People Places Planet

Making ideas work for a better world

Discover the University of Edinburgh’s world leading circular economy and sustainability expertise which will help you develop innovative ideas to deliver solutions to the global climate crisis, one of the world’s biggest challenges.

Learn about our experts and discover the ways we’ve been working in collaboration to improve the environment for all our communities.

Work with one of the world’s top institutions for tackling the world’s most pressing environmental and social issues. Edinburgh is ranked top for sustainability in the UK and 4th in the world.*

*QS Sustainability Rankings 2023

Our track record

Discover our successes. Building on our world leading research, Edinburgh Innovations continues to facilitate targeted solutions to combat this global crisis.

22 Feb 2023
Opinion 
A tidal wave of opportunity
Energy
People, Places and Planet
Renewables
Sustainability
02 Feb 2023
Opinion 
Redefining relationships is key to realising the benefits of a circular economy
Circular economy
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
13 Dec 2022
Opinion 
COP27 was important, but fighting climate change requires governments to begin at home
People, Places and Planet
Policy, public sector and justice
Sustainability
Case Study 
NatWest Group partnership with the University of Edinburgh
Sustainability
08 Dec 2022
Opinion 
Supercomputer sustainability: a balance between performance and energy efficiency
Energy
People, Places and Planet
Software
Sustainability
Case Study 
It’s a wrap on waste plastic
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
Case Study 
Engineering biology to replace petrochemicals
Biotechnology
Circular economy
Case Study 
Solution to monitor population displacement
Data, AI & robotics
Extreme conditions
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
Case Study 
Innovation based on sustainability and big data
Data, AI & robotics
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
25 Nov 2022
Opinion 
We can have sustainable economic growth, if we prioritise innovation
Circular economy
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
Case Study 
Photo showing the Flowave ocean device testing facility
Innovative engineering at the University of Edinburgh is tackling climate crisis
Circular economy
Energy
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
15 Nov 2022
News 
'Transformative' energy startup Myriad receives Innovate UK grant
Energy
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
Case Study 
picture of overturned test tube spilling plastic beads
Plastics – turning a problem into a force for good
Chemistry
Circular economy
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
Case Study 
The UK from space is surrounded by ocean
Offshore renewables: the untapped potential of ocean energy
Circular economy
Energy
People, Places and Planet
Sustainability
04 Nov 2022
News 
COP27: 12 student and staff entrepreneurs tackling the climate crisis
People, Places and Planet
Startups and spinouts
Sustainability

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative - our response to the climate crisis. Drawing on strengths from across the University and working with our global partners, we will deliver ambitious solutions for a future that effectively manages and mitigates the effects of climate change.

The Circular Economy Centre

Scotland’s centre for circular economy expertise

The University of Edinburgh is a leading hub for circular knowledge and innovation, through the Circular Economy Centre and the Edinburgh Earth Initiative.

We work together with businesses and other organisations to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by providing access to world-leading research, education and innovation support.

The Centre for Adapting to Changing Environments

The Centre for Adapting to Changing Environments brings together diverse expertise to address how populations can adapt effectively to our changing environment. Both natural and human induced changes are altering our environment at an unprecedented rate and are having profound effects on our planet, its biodiversity, our health, and our ability to live in a sustainable and equitable way.

Image of someone writing a science diagram on a transparent board

Science for Sustainability Hub

The Science for Sustainability Hub acts as a portal to build engagement across research, industry, government and civil society to build a new vision for a sustainable future. It seeks to create collaborations to accelerate its mission to create an equitable, inclusive and sustainable for our planet. Their activities are underpinned by a strong commitment to ethical and socially responsible research, founded on Edinburgh's long-standing strengths in social sciences scholarship.

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Contact us

Charlotte Lee-Woolf

Business Development Manager
Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Charlotte.Lee-Woolf@ei.ed.ac.uk

Lucy Stanfield-Jenner

Business Development Executive
Circular Economy

Lucy.Stanfield@ei.ed.ac.uk

Ian Hatch

Head of Business Development at the College of Science and Engineering

Ian.Hatch@ei.ed.ac.uk