, Falmouth University's engagement with the Sustainable Development...

Falmouth ranked as Top 10 Institution by 2022 SDG Teach In
Spices and garlic hang from a market stall, with jars of dried goods surrounding the stall
Market stall

Top 5 eco-friendly shops in Falmouth & Penryn

22 April 2022

This Earth Day is all about empowering people to invest in our world. It might be difficult to s...

Top 5 eco-friendly shops in Falmouth & Penryn
An illustration of the globe, leaves and a lightbulb
Recycling image

Falmouth rolls out community furniture donations

12 April 2022

Community organisations have benefitted from furniture donations from Falmouth's campuses as part of...

Falmouth rolls out community furniture donations
An image of a tree made up of sustainable themes, such as travel and consumption
Sust week image

Falmouth gears up for Sustainability Week 2022

17 March 2022

Sustainability Week returns on 21 March with a packed line-up of eco-orientated events to help stude...

Falmouth gears up for Sustainability Week 2022
A placard reads 'No Nature, No Future' at a climate protest
No Nature No Future

Bringing underrepresented voices to the front line of the climate crisis

10 March 2022

Pauline Blanchett, recipient of Falmouth University’s Reporting Earth bursary, is commissioning fe...

Bringing underrepresented voices to the front line of the climate crisis
People gather to protest the fashion industry. A placard reads 'no fashion on a dead planet'
Ecocide

Falmouth joins the Fashion Declares movement

04 February 2022

Falmouth’s Fashion & Textiles Institute has joined forces with key leaders across the fashion ...

Falmouth joins the Fashion Declares movement
Students chat in the sustainability cafe
Sus Cafe Group

The Sustainability Café announces revamped veggie menu

28 January 2022

As a result of student feedback, we are pleased to announce that the Sustainability Café menu will ...

The Sustainability Café announces revamped veggie menu