SusCheM’s contribution to the Maastricht University Sustainability Report 2025

The work was carried out by Dr. Shweta Singh, under the supervision of Dr. Pranav Nakhate, in close collaboration with Fabian Groven and the SUM2030 programme.

This is the first time Maastricht University has quantified its carbon footprint using a comprehensive LCA-based approach. In addition to calculating the current footprint, we developed a robust and transparent methodological framework that can be used as the basis for future sustainability reporting and annual greenhouse gas accounting. The framework is designed to be reproducible, allowing consistent tracking of emissions over time while facilitating the identification of emission hotspot and opportunities for targeted emissions reduction. An important aspect of the work is the inclusion of Scope 3 emissions, which are typically the most complex to assess but often represent the largest share of an organization’s climate impact.

For us, this project perfectly reflects a principle we strongly believe in: practice what you preach. As a group specializing in Life Cycle Assessment, it is rewarding to see our expertise directly supporting Maastricht University’s own sustainability ambitions. It demonstrates how scientific knowledge can be translated into practical tools that not only quantify environmental impacts but also enable evidence-based sustainability planning, target setting, and continuous improvement. 

We are grateful to have contributed to this important initiative and look forward to supporting future editions of the Sustainability Report.