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Sustainable Futures Project Positions UOW at the Forefront of Scope 3 Emissions Management

August 27, 2026

Sustainable Futures Project Positions UOW at the Forefront of Scope 3 Emissions Management

Research-informed practice is helping the University of Wollongong understand and manage emissions across its value chain, and lay the groundwork for its next major sustainability initiative.

The University of Wollongong's (UOW) Centre for Supply Chain Research (CSCR), in partnership with the Infrastructure and Property Division's Sustainability team, is delivering a flagship sustainability initiative that is helping position UOW as a leader in Scope 3 emissions management within the Australian higher education sector.

Led by Professor Matthew Pepper in collaboration with Dr Clayton McDowell, the Sustainable Futures for Higher Education Project exemplifies the deep and ongoing collaboration between CSCR and the IPD Sustainability Division, demonstrating the value of research-informed practice in addressing complex sustainability challenges. The project team includes Associate Professor Anura De Zoysa, and researchers Ishara Ranathunga and Komudya Chathurangi.

Using UOW as a "living lab", the project has developed a comprehensive understanding of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions across UOW’s internal and external value chains. By combining rigorous academic research with operational sustainability practice, the initiative has enabled the University to better understand emissions sources that sit beyond its direct control, while creating practical pathways for ongoing improvement.

A major outcome of the project is the development of a state-of-the-art Scope 3 emissions dashboard, providing unprecedented visibility of emissions across the University's value chain. The dashboard supports data-driven decision-making by enabling the tracking, monitoring and analysis of emissions trends, while informing future sustainability strategy and investment priorities.

The project has also delivered a comprehensive implementation framework and strategic roadmap to support the ongoing management and reduction of Scope 3 emissions. Drawing on international best practice, stakeholder engagement, and detailed emissions analysis, the framework provides a structured approach for embedding sustainability considerations across procurement, operations, partnerships and broader institutional decision-making.

By integrating research excellence with practical implementation, the Project is creating a model that can be adopted across the higher education – demonstrating how Universities  can leverage their own operations as living laboratories to drive innovation, and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.

Importantly, the project has laid the groundwork for the CSCR’s next phase of research, examining how universities can become more adaptive and future-ready. Building on the insights generated through the Scope 3 initiative, researchers will develop AI-enabled risk intelligence tools and an evidence-based framework for organisational antifragility, helping UOW anticipate, respond to and ultimately benefit from an increasingly uncertain operating environment.