Environmental Sustainability Plans In Brunel University And Water Industry In UK

Factors	Description	Impact
Political	The government of the UK has strict parliamentary statements for the control of sewage discharge in the rivers. The Wastewater Treatment legislation related to England and Wales was amended on 1 January 2020 (Government of UK, 2022b). This includes several water conservation bodies working in the country to deliver quality water to the public.	High
Economical	In November 2021, a separate statement released by the task force discovered that completely separating sewer and stormwater designs to eliminate sewage waste would cost between £350 billion and £600 billion (Parliament of UK, 2022). On the other hand, the household bills could increase to a certain amount of around £569 and £999 a year (Parliament of UK, 2022). Controlling the sewage discharge system is beneficial with the proper amount of funding from the higher authorities.	Medium
Social	Every day in the United Kingdom, around 347,000 kilometres of sewers gather more than 11 billion litres of waste (DEFRA, 2002). This is done in approximately 9,000 water treatment facilities before the overall sewage is released into inland waters, estuaries as well as the sea (DEFRA, 2002). In this context reducing the sewage water discharge in the rivers with developing water treatment facilities is important to maintain the proper health of the general public.	High
Technological	The water industry of the UK has been assisted with the provision of Ofwat funds organised by the local authorities worth £200 million to include technologies such as Internet of Things and Virtual Reality in the business operations (Government of UK, 2016). The use of technologies mentioned above has aided the UK water industry in controlling pollution through a graphical representation of the operations carried out in the sewage treatment plant efficiently.	High
Legal	The existence of legislations such as Wastewater Legislation Act 2020 has aided the UK authorities in establishing sewage treatment plants 50 metres away from water bodies (Government of UK, 2022). In addition to the water bodies, the legislation has also made stipulations of establishing sewage treatment plants beyond 15 metres of residential buildings. The existence of concrete laws has safeguarded the health of the local residents efficiently.	High
Environmental	The amount of sewage dumped in the UK water bodies has increased from 301,291 in 2022 to 464092 in 2023 (Horton, 2023). In addition to sewage contamination, the water bodies have also witnessed 14.3bn litre spoilage of oil in 2023 (BBC, 2024). Overall, the intermingling of sewage in the rivers across the UK has caused health issues in the residents of the country.	Low

Necessary actions need to be taken by the water industry

Use of Anaerobic Digestion Technique

The water industry of the UK has utilised the anaerobic digestion technique in treating the sewage materials efficiently. According to Obaideen et al. (2022), in the anaerobic digestion process, the UK water industry utilises thermal energy for heating the swage material that converts it into biogas. The efficient conversion of the waste products into biogas helps the water industry in reducing aquatic pollution efficiently. Overall, with the help of the anaerobic digestion process, the sewage is treated efficiently in the UK water sector.

Execution of membrane bioreactors and advancement in the sewage systems

The UK water industry should be able to implement strategies in order to control the sewage discharge into UK rivers. According to Bera, Godhaniya and Kothari (2021), technological instruments such as membrane bioreactors would be useful in the treatment in water treatment facilities. On the other hand, it is important to modernise the sewage system to reduce overall pollutants by enhancing the quality of water to satisfy sustainability objectives.

Impact of the actions on the water sustainability commitments

The conversion of sewage in biogas has helped the water industry of the UK in enhancing sustainability in the services provided to the local residents. On the other hand the generation of biogas has increased and reached 13.3 MtCO2e in 2024 (Laville, 2024). The inculcation of anaerobic digestion in the UK water industry has also provided efficient treatment to 11 billion litres of wastewater generated across the country (BBC, 2022). Overall, the decision of using anaerobic digestion tool has ensured smooth treatment of sewage in the UK.

In this context, the overall strategic planning is beneficial for maintaining the sustainability objectives as well as supports in protecting the outer environment. According to Skoczko, Puzowski and Szatyłowicz (2020), the execution of the membrane bioreactors as well as modernising sewage systems is considered useful in reducing the contamination of river water in the UK. Bioengineers integrate natural treatment methods with membrane filtration to deliver a high level of solids and solids waste disposal. On the other hand, the chosen action is beneficial to meet the industry objectives of improving the water quality of the general public.

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Part B

2) Describe about the Brunel University London’s environmental sustainability plans with use of Broman and Robert’s (2017) Framework

The application of Broman and Robert’s Framework in terms underlying the sustainable decision making that in term addresses overall improvement through sustainable procurement (Broman and Robèrt 2017). The impact of this framework has its major contribution encounter overall sustainability in terms of strengthening the overall opportunities by addressing risk in the new market. The elements of this framework help in carrying out a comprehensive approach by addressing the strategic interaction involving relevant stakeholders through strategic decision making by incorporation of the strategic materials.

Recycling and waste

The recycling and waste management programs of Brunel University London also demonstrate commitment towards building and improving environmental sustainability. The university has made significant progress, with 98% of waste diverted from landfill and 47% of all waste recycled (Brunel University, 2024). The goal is to increase this recycling rate to 60 percent by 2025, according to the Waste Management Plan 2022-25.

FSSD level	Description
System	Waste management system designed to minimise environmental impact by diverting waste from landfills and increasing recycling process effectively. The communication with Hall’s residence, battery recycling point, and British heart foundation also make the system more reliable in implementing strategic plans.
Success	Success in the FSSD framework also be maintain to development of a fully circular waste system with zero landfill. Hence, achieving 60% recycling is a step, but further efforts are needed for full sustainability development in Brunel university plan.
Strategic guidelines	The guidance criteria of the FSSD framework are also influenced by the following act under regulation 15(1) of the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 (Brunel University, 2024).
Actions	The reuse strategy is also most effective to manage Electrical items including IT and hard drives recycled to near 100% (Brunel University, 2024).
Tool	The waste management plan of 2022-25 is most significant tools to develop data tracking about systematic working progress of environmental sustainability.

Table 1: FSSD framework

(Source: Self-developed)

Travel and transport

Brunel University has carried out transformation in travel and tourism by addressing sustainable infrastructure maintenance regarding lowering down carbon emission, encountering eco-friendly practices. The sustainable tourism practices in Brunel university in term reduce its environmental impact by prioritising more on renewable energy generation through infrastructure improvement.

FSSD level	Description
System	Sustainable tourism maintenance in Brunel University has its massive impact in developing sustainable practices by carrying out circular economic features (Kabil et al., 2024). The university undertakes green campus initiatives by encountering commitment towards sustainability by reduction of net zero target.
Success	Success related to sustainable tourism maintenance focuses more on eco-friendly infrastructure by reduction of the carbon footprints through ethical labour practices (Baloch et al., 2022).
Strategic guidelines	The strategic guidelines taken by Brunel University regarding sustainable initiatives in term manage waste through recycling programs regarding sustainable accommodation campaign (Brunel , 2021)
Actions	Sustainable integration program regarding campus prioritises more on suppliers that encounter student engagement by maintaining UN SDG goals and ISO14001 accreditation (Brunel , 2024b).
Tool	The incorporation of “ Environmental Impact Assessment” is more effective to address environmental consequences by gathering feedback from tourists.

Table 2: FSSD framework

(Source: Self-developed)

Sustainable building and biodiversity

Brunel University in London has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability through building practices, energy measurements and bio-based projects. Evaluating these efforts using Bruman and Roberts’ (2017) Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) provides a structured way to understand how these initiatives are linked to sustainability principles.

FSSD level	Description
System	Energy-efficient building design, waste reduction, biodiversity protection.
Success	Achievements in energy efficiency such as, BREEAM Excellent, waste diversion, biodiversity protection.
Strategic guidelines	Strategic objectives include improving energy efficiency, high BREEAM ratings, and biodiversity plans.
Actions	The key action plans are upgrading lighting, recycling materials, using sustainable practices, and biodiversity projects.
Tool	Use of Waste Management Plan, Biodiversity Action Plan, and BREEAM ratings also be the most effective tool for improving sustainability initiatives.

Table 3: FSSD framework

(Source: Self-developed)

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Sustainable food

Brunel University London’s food service sustainability programs demonstrate a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact, promoting health and wellbeing for supporting students.

FSSD level	Description
System	Integration of digital solutions such as Uni Food Hub app and self-delivery options.
Success	The success factor also aligned with reduction of food waste by 56% (Brunel University, 2024).
Strategic guidelines	Use of Ghost Kitchen, increased vegetarian/vegan options, and discounted meals are also strategic guidelines to provide sustainable food.
Actions	Reduction of food waste, digital ordering systems, and discounted meals specially for university students.
Tool	The Uni Food Hub app and waste reduction metrics are key tools to measure the potentiality of sustainability plans (Brunel University, 2024).

Table 4: FSSD framework

(Source: Self-developed)

Recommendation

• The proper enhancement of “Circular Waste Management” is also necessary to develop the recycling phase in order to manage large amounts of landfill in specific polluted areas (Martin et al., 2024). This is also involved towards optimising waste segregation, expanding recycling facilities, and implementing robust circular economy principles that promote stewardship in the management system.
• Brunel University becomes more sustainable by reduction of carbon waste in achieving overall goals and incorporation of recycling techniques more efficient in managing waste. The Brunel university in term improved its sustainability biodiversity by investing more on rainwater conservation and undertaker awareness campaigns regarding sustainable practices (Brunel , 2024).
• The development of target initiative through stakeholder engagement is also necessary to build bonds among students and stakeholders in the communication phase (Stocker et al., 2020). Thus, educational campaigns and participatory projects are most prioritising to engage more participants in providing sustainability plans effectively in Brunel University.
  

References

Part A

BBC (2022). Why is raw sewage pumped into the sea? BBC News. [online] 26 Aug. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-62631320.

BBC (2024). Raw sewage spills into England rivers and seas doubles in 2023. www.bbc.com. [online] 27 Mar. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68665335.

Bera, S.P., Godhaniya, M. and Kothari, C. (2021). Emerging and advanced membrane technology for wastewater treatment: A review. Journal of Basic Microbiology, 62(3-4), pp.245–259. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.202100259.

DEFRA (2002). Sewage Treatment in the UK Implementation of the EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. [online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a799210ed915d0422069741/pb6655-uk-sewage-treatment-020424.pdf [Accessed 13 Aug. 2024].

Government of UK (2016). Innovative technology to treat water showcased. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/innovative-technology-to-treat-water-showcased [Accessed 13 Aug. 2024].

Government of UK (2022a). Wastewater treatment in England. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wastewater-treatment-in-england.

Government of UK (2022b). Wastewater treatment in England. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wastewater-treatment-in-england [Accessed 13 Aug. 2024].

Horton, H. (2023). Thames Water pumped at least 72bn litres of sewage into Thames since 2020. The Guardian. [online] 10 Nov. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/10/thames-water-pumped-sewage-into-thames.

Laville, S. (2024). Rise in sewage pollution from Thames Water’s ageing treatment works. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jul/09/rise-sewage-pollution-thames-water-ageing-treatment-works.

Obaideen, K., Shehata, N., Sayed, E.T., Abdelkareem, M.A., Mahmoud, M.S. and Olabi, A.G. (2022). The Role of Wastewater Treatment in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainability Guideline. Energy Nexus, 7(7), p.100112. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexus.2022.100112.

Parliament of UK (2022). Sewage pollution in England’s waters. [online] Available at: https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/sewage-pollution-in-englands-waters/#:~:text=Storm%20Overflows%20Taskforce&text=In%20November%202021%2C%20an%20independent,and%20%C2%A3999%20per%20year. [Accessed 13 Aug. 2024].

Skoczko, I., Puzowski, P. and Szatyłowicz, E. (2020). Experience from the Implementation and Operation of the Biological Membrane Reactor (MBR) at the Modernized Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wydminy. Water, 12(12), p.3410. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123410.

Part B

Baloch, Q.B., Shah, S.N., Iqbal, N., Sheeraz, M., Asadullah, M., Mahar, S. and Khan, A.U. (2022). Impact of Tourism Development upon Environmental sustainability: a Suggested Framework for Sustainable Ecotourism. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, [online] 30(3), pp.5917–5930. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22496-w.

Broman, G.I. and Robèrt, K.-H. (2017). A framework for strategic sustainable development. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140(1), pp.17–31. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.121.

Brunel (2021). Further sustainability initiatives. [online] Brunel.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/environment-and-sustainability/further-sustainability-initiatives [Accessed 13 Aug. 2024].

Brunel (2024a). Biodiversity. [online] www.brunel.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/environment-and-sustainability/biodiversity.

Brunel (2024b). ISO 14001 accreditation. [online] www.brunel.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/environment-and-sustainability/accreditation.

Brunel University (2024). Environment and sustainability. [online] www.brunel.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/environment-and-sustainability/home [Accessed 13 Aug. 2024].

Kabil, M., Rahmat, A.F., Hegedűs, M., Galovics, B. and Dávid, L.D. (2024). Circular Economy and Tourism: A Bibliometric Journey through Scholarly Discourse. Circular economy, 2(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.55845/hgwo7144.

Martin, H., Deeksha Chebrolu, Chadee, A. and Brooks, T. (2024). Too good to waste: Examining circular economy opportunities, barriers, and indicators for sustainable construction and demolition waste management. Sustainable production and consumption, 48, pp.460–480. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.05.026.

Stocker, F., Arruda, M.P., Mascena, K.M.C. and Boaventura, J.M.G. (2020). Stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting: A classification model. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(5), pp.2071–2080.