Resource management

Sustainability objectives and measures for resource management 2021-2025

Sustainability objectives

The KTH organisation is characterised by efficient resource management and contributes to sustainable development and a climate-neutral society.

Travel and transport

Sub-targets for travel and transport to be achieved by the end of 2025 at the latest

5.1 KTH's climate impact from business travel (carbon dioxide equivalents per full-time equivalent) has decreased by 40% (base year 2015).

5.2 KTH's climate impact from students' education-related travel has decreased by 40% (base year 2015).

5.3 KTH employees' travel and transport to, from, within, and between our campus areas is carried out with reduced climate impact (base year 2015).

5.4 In cooperation with relevant stakeholders, KTH has reduced emissions and noise emissions from transports and stationary vehicles outdoors on campus areas.

Sub-targets for travel and transport to be achieved by the end of 2022 at the latest

5.5 KTH's climate impact from business travel (carbon dioxide equivalents per full-time equivalent) has decreased by 25% (base year 2015).

Procurement and waste management

Sub-targets for procurement and waste management to be achieved by the end of 2025 at the latest

5.6 From a life cycle perspective, KTH has an effective management of the goods and services purchased, used, and waste management within KTH.

5.7 KTH sets sustainability requirements in all procurements, calls and purchases, where possible, and the requirements are continuously developed and followed up.

5.8 KTH's total amount of waste has decreased in weight per full-time equivalent student and full-time employee equivalent by 25% (base year 2019).

Sub-targets for procurement and waste management to be achieved by the end of 2022 at the latest

5.9 At KTH, the amount of furniture and interior materials that go to waste management has decreased (base year 2019).

5.10 KTH's total amount of waste has decreased in weight per full-time equivalent student and full-time employee equivalent by 20% (base year 2019).

5.11 At KTH, the proportion of separated waste collection, including organic waste, plastic and paper packaging, has increased (base year 2019).

Sustainable buildings

Sub-targets for sustainable buildings to be achieved by the end of 2025 at the latest

5.12 In cooperation with property owners, KTH has reduced the purchased energy (electricity, heating, cooling, operational energy), by 3.5% compared with the year before until 2025.

5.13 In cooperation with property owners, KTH has zero emissions of greenhouse gases from the production of purchased electricity, heating, and cooling.

5.14 In cooperation with the property owner, KTH's energy consumption has decreased by 25% (electricity, district heating, cooling) per full-time employee equivalent, full-time equivalent student, and per square meter, without sacrificing the indoor climate (base year 2015).

5.15 In cooperation with property owners, KTH has increased the efficiency of premises use by 15% calculated per full-time equivalent student and full-time equivalent (measured as area per person) (base year 2020).

5.16 In cooperation with property owners, KTH ensures that any new construction and conversions have a lower climate impact than the corresponding type building in 2015.

5.17 In cooperation with property owners, KTH ensures that relevant certifications, including standards for energy efficiency, are used for any new construction and renovations, and that the highest class is sought.

5.18 KTH's buildings and campuses shall feel safe, accessible, and inclusive for everyone there.

5.19 In cooperation with property owners, KTH ensures that renewable building materials are used to an increasing degree in connection with new construction and conversions of KTH's buildings.

Sub-targets for sustainable buildings to be achieved by the end of 2022 at the latest

5.20 In cooperation with the property owner, KTH's climate impact (in carbon dioxide equivalents and normal year-adjusted) from energy consumption has decreased by 15% per full-time employee equivalent, full-time equivalent student and per square meter (base year 2015).

5.21 In cooperation with the property owner, KTH has increased the efficiency of premises use by 10% calculated per full-time equivalent student and full-time equivalent (measured as area per person) (base year 2020).

5.22 In cooperation with the property owner, KTH has reduced the need for supplemental heating in the form of electricity for climatization of premises (base year 2020).

Food and food services

Sub-targets for food and food services to be achieved by the end of 2025 at the latest

5.23 KTH shall be a driving force with respect to considering the environment and sustainable development within the scope of food and food services.

5.24 KTH sets requirements in its procurements and orders regarding what each meal may maximally emit in the form of carbon dioxide equivalents per meal.

Sub-targets for food and food services to be achieved by the end of 2022 at the latest

5.25 KTH systematically sets concrete climate and sustainability requirements in procurement and framework agreements for catering, as well as climate and sustainability requirements on restaurants where KTH has an agreement with the tenant.

5.26 KTH's procurements and orders of catering services comply with KTH's Guidelines for sustainable events and conferences, and specifically those on food and drink.

5.27 KTH and the property owner have, in cooperation with the restaurateurs, developed sustainability criteria for their operations.

Biodiversity and ecosystem services

Sub-targets for biodiversity and ecosystem services to be achieved by the end of 2025 at the latest

5.28 In collaboration with property owners, KTH's campus areas are developed and managed so that ecological structures and processes are strengthened and highlighted with special focus on the importance of nature to human health and well-being.

Action plan for the university-wide sustainability objectives 2021-2025

The action plan describes measures, decision-makers, responsible manager in the line organisation, resources, and when the measures must be implemented at the latest and how decisions on the measures are to be communicated.

Action plan for the university-wide sustainability objectives 2021-2025 (docx 89 kB)

Measures

Travel and transport

1. Various incentives and measures are examined and implemented to ensure that employees' and students' travel and meeting patterns lead to a reduced climate impact.
2. Identify and propose measures to ensure infrastructure and awareness actions that lead to a reduced climate impact. These measures can be both knowledge of the use of technology and digital meeting forms, digital instruction, or examination formats. Support the development of new forms of conferences and other meetings held entirely or partially in digital form
3. In cooperation with property owners, measures are taken, including the use of bicycles and electric cars, to promote climate-neutral transport to and from and between campus areas.
4. Within the procurement regulatory framework, measures are taken to set requirements for current and future travel agencies regarding measures resulting in a reduced climate impact.
5. Within the procurement regulatory framework, measures are taken to set requirements for current and future travel agencies regarding measures resulting in a reduced climate impact.

Procurement and waste management

1. Based on an analysis of KTH's climate impact (2020), measures are developed and implemented in the organisation to achieve set objectives.
2. Existing systems and procedures are developed to facilitate sustainable purchases of products and services and to follow up on the effects of environmental and sustainability requirements.
3. A waste management plan is developed that includes procedures and measures to reduce the amount of waste that arises within KTH.
4. Measures are developed and communicated to promote a reduction in the purchase of products, for example by extending the useful life of existing products, increased recycling of products within and outside the organisation, and purchases that promote circular business models where services are traded rather than products.
5. Methods for recycling and reuse are developed to extend the useful life of products and reduce the amount of waste.  

Sustainable buildings

1. In collaboration with property owners and researchers, measures are taken to reduce energy consumption through more efficient use of premises and increased digitalisation (the project "Indoor Climate as a Service").
2. In cooperation with property owners and researchers, measures are taken at an early stage so that renewable building materials and fuels are used in new construction and conversions.
3. For new construction and conversion, Miljöbyggnad Guld shall be a starting point and any deviations shall be justified. In cooperation with the property owners, KTH is reviewing the possibility of certifying KTH Campus Valhallavägen according to Citylab and NollCO2
4. In cooperation with property owners, KTH develops an energy plan to reduce energy consumption.

Food and food services

1. Ensure systematic and well-founded climate requirements and sustainability requirements on catering in both procurement and orders. This is based on generally accepted requirements and standards within the field.
2. Knowledge exchange between researchers and restaurateurs take place on KTH's campus areas to promote society's awareness of food, climate, and sustainable development.