Sustainability Newsle/er
February 2025
As winter begins to soften and the days grow longer, it is a perfect time to reflect on our sustainability journey and the positive strides we have made. In this month's Newsle?er, we are excited to share our latest achievements, highlight key initiatives from the past Half Term, and offer insights from our Sustainability Prefect on how we can all contribute to a greener future.
Green
Healthcare:
Insights from Our Sustainability Prefect
The healthcare sector is responsible for 5% of global emissions. Whilst this may initially seem modest, it is in fact, double the emissions produced by the aviation industry. In today's world, nearly every industry impacts the environment, and healthcare is no exception. The hidden ecological footprint of hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry often goes unnoticed, but it is an issue that must be urgently addressed. The primary challenges include waste, pollution and carbon footprint.
Waste and Pollution
• Pharmaceutical waste, including antibiotics, is frequently disposed of irresponsibly, ultimately contaminating rivers and lakes. This contributes to antimicrobial resistance and disrupts delicate ecosystems.
• Hospitals rely heavily on single -use plastics to maintain sterile environments, but these plastics often end up in landflls.
• Certain anaesthetic gases, such as desfurane, are potent greenhouse gases, with a global warming potential 2,500 times greater than carbon dioxide.
Carbon Footprint
• Hospitals are highly energy-intensive, requiring signifcant resources for heating, cooling, and operating specialised medical equipment.
• The production and transportation of pharmaceuticals contribute signifcantly to carbon dioxide emissions.
• In many regions, medical waste is incinerated, releasing large volumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The NHS's Commitment to Reducing Environmental Impact
As pollution related diseases, particularly respiratory conditions, continue to rise, it is imperative for the NHS to address its environmental footprint. While some forms of waste, such as surgical waste, are unavoidable, there remain numerous opportunities to pursue more sustainable healthcare practices.
The NHS has already made notable strides in this regard. Efforts include the construction of net-zero hospitals, the adoption of zero - emission transport vehicles, and a commitment to renewable energy sources. Additionally, the NHS is transitioning to the use of low carbon inhalers.
Sustainable healthcare is rapidly becoming a growing priority, with the goal of balancing environmental responsibility with the delivery of high- quality patient care. Through innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies, the future of healthcare will be both environmentally conscious and efficient.
Old Cheltonians Paving the Path to a Sustainable Future
Harry Symes-Thompson (OJ & L, 2012) Wild
Harry, a Cheltenham College Alumni who graduated in 2012, has always had a passion for sports and entrepreneurship. Following his time at College, Harry pursued a Business degree at the University of Bath, where he gained invaluable experience through two industrial placements. His frst placement, at HelloFresh, a rapidly expanding UK startup, provided him with valuable insights into the workings of a high- growth business. It was during this time that Harry became particularly attuned to emerging consumer trends, including sustainability, waste reduction, social media and ecommerce.
After completing his degree, Harry joined Google’s Digital Marketing Team, consulting high- growth companies across the UK . However, after two and a half years, he felt a strong desire to create something that would have a positive impact on both people and the planet. This led him to join the Founding Team of Wild in 2019, a company dedicated to tackling single -use plastics in personal care products.
Wild's mission is to transform bathroom products by offering sustainable alternatives to traditional deodorants. The company launched its refllable deodorant in 2020, featuring a durable aluminium case and compostable reflls. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Wild quickly established itself as the UK’s leading natural deodorant brand, acquiring over 300,000 customers and expanding into international markets and retail stores.
To date, Wild has saved 80 tonnes of disposable deodorants from landflls and planted over 400,000 trees as part of its Carbon O ffsetting Programme Harry’s journey from Cheltenham College to playing a key role in a sustainability driven company continues to inspire, as Wild works to lead the personal care industry toward a plasticfree, environmentally conscious future.
The Gift of Upcycling Christmas Cards
Did you know? Each year, approximately one billion Christmas cards are discarded, necessitating the harvesting of 33 million trees to produce the required paper. Currently, just one in four Christmas cards are recycled!
In the spirit of both sustainability and charitable giving, Cheltenham College and Prep are proud to have donated 1,243 Christmas cards to Cobalt Health, a local charity that provides essential diagnostic imaging services.
Rather than contributing to post-festive waste, these cards will be creatively upcycled into new designs, which will be sold in the following year to raise vital funds for their work. This initiative embodies Cheltenham College and Prep’s commitment to sustainability, providing a second life to items that would otherwise be discarded as single -use waste.
This donation is a meaningful step in our ongoing efforts to manage resources responsibly and reduce waste. It demonstrates how simple actions, such as reusing festive materials, can make a tangible difference to both our local community and the environment.
Flourishing Gardens and Grounds
Cheltenham College and Prep have recently installed Tawny Owl and Mandarin Duck nest boxes around the Prep Lake. These boxes aim to support and enhance local wildlife populations by providing safe, suitable nesting sites for these species.
The installation of these nest boxes is an important step in fostering a healthy, thriving ecosystem on our grounds. Tawny Owls, known for their distinctive hoots and silent fight, play a key role in controlling rodent populations, while Mandarin Ducks are a striking addition to our local birdlife. By providing these species with secure nesting environments, we not only help protect them but also contribute to the overall biodiversity of the area.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on these species, and will continue to explore further ways to integrate wildlife conservation into our
The Move to Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)
Since the start of the Spring Term, our Grounds Team has been diligently transitioning all dieselpowered machinery to operate on HVO. To date, 13 pieces of equipment have been converted, including machinery used for gardening, grounds maintenance, and generator lights for sporting events. Unlike conventional diesel, which is derived from fossil fuels such as crude oil, HVO is produced from renewable biomass sources, including vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste cooking oils.
Textiles Wearable Art Challenge
Our Textiles pupils are participating in the Upcycled Wearable Art Challenge, an exciting project that encourages creativity and sustainability. Hosted by renowned historical fantasy Costume Designer and Maker, Katie Taylor, the challenge invites pupils to explore the limitless potential of upcycling. The task is to create a wearable art piece using at least three upcycled garments, which will then be showcased in a Fashion Show at the Wilson Art Gallery in June.
Throughout the course, pupils are guided through various stages of the design process, including research, tailoring, garment construction, and the development of props and decorative elements. Central to the project is a strong focus on sustainability, with pupils being encouraged to consider the environmental impact of their design choices.
In January, College hosted the third session of the challenge, ‘Junk to Funk,’ which was attended by several schools in addition to our own pupils. This session focused on crafting decorative elements to enhance their garments, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Pupils were tasked with creating props and accessories using discarded materials, exploring how everyday waste could be transformed into innovative wearable art. This hands- on activity not only allowed pupils to explore their creativity but also highlighted the importance of reducing waste and rethinking the lifecycle of materials.
The fnal session, taking place in March, will involve the pupils refning their designs and adding fnishing touches. They will also have the opportunity to attend a make -up masterclass led by renowned hair and make -up artist, Tara Page. We are excited to see the pupils’ innovative runway looks and to celebrate their achievements in both design and sustainability.
Sustainable Catering: Ethical Sourcing
February marks a signifcant milestone for College as we embark on a new partnership with Waste Knot, an innovative organisation committed to reducing food waste and promoting ethical sourcing practices. Through this collaboration, we will be sourcing "wonky" vegetables directly from farmers' felds. This high- quality perfectly edible produce, often discarded due to appearance, will now be redistributed, preventing waste and ensuring they reach those who can make use of them. This initiative aligns with our commitment to fostering a more sustainable food system and complements our ongoing efforts to promote a circular economy on site, where resources are used efficiently and waste is minimised.
As a result of this partnership, Holroyd Howe, our Catering service provider, successfully rescued an impressive 4,270kg of vegetables in December alone! We are excited to launch this initiative at College this month, and look forward to keeping you informed on the progress.
In October, we hosted a blind taste test in which pupils had the opportunity to compare an awardwinning local ketchup with the well-known Heinz variety. The results were resounding, with the locally produced ketchup emerging as the clear favourite among participants.
Real Good Ketchup, crafted by a small local business, offers several notable advantages, including a reduction in additives and sugar content, and a commitment to sustainable farming practices. By choosing to support local producers, we not only minimise food miles but also contribute to the growth of local economies and reinforce our dedication to responsible sourcing.
Building on the positive response from the taste test, we are delighted to announce that, starting this month, Real Good Ketchup will be available alongside Heinz, offering our community a highquality, locally sourced alternative.
Team Up and Green Up
The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Environment Group is committed to enhancing the greenery within College’s indoor workspaces, fostering both environmental sustainability and improved wellbeing.
For just £2 per Term, staff members can subscribe to the initiative, with the funds allocated towards the purchase of new plants each year. This effort not only expands the plant life in our spaces but also contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide levels and the enhancement of air quality.
Pupils actively care for and maintain the plants on a weekly basis, ensuring their continued growth. Recently, the collection has been enriched with Aloe plants, with the aim for staff to sustain their subscriptions, growing the plant collection year on year and further promoting a greener, more sustainable environment at College.
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!