Get in touch with us to find out more about Deakin's sustainability commitments.
Sustainability
Shaping a sustainable future
Sustainability is embedded within Deakin’s culture as one of our core values. We care about our shared future and are committed to integrating sustainability through quality education, innovative campus operations and research.
Our sustainability practices
Our sustainability practices are connected to our respect for the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our campuses reside and the waterways that run alongside them. We acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging and thank them for nurturing and caring for Country, which sustains us all.
Research to protect our environment
We place sustainability at the centre of our research, creating positive change for local and global communities. Our researchers are committed to discovering solutions to the biggest environmental challenges.
Study sustainability
Study at Deakin and help solve global issues such as climate change. Deakin offer a range of courses and study units related to sustainability. Gain the knowledge, skills and real-world experience to promote sustainable development.
Sustainability on campus
See how we are turning our commitments into impact on campus and throughout the University. Together with students, academics, researchers and partners we are creating living laboratories for sustainable development.
2025 Sustainability Report
The 2025 Sustainability Report highlights initiatives focused on reducing emissions and resource consumption, improving building efficiency and enhancing the biodiversity of our campus environments.
Our sustainability commitments
Deakin’s sustainability commitments align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with targets set for 2025 and 2030. Our sustainability commitments have benefits on campus, within our communities and, more broadly, at a global level. We integrate economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability in all that we do. Deakin's sustainability commitments and targets include:
Energy and emissions
Energy efficiency and emission reductions are critical to long-term climate action. We achieved our 2025 target to mitigate all Scope 1 and 2 emissions and advanced the decarbonisation of campus operations through strategic investment in renewable energy.Natural environment
We’re committed to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity across our natural landscapes and waterways to ensure our campus are home to ecosystems that support diverse flora and fauna species, mitigate and adapt to climate impacts and provide clean air and water.Waste management
Effective waste management is critical to sustainable campuses. We are focused on reducing waste generation and maximising diversion from landfill by expanding recycling opportunities and implementing innovative waste reduction processes.Water
Effective water management is critical to protecting the environmental flows that sustain our waterways. We’re using Integrated Water Management principles to manage water across our campuses – creating wetlands at Waurn Ponds, reducing reliance on drinking water for irrigation and using water-sensitive urban design to improve stormwater management and reduce flood risk.Procurement and supply
Deakin advances strategic procurement practices by incorporating ESG sustainability, modern slavery and supplier diversity considerations into significant procurement activities.Travel and transport
We’re committed to accessible and sustainable transport options across all our campuses. We're taking action to enhance public transport, ride-share and active transport options so that by 2030 most staff and students will use sustainable transport.Built environment
We use sustainable design principles to inform our infrastructure planning, delivering environmental benefits while enhancing campus user experiences through climate-adaptive strategies that support healthier, more flexible spaces.
With over 60,000 students studying at Deakin, we are in the privileged position to educate and inspire society’s future leaders, foster research solutions to local and global challenges, and use our campuses as living laboratories for field-scale innovations in sustainability.
Vice-Chancellor
Learn about our sustainability initiatives
Here are some projects from 2025 that support Deakin’s commitment a more sustainable world.
In 2025, volunteers helped plant 50,000 Indigenous plants along Waurn Ponds Creek, boosting water quality and promoting biodiversity.
Over two years, the resource recovery wall at Waurn Ponds diverted almost 200kg of batteries, mobile phones and small e-waste items from landfill.
In 2025, we released 840 juvenile Little Galaxias into Waurn Ponds wetlands as part of a captive breeding program to help restore wild populations.
Sorting waste from nursing simulation labs into landfill, repurpose and reuse streams diverted 60kg of medical waste from landfill in two months.
Discover our sustainability impact
Over the past years, Deakin has made significant strides in sustainability – restoring biodiversity, improving campus environments and increasing renewable energy use. Explore our annual sustainability reports to see the impact of these initiatives.
2024 Sustainability Report
In 2024, Deakin's 50th year, we worked to restore biodiversity, enhance campus environments and progress towards 100% renewable electricity. Our sustainability reports tell the story of the initiatives that improve our campuses and communities in recent years.
2023 Sustainability Report
Our climate-ready campuses evolved in 2023 with impactful projects bringing to life the climate mitigation, climate adaptation, water and biodiversity pillars. These meaningful changes have reduced our impact while preparing our campuses to cope with the predicted changes in climate.
2022 Sustainability Report
Our progress in 2022 helped us to realise our climate-ready campus vision. Nearly 20% of our energy came from renewable sources and we provided staff and students with more sustainable transport options. We also began work on converting the chain of ponds running through the Waurn Ponds Campus into constructed wetlands.
Frequently asked questions about sustainability at Deakin
Deakin embeds sustainability practices into many of its courses. You can study a course that focuses on sustainability or find a course that has a sustainability major.
Deakin has sustainability research expertise across a wide range of disciplines, from energy and materials manufacturing to kelp reforestation and ethical consumerism. Whether you're an industry partner seeking a subject matter expert or a student interested in studying or researching sustainability, there are many ways to connect with our researchers.
Deakin’s 7.25MW microgrid at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus provides energy for the campus and also serves as a research and teaching facility. Since 2025, all electricity used across Deakin’s campuses has come from 100% renewable sources including the microgrid, rooftop solar and renewable energy supply contracts.
We encourage sustainable transport, such as cycling, public transit and ridesharing or carpooling. Campuses have end-of-journey facilities for cyclists and EV charging stations. In Geelong, we have a shuttle for travel between campuses.
We are committed to advancing local actions that contribute to a global agenda. The University focuses on the following within our sustainability initiatives.
Partnerships: Develop and foster strategic partnerships that support Deakin’s sustainability commitments, teaching, research and our community.
Embedment: Integrate sustainability principles in planning and decision making across the University.
Innovation: Use the campuses as living laboratories to foster action-based research, learning and innovation that supports Deakin’s commitments.
Participation: Create meaningful opportunities for students, staff and the broader Deakin community to participate and contribute to sustainability.
Engagement: Report and communicate about sustainability at Deakin to transparently disclose performance, demonstrate leadership, advocate for sustainability and inspire others.
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
