Sustainability Newsle/er
December 2024
Wishing you a holly, jolly, and eco-friendly Christmas!
As we approach the festive season, there are many changes you can make to reduce your environmental impact and celebrate more sustainably. Read on to discover ideas for a greener Christmas, our latest sustainability achievements from
AI’s Hidden Water Footprint: Insights from Our Sustainability
Prefect
Whilst we are often encouraged to conserve water through actions such as reducing shower time or turning off taps, it is important to recognise that our water usage is not the only factor to consider.
Artifcial Intelligence (AI) data centers, frequently overlooked in discussions about water conservation, consume vast quantities of water each day.
Every time an AI system like ChatGPT is used, it processes large volumes of data. The energy required to power these data centers generates signifcant heat, which must be managed through cooling systems that rely on large volumes of clean, fresh water.
• By 2027, AI data centers are projected to consume between 4.2 and 6.6 billion cubic meters of water annually. For comparison, Denmark uses roughly 1 billion cubic meters of water per year!
• Training a single AI model consumes approximately 700,000 liters of water - equivalent to 4,500 showers and enough to fll 280,000 2.5-litre water bottles.
This issue extends beyond the volume of water consumed to the availability of fresh water. Only a small percentage of Earth's water is suitable for drinking or agriculture, and producing clean water is energy-intensive. These factors make water a critical resource that must be managed responsibly.
While the scope of this challenge may seem beyond individual control, we can take meaningful steps to mitigate it:
1. Use AI Consciously: Be mindful when interacting with AI tools like ChatGPT, or refne your search queries to reduce unnecessary server usage.
2. Advocate for Corporate Accountability: Encourage tech companies to be transparent about their water consumption.
3. Support Sustainable Policies: Champion initiatives that promote eco -friendly practices within the tech industry.
Junk Kouture
Our Lower Sixth Textiles pupils are preparing to participate in the 2025 Junk Kouture sustainable fashion competition, a global challenge that encourages young designers to create fashion garments from waste materials. The competition is dedicated to raising awareness about the environmental impact of fashion waste, urging participants to embrace circular fashion practices that prioritise reuse, recycling, and upcycling.
This project aligns with our commitment to sustainability, promoting creative solutions to reduce waste and inspire innovative design. To support our pupils in this endeavour, staff members were invited to donate textile waste and other materials that could be repurposed in their designs. Collection points were placed across College to facilitate donations and to ensure pupils have access to the necessary resources to bring their ideas to life.
The pupils have been diligently working on their garments, with the goal of completing their creations by February half term 2025. We are grateful for the generosity of all staff who contributed to this initiative, and we look forward to seeing the impressive results of this sustainable fashion project.
Sustainable Catering: Festive Recipes and Ethical Sourcing
This Christmas, our Catering Department is committed to minimising waste and ensuring that all food is utilised to its full potential. Any surplus vegetables from the College Christmas meals will be thoughtfully repurposed into a variety of nutritious soups and creative desserts. Past examples of this initiative, include our beetroot and black bean brownies and red cabbage cake, are incorporated into our three weekly menu cycle. This approach highlights the versatility of ingredients that might otherwise go to waste.
As we look ahead to the New Year, we are excited to explore the possibility of partnering with Waste Knot, an innovative organisation dedicated to reducing food waste and promoting ethical sourcing practices. Should this partnership move forward, Cheltenham College and Prep could beneft from receiving surplus fruit and vegetables directly from farmers' felds - produce of excellent quality that would otherwise go to waste. By redistributing surplus food, Waste Knot helps reduce food waste and ensures that perfectly edible food reaches those who can use it, contributing to a more sustainable food system. This initiative would complement our ongoing efforts to promote a circular economy on campus, where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimised. We will keep you updated on the progress of this promising initiative!
Upcycling Christmas Jumpers
Did you know? Two out of fve Christmas jumpers are only worn once over the festive period, and one in three adults under 35 buys a new Christmas jumper every year.
Just before the end of term, the Textiles Department hosted an Upcycling Christmas Jumper Workshop, encouraging pupils to creatively repurpose old jumpers into festive designs. The workshop aimed to promote sustainable fashion by offering an alternative to fast fashion and reducing textile waste.
Held as two drop -in sessions in November and December, ready for the College Christmas Jumper day to support Gloucesterhsire Young Careers, the workshop provided a fun and hands- on experience where pupils could transform their existing jumpers into unique, festive pieces. With guidance from Mrs Tradgett and Mrs Evely, pupils used a range of materials to decorate and personalise their jumpers, whilst learning about the environmental impact of clothing production and the benefts of upcycling.
We hope that the workshop inspires pupils to continue embracing sustainable fashion practices throughout the festive season. See the pictures below of our pupils taking part in this creative and sustainble workshop!
Tips and Tricks for a Greener Christmas and New Year
As the festive season approaches, there are several simple yet effective changes we can adopt to reduce our environmental impact whilst still enjoying the festivities. Below are some practical and eco - conscious tips for a sustainable Christmas and New Year.
Conscientious Gift Wrapping
Traditional wrapping paper is often non-recyclable, but there are many sustainable alternatives available. Consider using fabric, newspaper, or reusable gift bags to wrap your presents. These alternatives not only reduce waste but also provide a distinctive and personal touch. To enhance the presentation, incorporate natural elements such as twine, holly, or pinecones for an eco - conscious and festive look.
Sustainable Festive Fashion
Rather than purchasing a new Christmas jumper each year, consider upcycling one you already own. This can be achieved through personalisation with embroidery, fabric paint, or decorative patches to refresh its appearance. If a new purchase is necessary, seek garments made from organic or recycled materials, or explore second-hand options to reduce the demand for new production.
Eco -Friendly Christmas Cards
Instead of sending traditional paper Christmas cards, consider sending e - cards or selecting cards crafted from recycled paper or upcycled materials. For a particularly eco - conscious choice, plantable Christmas cards, which contain seeds that can be planted to grow fowers or herbs, offer a lasting and environmentally benefcial option.
Minimising Festive Food Waste
The festive season often results in excess food, however, there are several strategies to mitigate waste. Thoughtful meal planning can help avoid over-purchasing, while leftovers can be repurposed into soups, sandwiches, or casseroles. Food scraps can be composted to enrich your garden, and non-perishable items may be donated to local charities, ensuring that any excess food is used effectively and responsibly.
In the Headlines: The Move Towards Sustainable Christmas Trees
Did you know? The UK generates roughly 160,000 tonnes of Christmas tree waste each January, and a 2-metre real Christmas tree that ends up in a landfll has a carbon footprint of 16kg CO2.
This festive season, Jolly Pines is bringing festive cheer with a sustainable twist. Launched in Chipping Campden by Kaleb Cooper, star of Clarkson’s Farm, in collaboration with SDL Solutions and Kaleb Cooper Contracting, Jolly Pines offers highquality Nordmann Fir Christmas trees grown in Gloucestershire.
What sets Jolly Pines apart is its commitment to sustainability throughout the tree’s life cycle. After the festive period, the trees are collected and repurposed into biomass energy, providing green power for homes and businesses across Gloucestershire. This innovative approach not only reduces waste but also supports a circular economy, making Jolly Pines a standout choice for environmentally conscious households.
Sustainable Christmas Trees at Cheltenham College and Prep
In keeping with our commitment to reducing waste and inspired by Kaleb’s approach, all of our Christmas trees are recycled and reused in an environmentally responsible way. After the festive season, our trees are transformed into wood chippings, which are then used to enrich our gardens.
This process ensures that the trees are given a second life, supporting a greener campus and helping to minimise our environmental impact.
CO29: A Global Step Towards Climate Action
COP29, the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Azerbaijan in Novemeber 2024, brought together governments, organisations, and stakeholders to advance global climate policies, actions, and commitments.
A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of the New Collective Quantifed Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance, an ambitious framework designed to ensure developed countries provide critical fnancial support to help developing nations address climate challenges. The NCQG sets a target of raising $1.7 trillion annually by 2030, enabling developing countries to transition to clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and achieve sustainable development.
The NCQG is part of a broader commitment to meeting the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C, with an aspirational target of 1.5°C. By prioritising enhanced fnancial support and fostering collective action, COP29 aims to accelerate progress on vital climate initiatives, particularly in the most vulnerable regions
Share Your Thoughts
We invite you to ask questions, share suggestions, or get involved in our sustainability projects by reaching out to us at sustainability@cheltenhamcollege.org.
Your input is invaluable to our efforts!