The University of Tübingen is committed to sustainable development in its actions. This commitment is an important step to stop the rapidly progressing environmental changes and their negative consequences for the existence of future generations. The team in Department VIII Division 3 is committed to the continuous improvement of environmentally friendly performances in operations, research and teaching at the university.

The University of Tübingen is the first university in Baden-Württemberg to be EMAS-certified and may officially present itself with the EMAS logo. 

To this end, the University has introduced a validated environmental management system in accordance with the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), embedding it across administration, research and teaching as part of its broader sustainability strategy. Since 2011, the University has undergone revalidation every three years to safeguard the effectiveness of its environmental management. The most recent successfull revalidation took place in 2023.  

The impetus for advancing EMAS at the University of Tübingen was the symposium on "Perspectives for a Sustainable University", organized by the student initiative "Greening the University" in June 2008.

What is EMAS?

The econimies and environmental matters must go hand in hand. With the European environmental management system EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme), companies as well as teaching institutions are able to conserve resources effectively. EMAS is able to do more than this: EMAS-certified organizations make actual contributions to protecting the environmental, are able to save costs and demonstrate social responsibility. EMAS ensures that all environmental aspects from energy consumption to waste and emissions management are implemented in a legally compliant and transparent manner. 

The EMAS Cycle

The EMAS cycle is a process of continuous improvement. The initial comprehensive environmental review recorded all significant environmental impacts of the University. Subsequently, environmental objectives and an action programme are reviewed, adjusted, and redefined each year.The environmental programme is implemented throughout the year. The results are reviewed annually by an external environmental verifier. Every three years, a major revalidation is carried out. An annual environmental statement is published, providing information on the development of the environmental management system and on environmental performance.

EMAS enables the University to continuously achieve improvements of beneficial environmental performance in its operations, research, and teaching.

The University of Tübingen’s environmental management system covers the entire institution, including faculties, academic, operational, central, and other bodies as well as central administration and its staff offices. Excluded are the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital. These have their own administration, facility management, and budget management separate from the University administration.