The Open University climbs 23 places in People & Planet Sustainability rankings

The Open University has achieved a significant leap in the People & Planet University League, moving from 62nd place in 2024 to 39th in 2025. This annual ranking assesses UK universities on their environmental and ethical performance, and the OU’s progress reflects our continued commitment to sustainability.

The People & Planet University League is the UK’s only comprehensive and independent ranking of universities based on environmental and ethical credentials. It is compiled by People & Planet, the UK’s largest student campaigning network.

Over the past four years, the OU has improved its position from 116^th in 2022 to 39^th in 2025 – a rise of 77 positions in the last four years.

This upward trend demonstrates the impact of collaborative efforts across the OU to strengthen policies, enhance transparency, and embed sustainability into our operations. Key actions that contributed to this success include updating our environmental policies, improving reporting processes, and making sustainability information more accessible through our website.