Sustainability Newsletter

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Sustainability Newsle/er

October 2024

As we begin to enjoy the stunning colours of Autumn, our commitment to sustainability remains as strong as ever. This season, we are excited to share a range of updates and initiatives designed to keep our school community green and thriving.

Read on to discover our latest achievements, find inspiration, and hear form our

Olivia Spencer - Caseldine, Sustainability Lead and Administrator

My Journey to Sustainability

As the Sustainability Lead for the 2024 - 2025 Academic Year, I am focused on enhancing the sustainability progress that is already underway at Cheltenham College and Cheltenham Prep. This year’s initiatives will focus on reducing our carbon footprint whilst embedding sustainable practices into our daily routines. With the involvement of pupils, staff, and the broader community, I look forward to making these initiatives a collective effort.

My interest in sustainability was sparked during my school years and further ignited at university, where I pursued studies in Human Geography. This feld opened my eyes to the profound impact that even small actions can have on our planet. This passion grew as I explored how sustainability intersects with many of my personal values and interests, including reducing food waste, supporting second-hand fashion, promoting equality, and protecting biodiversity.

Ishbel, College Sustainability Prefect (Upper Sixth, CL)

In my role as Sustainability Prefect for the 2024 - 2025 Academic Year, I am passionate about ensuring sustainability becomes a central focus at Cheltenham College. This year, I look forward to implementing initiatives that will engage our school community in meaningful ways to reduce our environmental impact.

I am particularly keen to collaborate with Cheltenham Prep and other local schools to share ideas and extend our positive contributions to the wider community. Finally, I aim to prioritise pupil input, to ensure that everyone’s ideas and concerns about sustainability at College are both heard and addressed.

Sustainability Strategies, Climate Action Reports, and Plans

In September 2023, we published our Climate Action Plan for the 2023 – 2024 Academic Year, outlining our key objectives for the past year. We are delighted to have made signifcant progress across various operational projects and educational initiatives. For instance, we have successfully implemented targeted projects to reduce single -use plastics across our site, enhanced our recycling facilities to promote better waste management, and completed ESOS Phase III. For more information on these achievements, please refer to our 2023 - 2024 Climate Action Report, available on the Cheltenham College sustainability webpage.

Additionally, our 2024 - 2025 Climate Action Plan is now accessible, detailing our short and mediumterm objectives for the current Academic Year, with a particular focus on waste management and energy reduction.

Recycling Data Insights

In 2022, we initiated the rollout of our new recycling infrastructure, successfully completing installations at Cheltenham Prep, Leconfeld, Christowe, Queens, Southwood, Westal, Ashmead and Newick. This Academic Year, we will continue to expand this infrastructure, further enhancing our waste management practices with the aim of reducing general waste and increasing our recycling rate, in line with the Environment Act 2021. This legislation emphasises the importance of sustainable waste management and mandates improvements in recycling systems and waste streams.

From 2022 to 2023, we achieved a signifcant 16% reduction in general waste, alongside a 40% increase in recycling waste. This progress resulted in a remarkable saving of 42,361 kg of CO2e, refecting a fourfold improvement from the 10,120 kg saved in 2022. This amount of CO2e is equivalent to the weight of approximately eight adult elephants! These savings are calculated by comparing the emissions that would have been produced by landfll disposal with those from our actual disposal methods. We anticipate further growth in our recycling rates for 2024, with an update on this progress to be shared in early 2025.

Government Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)

We have recently achieved full compliance with Phase III of the ESOS framework. In line with our commitment to environmental responsibility and energy efficiency, we are now focusing on the development of an ESOS Action Plan, which is scheduled for completion by March 5th

Signifcant improvements have already been made to enhance our energy efficiency. The aging gas boilers in Thirlestaine Long Gallery and The Lower Quad, installed in the 1980s, have been replaced with advanced condensing boilers, offering approximately 30% greater efficiency. These boilers not only capture the heat from gas combustion but also extract energy from the resulting vapor, converting it into additional heating.

Furthermore, outdated manual-read electric and gas meters have been upgraded to smart meters, allowing for more efficient management of consumption through real-time energy data. By January 2025, we aim for 60% of our gas meters and 80% of our electricity meters to be upgraded to smart meters.

Over Summer 2024, secondary glazing was installed across all classrooms within the New Block, signifcantly improving heat retention, reducing heating demand, and enhancing comfort for both staff and pupils.

Additionally, Passive Infra-Red (PIR) technology has been incorporated throughout College during refurbishments. These sensors detect occupancy and automatically deactivate lighting in unoccupied rooms, thereby minimising unnecessary energy consumption.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Finding a New Home

Did you know? Each year, approximately 92 million tonnes of garments end up in landflls globally, out of the 100 billion produced.

Over Summer 2024 and into the Autumn Term, we collaborated closely with Housemasters and Housemistresses to recycle and repurpose all leftover clothing and bedding from our Boarding Houses by partnering with local charities.

We are pleased to announce our recent collaboration with Charity P3, a remarkable organisation dedicated to empowering individuals to create positive change in their lives. P3 specialises in services for homelessness, supported housing, mental health recovery, community advice and support, and youth services. As part of our partnership, we donated a signifcant amount of bedding to their supported housing programmes, helping individuals experiencing homelessness in Gloucestershire. have been resold through our second-hand Uniform Shop, whilst items unsuitable for resale - particularly those with outdated branding - have been sent to for recycling. These garments will either be shredded for a Waste -to -Energy facility to generate electricity or repurposed into new products, ensuring nothing goes to landfll.

In line with our sustainability commitment, Cheltenham College and Prep are exploring the possibility of donating surplus old-branded Sports Kits to schools or charities overseas. This initiative aims to reduce waste while providing essential resources to children in need, refecting our core values of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ and responsible action. If you know of a charity or school overseas that could beneft from this donation, please reach out to us.

Flourishing Gardens and Grounds

Last year, the Sustainability Super Squad played a vital role in establishing our Rain Garden, which we are now delighted to see in full bloom.

This specially designed system captures rainwater runoff from the building's roof, helping to mitigate fooding, flter pollutants, and replenish local groundwater supplies. The Rain Garden was also planned as a habitat for diverse wildlife and as an attraction for pollinating insects, enhancing ecological health in our urban environment.

Over Summer 2024, we undertook a major restoration project by dredging The Prep Lake, removing 98 lorry loads of accumulated silt and sediment. The Lake serves as a critical component of our food defence system, acting as an attenuation pond. However, years of sediment accumulation had reduced its effectiveness. Looking ahead, The Lake will serve as more than just a food management resource; it will become a ‘living classroom’ for sustainability. We are excited to develop various projects that will enhance biodiversity and support local wildlife, capturing and showcasing the key biodiversity and ecological features of our gardens.

Catering Sustainably: Reducing Food Waste and Disposables

Reducing food waste and minimising disposable usage are central to our commitment to sustainability. This Autumn Term, we are pleased to introduce two new initiatives in our dining facilities aimed at supporting these goals.

One of these initiatives, ‘Ask the Server for a Taste,’ offers pupils the opportunity to sample a small portion of a dish before selecting a full serving. This approach allows pupils to explore new foods without the risk of committing to a portion they may not fnish, helping to reduce the volume of food waste generated.

In addition to reducing food waste, we are also making signifcant strides in reducing reliance on single -use disposables.

Following the recent Valens dining reft, pupils and staff have embraced bringing their own reusable containers for any food taken outside the dining area. Initially, disposable containers were available for those adjusting to the new approach, but we are pleased to report that the need for single -use items has now signifcantly decreased, and we are seeing a much stronger commitment to reusable options. September 2024, we achieved a reduction of roughly 11, 200 disposable items compared to September 2023.

International Walk to School Month at Cheltenham College Prep

This October, Cheltenham College Prep participated in International Walk to School Month, an initiative organised by charity Living Streets. This year’s theme, Autumn Street Safari, encouraged our pupils to enjoy walking, wheeling, cycling, and scooting as sustainable modes of transport whilst discovering local wildlife and seasonal changes. During their journeys to and from school, pupils spotted wildlife, colourful autumn leaves, and a variety of plants, fostering a deeper appreciation for their natural surroundings.

By choosing eco -friendly modes of travel, our pupils and their families contributed to reducing emissions, alleviating traffic congestion, and promoting a healthier environment. We hope to build on this success and encourage our community to continue these sustainable practices for their school journeys.

We extend our thanks to all pupils, families, and staff who supported and participated in this initiative. See the pictures below of our Prep pupils taking part in this engaging and eco -friendly experience.

In the Headlines: Sustainability at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Did you know? The Paris 2024 Olympics aimed to be the most sustainable Games in history, targeting a 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.

Key Sustainable Initiatives:

• Circular Economy: 75% of the two million pieces of sports equipment were rented or loaned by sports federations.

• Pre- existing and Temporary Venues: 95% of the 35 competition venues were either preexisting or temporary, with the latter designed to reduce their impact on biodiversity.

• Sustainable Construction: New venues, such as the Aquatics Centre, were constructed using low- carbon methods, such as recycled materials and solar panels. This facility was strategically located in an area previously lacking in sports infrastructure and will continue to beneft local residents where half of 11-year- olds do not know how to swim.

• Renewable Energy: All competition venues were powered entirely by renewable energy.

• Food Sustainability: The 13 million meals served during the Olympic and Paralympic Games produced less than half the carbon emissions of the average French meal, with a focus on plant-based ingredients and locally sourced food.

• Waste Reduction: Unconsumed food was redistributed, composted, or transformed, and single -use plastic was halved as spectators were permitted to bring their own reusable bottles into all venues.

• Sustainable Transportation: Over 400km of new bike lanes were introduced, and all venues were accessible via public transport, with transport operators expanding standard bus, metro and train services by 15%.

These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to make the Paris 2024 Olympics a model for future events, emphasising environmental and social responsibility in Sport.

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!

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