There is now a strong consensus around the world that reducing our ecological footprint and caring for our environment is absolutely essential for the health and wellbeing of present and future generations. According to the Global Footprint Network, Australians had the eleventh largest ecological footprint amongst all world’s nations in 2014 (latest available data; datafootprintnetwork.org). The average Australian in 2014 consumed the resources of 6.89 global hectares; which means if everyone lived in the same way, it would take four planet Earths to produce the resources that would be consumed. We are already witnessing major impacts of the Australian way of living on the continent’s wildlife, forests, rivers, water supplies, coastal ecosystems and reefs, and importantly, our climate.

Although there is still a long way to go for Australians to close the deficit between what we use and what is sustainable for our precious environment, there is some good news suggesting that we are on the right track. Australia’s footprint fell significantly between 2011 and 2014, from an estimated 8.80 to 6.89 global hectares per person. In contrast, over the same period, the per capita footprint in the United States of America was nearly stable from 8.54 to 8.37 global hectares per person.

Making choices that impact less on the environment, and being an active participant and sharing stories about living more sustainably is not only good for the planet – it is also good for people’s health and wellbeing. Social media has enabled a huge increase in awareness of what we can do and brought sophisticated information about how to move forward to our fingertips. However, it can also bring misinformation and confusion, making informed choices more difficult for individuals as well as for organisations.

Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, is committed to operating as ecologically sustainable as possible while providing high quality education enabling undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain skills and knowledge to address real world challenges.  One unit that is specifically dedicated to environmental management and sustainability is PUN015, a capstone of PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment. In 2017, the students undertook a group challenge – to examine sustainability features and opportunities and recommend tools for auditing sustainability performance at their own campus and business area at Kelvin Grove Campus and Village.

This report presents the students’ combined contributions to a sustainability scoping review and recommended audit tools for Queensland University of Technology and associated businesses at Kelvin Grove Campus and Village located 6 kilometres north of the Central Business District of Brisbane, Queensland.