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The importance of engineering in building a sustainable future

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Institution news

In a year when strength and resilience have been tested to the extreme, engineers and businesses have shown that outstanding results can be achieved if they work together.

It is critical, however, that this new-found spirit of unity is harnessed for the long term, seeking to find solutions to some of society's critical issues and a circular economy that has scope for all.

Dr Helen Meese CEng MIMechE explains: "When engineers are given the opportunity to develop sustainable solutions to global challenges, the results are outstanding, and yet too often engineers are excluded from the vital conversations where decisions are made."

Sustainable engineering principles, when considered at an early stage, can make a huge impact on the society, but also save time, money and future proof businesses' value chain by minimising the threats and maximising the opportunities of this new changing world. The key is finding a balance between the three dimensions of sustainability: the economic, the social and the environmental. How do you integrate these three dimensions without trading them off?

UNESCO defines sustainable engineering as the process of using resources in a way that does not compromise the environment or deplete what is available for future generations. Sustainable engineering requires an interdisciplinary approach in all aspects of engineering, and it should not be designated as a sole responsibility of environmental engineering. All engineering fields should incorporate sustainability into their practice in order to improve the quality of life for all.

"Sustainable design is no longer simply focused on reduce, recycle and re-use or repurpose. Today, sustainable design is about adding value, designing products that bring societal benefits and solving environmental challenges that are also viable for businesses to implement. Engineers must have the mindset to develop innovative solutions" Dr Meese clarifies.

Want to know more? Join Angela Hobbs and Dr Helen Meese for the Engineering a sustainable future webinar ( watch the recording) and subsequent training course Implementing sustainable engineering, from February 2021, where they will share examples of engineering achievements and the stories behind the partnerships and collaborations that are creating sustainable impacts on a global scale, as well as their experiences of what can happen when business and engineering converge.

During the training course, Helen and Angela will also explore ground-breaking methodologies and how to implement them to solve problems and create innovative strategies across diverse industries and challenges.

Learn more

Engineering a sustainable future
Free webinar - Watch the recording

Implementing sustainable engineering
Virtual course - Running from February 2021
Launch promotion: Bring a colleague for free
Find out more

Meet the trainers

Dr Helen Meese

Helen is a chartered mechanical engineer with over 20 years' experience in academia and industry and is passionate about the contribution that her fellow engineers bring to our economy for the long-term future of society. She helps create resilient businesses with compelling products that will change people's lives.

Angela Hobbs

Angela completed her MSc in Sustainable Business in 2009 and is committed to the essential need for sustainability to be embedded at the core of every business, from the micro to the macro. She supports dynamic start-ups and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable innovations and bring them to market.

For more information, please contact our Learning and Development Team at training@imeche.org or on + 44 (0)20 7304 6907.

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The importance of engineering in building a sustainable future

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Institution news In a year when strength and resilience have been tested to the extreme, engineers and businesses have shown that outstanding results can be achieved if they work together. It is critical, however, that this new-found spirit of unity is harnessed for the long term, seeking to find solutions to some of society's critical issues and a circular economy that has scope for all.

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For the Volkswagen Group, sustainability means pursuing economic, social and ecological objectives simultaneously and with equal energy.

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BMW: promoting sustainability and responsibility for the environment | BMW.com

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How does this sound?

You can also listen to this article via Changing Lanes, the official BMW podcast.

Apart from this and other narrated articles, Changing Lanes offers you fresh new episodes every week, packed with exclusive insights on tech, lifestyle, design, cars, and more - brought to you by hosts Nicki and Jonathan.

Find and subscribe to Changing Lanes on all major podcasting platforms.

This statement made by the company's CEO is the benchmark against which BMW can be measured - and the firm foundation on which it can build. For decades now the company has been setting itself consistently sustainable standards. Nowadays it focuses on cutting CO2 emissions and raising its resource efficiency.
BMW is active in numerous fields. Zipse emphasizes that BMW is pursuing holistic sustainability in the way it thinks and acts. "This focus is anchored in all our departments - from administration and purchasing to development and production through to distribution," says Zipse. Continual improvement is the principle that guides us.

Using clear targets to shape the mobility of the future

The Group insists on transparency for its targets, which have all been clearly communicated for the period from now until 2030. They include:

Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced based on sound scientific CO2 savings plans.

Seven million electrified vehicles are slated to be brought to market.

Building sustainable cars means that the CO2 emissions for each vehicle need to be reduced by at least one third over the entire lifecycle of the car.

CO2 emissions at production of BMW facilities are to be lowered by 80 percent globally.

The circular economy serves as the gold standard on how to deal with resources.

BMW also intends to have the most sustainable supply chain in the entire sector.

One of BMW corporate objectives is to create an integrated report in which it transparently describes both how sustainable the BMW company is as well as the implementation of its ambitious goals. "We are making the independent testing of our sustainable activities even more stringent than before. Because credibility comes with transparency," explains Zipse. And Dr. Nicolas Peter, member of the BMW Board of Management, adds that "the figures for our sustainable actions are given the same importance as our financial figures."

E-mobility is the foundation

A key part of the BMW sustainability strategy is the expansion of the range of EVs on offer (➜ Read more: 10 years of BMW i). As the number of electric vehicles increases, CO2 emissions will decrease. Starting in 2023, the BMW Group will have about a dozen fully electric models on the road (➜ Read more: Electric cars explained). "We are looking to aggressively expand our fully electric range so they do not remain a niche segment," Zipse clarifies. This group also includes cars that operate using hydrogen technology and fuel cells (➜ Read more: How hydrogen fuel cell cars work). Soon we will be coming out with a small-scale production of the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT.
Not only are the cars manufactured by BMW electric, but the cars used in the production of EVs also run on electricity. At the BMW factory in Landshut, over 500 logistics and production vehicles as well as the transport system operate using electricity: everything from the tow trucks and sweepers to forklifts and electrified trucks.

The greenest electric vehicle in the world will be a BMW - and the boldest company will be the BMW Group.

Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG

Sustainable materials: for nature and humans

BMW defines sustainability as doing what is right for both nature and humans. The company places great value on ensuring that raw materials for manufacturing are not only environmentally sourced, but also socially and ethically responsible (➜ Read more: Sustainable materials at BMW). The priorities when purchasing eco-friendly materials can be summed up as follows: compliance with environmental and social standards as well as human rights, protecting natural resources, and reducing CO2 emissions in the supply chain.
The chain does not begin with production at the BMW Group factory, but rather with the sourcing of raw materials. The carmaker insists that the highest environmental, social and governance standards are used in responsible sourcing. Cobalt is one such example since it is an extremely important component used in the production of batteries. BMW has set up an industry-wide initiative called "Cobalt for Development" which is engaged in establishing responsible mining practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This includes the management of mining locations and compliance with laws, human rights, health and safety, as well as environmental management. With its involvement in ResponsibleSteel, BMW also respects sustainability rules which form part of the environmental and social standards along the entire value chain, starting with the mines.

Green electricity and other renewable energies: the sustainable supply chain

From cobalt to electricity - BMW intends to use only materials that are produced using regenerative sources of electricity, i.e. a sustainable supply chain. Since manufacturing aluminum is very energy-intensive, using green electricity has enormous potential when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions. Aluminum that is made using solar energy covers nearly one half of the annual requirement of the light metal foundry at the factory in Landshut.
In its production of the electric BMW iX and BMW i4 (➜ Read more: How to charge an EV), BMW uses water power, the local green energy, in its factories in Dingolfing and Munich. At its Leipzig factory, wind power helps cover the need for electricity, and at the San Luis Potosí factory in Mexico, solar panels help power production. "In the future, all of our factories and locations will be completely climate neutral," states Zipse.

Recycling so nothing goes to waste

The keyword here is closed loop materials, but recycling obviously forms part of the plan to conserve resources. BMW aims to create a closed and sustainable loop for the recyclable materials used in battery cells (➜ Read more: Material cycle of a battery cell). This means, for example, that in the future lithium-ion battery cells should form part of a value chain that is as closed as possible: from the selection of sustainable materials to the components of the battery cells through to production and recycling.
Other materials will use the same approach as well. BMW also recycles the steel it uses. All steel waste, such as the leftovers from the press shop where doors are cut from metal blanks, is either used again in the direct material loop or is sent back via the steel trade to the steel producers, where it can be made into new steel. BMW is also working with its partners on a CO2-free steel production process. This process should make it possible for the BMW Group to cut its CO2 emissions in the steel supply chain by some two million tons lower than today's level by 2030.

Sustainable development: BMW in the peanut business

Big things begin with small things. A perfect example of this is the peanuts being grown by the battery center at BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) in China. But what do peanuts have to do with the sustainability of a carmaker? BMW employees plant the peanuts in the unused spaces around the factory because the climate there is perfect for them. The income earned from the crops is used to fund social infrastructure projects. Sustainability also begins with small steps (➜ Read more: The best upcycling ideas).
BMW has firmly embedded into its strategy ecological and social sustainability along the entire value chain. The company is doing its best to consistently offer its clients environmentally conscious products, and is dedicated to becoming carbon neutral through sustainable production. From its clear requirements for suppliers, to producing its own electricity, from upholding the highest social standards to promoting infrastructure projects, and from manufacturing green cars to growing peanuts: BMW is committed to an approach based on consistent sustainability.

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BMW: promoting sustainability and responsibility for the environment | BMW.com

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You can also listen to this article via Changing Lanes, the official BMW podcast. Apart from this and other narrated articles, Changing Lanes offers you fresh new episodes every week, packed with exclusive insights on tech, lifestyle, design, cars, and more - brought to you by hosts Nicki and Jonathan.

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We believe businesses should play an important role in helping to solve some of the most pressing social, environmental and governance challenges the world faces.

And we are committed to offering products and services that are safe to individuals, created with respect and care for people and care of the planet’s resources.

OUR VISION

Our ambition is to take part in the eco-ethical journey in a meaningful way, helping our hair and nail professionals as well as our consumers be more sustainable when they use our products.

With the creation of our new standalone entity we are working on establishing our new baselines and setting a series of tangible commitments towards 2030 that covers our business and value chain. This includes innovation, packaging, sourcing, manufacturing, transport and consumer use. We are aiming to communicate our new sustainability strategy and targets in the coming months.

TODAY

We are already making progress, as illustrated by the following examples.

We  are starting from a solid environmental base from Coty’s Beauty That Lasts approach: all of our factories and distribution centers use 100% renewable electricity; all factories have energy reduction plans in place ; our factories and distribution centers are close to achieving zero waste to landfill and are working on reducing overall volume of waste as well as the recycling rate. Examples of environmental innovation include, our largest European Distribution Center in Weiderstadt, replacing all plastic parcel void fill materials with 100% recycled paper, which reduced the materials consumed and transported plastic by 46 tonnes  per year.

In August 2018 we launched our new eco-ethical activist professional hair care line weDo/ Professional. Our ambition is to continuously leverage and expand the efforts and learnings generated behind this new range to further improve the sustainability footprint of our entire professional portfolio.

We created and launched a salon sustainable operations online training in Spring 2020, with free and unlimited access to all hairdressers.

And more to come soon with the majority of the Wella color portfolio* using 100% recycled aluminum which avoids using 723 tons of virgin aluminum per year.**

(*incl. Koleston Perfect, Illumina, Color Touch and others) and all regions except ASIA
(**vs sourcing virgin aluminum)

READ ALSO

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We believe businesses should play an important role in helping to solve some of the most pressing social, environmental and governance challenges the world faces.

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Since M·A·C was founded, we have stood for something simple:
All Ages, All Races, All Genders.

Our purpose goes beyond the products we develop to the communities we serve and the planet we live in. Join us in our ambition to drive impact, promote acceptance and inspire change toward a better future.

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Since M·A·C was founded, we have stood for something simple:All Ages, All Races, All Genders. Our purpose goes beyond the products we develop to the communities we serve and the planet we live in. Join us in our ambition to drive impact, promote acceptance and inspire change toward a better future.

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Outstanding fuel economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our products: they're key objectives that represent a fundamental part of our business.

They're very much part of our corporate responsibility policy, too. So we're always researching, evaluating and developing initiatives that create value; value that's consistent with the long-term preservation and enhancement of environmental, social and financial capital.

To define these actions and incorporate many other programs, we established our 'Blueprint for Sustainability.'

A plan and a mission statement
This Blueprint encapsulates our sustainability strategy as a whole, reflecting the fact that sustainability issues are part of a complex system that interconnects our products, plants, people and the communities in which we operate.

As well as being the right thing to do, sustainability is a core part of Ford's business strategy. With smart and sustainable manufacturing solutions and an exciting range of technologically advanced, fuel-efficient vehicles, we're creating foundations that will ensure our long-term success in Europe.

Our public reporting has been an important part of our commitment to transparency and has helped to drive progress in our company and across the industry. For further information please access our corporate Sustainability Report.

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Outstanding fuel economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our products: they're key objectives that represent a fundamental part of our business. They're very much part of our corporate responsibility policy, too. So we're always researching, evaluating and developing initiatives that create value; value that's consistent with the long-term preservation and enhancement of environmental, social and financial capital.

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Introduction

Sustainability is a very broad subject. Positive behaviour change to promote and enable good health and wellbeing, embed gender equality and strengthen local resources and the capacity to reduce inequalities is at the core of the work of Sport England and our partners.

This information considers some of the principles to apply to effectively respond to climate change, create sustainable communities and drive industry innovation across the sector. Sustainability plays a key role in the design and management of sports recreation and leisure facilities. Promoting sustainability can help you drive down running costs and make a real contribution in the battle against climate change.

We encourage you to embrace environmental sustainability from the very start of your project and to treat it as a vital consideration throughout.

The government declared a climate emergency in 2019, setting a net-zero carbon target by 2050.

Climate change, and the risks of extreme weather that it brings, are already understood and the impact on community-based sport is very real.

The need to raise awareness, find solutions and build in resilience are an ever more pressing matter.

We know sport and physical activity is essential to physical and mental wellbeing, and part of encouraging and enabling physical activity is about making positive choices - choosing to get around without using polluting vehicles, making neighbourhoods more easily negotiated on foot or by bike and connecting neighbourhoods to where we need to get to and from.

There's a keen interest and awareness about environmental sustainability across the sector and a willingness to promote change where needed.

Everyone understands there's much more to be done, from the management of major events, sustainable travel policies and selection and use of recyclable materials, to the creation and operation of energy and resource-hungry facilities.

Sports organisations should continue to lead by example, take a critical look at how we operate, quantify and record consumption and waste, and set challenging targets to reduce or eliminate it.

Responding to climate change is not an easy task but there's no choice here. The sport and physical activity sector is a force for good and has a major contribution to make.

Environmental sustainability and Active Design

Applying 'active design' principles to where we live, work and play, and encouraging more active lifestyles will be a major contribution to a carbon-free future.

Walking, running and cycling are some of the easiest ways for people to stay active and the benefits of walkable communities are recognised and well established in planning and design literature.

Local facilities such as shops, schools and open spaces bring residents together, reinforce communities and reduce reliance on private transport. However, the potential for walking and cycling is affected by distance, the nature and quality of a route and important perceptions of safety and security.

When walking and cycling are prioritised over other modes of transport though, they provide the greatest opportunity for people to be physically active in their day to day lives - with connected walking and cycling routes support higher rates of active travel. Routes should be direct, easy to navigate and integrated as part of a wider network.

This integration is made possible by 'active environments' - a coordinated and holistic approach to the design and operation of streets, neighbourhoods and public open spaces which are promoted and supported by the policies, standards and planning of the infrastructure of where we live and work.

We've produced guidance documents that help incorporate physical activity into design and demonstrate facility interventions that can encourage people to engage in physical activities. Options range from simple low-cost alterations and adaptations to the local landscape or re-use of facilities that are under used, to more ambitious new build projects.
Find out more about Active Design

Environmental sustainability and sports facilities

It's important to consider the practical measures helping to make sports facilities more comfortable, make more efficient use of energy and other resources and help change attitudes and behaviours.

Environmental sustainability involves a wide range of issues and is best considered in a holistic and joined-up way from the outset of a project.

It's important to consider the whole picture. Sometimes there's resistance to implementing sustainable building designs because they're initially considered more expensive and sustainable design is often the first casualty when savings are made.

Any decisions should be made on the basis of an analysis of the total cost over the life of the project and take into account not just the initial purchase and installation but also the running and maintenance costs.

It's important to weigh up the pros and cons and long term implications of the use of new and different technologies in order to decide what may be most suitable in a particular situation.

The diagram below indicates a possible framework for developing a robust strategy for any facility.

This downloadable checklist below highlights key environmental sustainability principles to consider through the a project development process, from inception through to day-to-day operation of the completed facility.

Topics include site selection, transport plan, site layout, facility design, construction elements, monitoring and evaluation specifications, energy recovery and conservation methods.

A range of facilities for sport, recreation and leisure are included from indoor swimming pools and fitness centres to outdoor tracks and pitches.

We've also compiled two case studies to give examples of how environmental sustainability can be incorporated into the design of sports facilities.

Dealing with droughts

The weather has a huge impact on sport - particularly on natural pitches and playing fields.

We've seen climate change disrupt our traditional weather patterns, so we've worked with Cranfield University and a number of national governing bodies (NGBs) of pitch-based sports to:

Understand the potential impact on sport of long-term climate change

Identify the sports and locations which will experience the greatest impact

Consider how sport can adapt and ease against the negative impact

Develop guidance to help clubs manage the short- and long-term challenges.

Our Drought Report sets out preventative measures you can take if your project is affected by droughts and covers the importance of good club/facility management, how a hosepipe ban can affect your turf and alternative methods to minimise the effects of drought.

Floods

Floods can have a devastating impact on sports clubs and cause significant damage to changing and social facilities, as well as to sports pitches.

This includes damage to buildings and machinery on sports club facilities, as well as depositing harmful sediment and waste on pitches. While floods of such magnitude are relatively rare, there are many clubs that are affected by more regular flooding, such as on the far corner of a playing field or in the grounds shed.

You can take a number of preventative measures to help reduce the risk of flood damage and lessen its impact when it occurs.

We've also answered the most frequently asked drought-related questions we've received from a variety of sports clubs about. Alongside this, you can find a Drought Advice Note for Clubs note on how to deal with water usage restrictions and how to use water more efficiently to maintain pitches and courts alike.

Guidance and information

Working with a number of NGBs (The Football Association, Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League, ECB, Lawn Tennis Association and England Hockey), we've produced a set of information sheets and a template to help clubs and facility managers find out whether their facilities are at risk of flooding and what to do in the event of a flooding.

If facilities are at risk, the templates will help clubs and facility managers develop a flood plan and other strategies that will help reduce the impact of flooding.

We have the following guidance:

You can access other relevant information by visiting the following websites:

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Sustainability is a very broad subject. Positive behaviour change to promote and enable good health and wellbeing, embed gender equality and strengthen local resources and the capacity to reduce inequalities is at the core of the work of Sport England and our partners.

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For non-urgent police enquiries call 101 or in an emergency always call 999

Date published: 07 March 2022 18:42

Our Sustainability Strategy was developed with inputs from individuals and teams from across the force.

It outlines our commitments to sustainability as well as setting out exactly how we are intending to meet our ambitious targets.

Links are made to global Sustainable Development Goals as well as priorities that relate directly to the communities we serve.

Successful delivery of the Sustainability Strategy will involve contributions from across the force, so it is important we provide clear direction about how we will implement consistently and report on progress. We will publish an annual sustainability report to highlight our progress and celebrate achievements.

The strategy can be downloaded here.

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Our Sustainability Strategy was developed with inputs from individuals and teams from across the force. It outlines our commitments to sustainability as well as setting out exactly how we are intending to meet our ambitious targets. Links are made to global Sustainable Development Goals as well as priorities that relate directly to the communities we serve.

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What Is Sustainability in Business? | HBS Online

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What Is Sustainability in Business? | HBS Online

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Learn about sustainability and how to create a sustainable business strategy. Here are four steps to transform your business purpose into profit.

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How we're supporting practitioners to embed sustainability into early years

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How we're supporting practitioners to embed sustainability into early years | NCFE

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As we launch our new early childhood education for sustainability resource, Janet King, our Sector Manager for Education and Childcare, explains why it's vital to embed education for sustainability into all aspects of early childhood, and how our resource will support practitioners, students and parents to do so.
Given the urgency of the climate change issue and the need for a nationwide and cross-generational approach, the teaching and practicing of sustainability must start as soon as learning begins, with early childhood.

Children need to be aware of how they are interconnected within a wider ecological context, and that actions have an impact. They must not be framed as "saviours" of the planet, but rather as being a vital part of a wider picture. Research shows that fundamental values and attitudes are formed at this time, so it's important to lay the foundations then. Early years settings are primed for educating children on sustainability and there are several easy steps that can be taken to promote awareness and create lifelong habits.

Teaching sustainability

Beyond the environmental benefits of teaching children about sustainability from a young age, learning about it helps children to make sense of the world around them, exploring the "what if" and "how". Children then begin to connect with and develop a passion for the environment, for nature and their relationship with it, as well as understanding the criticality of sustainability.

Alongside teaching sustainability practices, spending time immersed in nature can have a positive impact on young children, enabling them to visualise the environment that they are trying to protect. Through education on trees, plants and wildlife, early years settings can make sustainability a central part of children's thinking.

Creating a garden that the children can have an active role in provides them with an authentic ecological opportunity. It is really important for young children to participate in gardening in order to promote sustainable food consumption. It shows them that they are fully capable of growing their own produce in a sustainable way.

Another option to help develop awareness in young children is to visit a local farm. It is more crucial than ever for children to have an understanding of where their food comes from, and visiting a farm encourages them to actively think about what it is they eat. Events such as National Outdoor Week (12 - 20 March), National Insect Week (20 - 26 June) and National Tree Week (25 November - 3 December) can be used as inspiration for teaching children about nature.

Practicing sustainability

In addition to what we're teaching children, early years organisations need to be putting sustainability practices into place in their own settings. Once again, this can be done through relatively easy steps that are often employed in the home but not necessarily in the workplace. As a prime example, if early years settings attempt to reduce the individual packaging on items, for example by using reusable lunch boxes, their levels of waste going to landfill will be significantly reduced.

Similarly, while nappies play an important role in early childhood, unfortunately they also play a key role in polluting the planet. Every day, 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK, accounting for 3 percent of all household waste. Early years settings are well placed to tackle this. Alternative methods include switching to reusable cloth or biodegradable nappies, or at least raising awareness of such products.

Through their proximity to children and their families, the early years sector is in a great position to influence future generations on their approach to sustainability, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of the industry as a whole, and so much is happening already.

Implementing best practice across the sector

Beyond the day-to-day things that providers can be doing to increase awareness and action around sustainability, there also needs to be more action on a broader, sector-wide scale to generate long-term and embedded change.

At NCFE, one of our priorities is supporting early years providers to incorporate sustainability in their practices. This is in line with the Birth to Five Matters 2021 guidance developed by early years professionals to support the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five years old.

We're delighted to have worked with Dr Diane Boyd of Liverpool John Moores University to develop a resource that embeds sustainability and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) into early years experiences for young children . This will support practitioners, students, and parents to learn more about our responsibilities to each other and the world in which we live.

The resource provides an opportunity to embed education for sustainability into all aspects of early childhood, from level 2 to level 7 and will be accessible across the early years and childcare suite of qualifications. It aims to support practitioners working directly with young children; students during their training; and parents with young children. This holistic approach to entrenching sustainability into early years education will help to secure long-term impact.

Through providing innovative, yet simple and straightforward ideas, practitioners will more easily be able to make sustainability a central part of their practice.

A holistic approach

Overall, it's clear that we need to be tackling the issue of sustainability across many different facets of the early years sector. From how providers tackle sustainability on a practical level, to teaching and learning and resources, it's through bringing everything together that we'll see tangible results. This is an exciting time for early years to be at the forefront of a pressing issue for the education sector, and providers and practitioners should think about how they use the ongoing discussions and ideas to strengthen their provision.
For more information, you can listen to a recording of our webinar hosted on 8 December 2021, where we discussed more about STEM and sustainability in the early years.

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How we're supporting practitioners to embed sustainability into early years

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NCFE's Sector Manager for Education and Childcare explains how our new early childhood education for sustainability resource will help practitioners to make sustainability a central part of their practice.

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We've been working on our sustainability agenda since 2017, when we committed to a company-wide Sustainability Plan. You can see some of our results from this period in our sustainability annual reports.

In 2017, we determined that our baseline year should be 2013/14 for reporting purposes, and so from that year until 2021 we have reduced our:

carbon footprint by 65%

overall travel by 99%

water usage by 52%

paper usage by 97%

These fantastic numbers can be attributed in part to our move to remote working during the pandemic from 2020 onwards. Therefore, for the next reporting period of 2021/22 the Sustainability Programme has challenged itself to develop a methodology to calculate the 'real' impact of remote/hybrid working by measuring what is missing from the data above such as home heating and electricity usage.

We have already started on the path to embedding sustainability into our digital initiatives. Our digital sustainability case studies provide detail on:

NHS Digital Call/Recall COVID-19 Vaccinations Programme

Provision of MS Teams to the NHS

NHSmail for care homes

NHS App

National Booking Service (NBS) - Book a Coronavirus Vaccination

Find my NHS Number

As we continue on our sustainability journey, we will focus on how NHS Digital can further embed sustainability across the organisation, from its digital services to its supply chain, and the important role we can play in enabling the health and care sector to achieve their sustainability goals.

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Across NHS Digital, we share a commitment to working sustainably. Find out about the steps we're taking to reduce our impact and how we're performing against our targets. NHS Digital is committed to doing business sustainably and reducing our carbon footprint.

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NHS Supply Chain Sustainability Strategy- Delivering Health Sustainably

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Becoming the world's first carbon net zero national health system by 2045, and 2040 for the emissions we control directly. This will require big changes for the NHS and for NHS Supply Chain. So, what will a greener NHS look like and how can NHS Supply Chain support trusts to deliver on this ambition?

Our Strategy - Delivering Health Sustainably

To drive better health outcomes and create economic, social and environmental value for our stakeholders, NHS Supply Chain is committed to leveraging the strength of its people and operations to deliver health sustainably.
At the heart of our strategy are four strategic pillars: Celebrating our collaborative catering and consumable sustainability successes

Watch this short video - To see how we have worked in partnership with the NHS to achieve our sustainability goals in these areas.

We have developed tools and opportunities to help drive a greener, fairer and more equitable health system. Examples include working towards the elimination of modern slavery within our supply chain by utilising a new government-backed risk portal (NQC) that identifies and manages suppliers, embeds compliance, and builds resilience. We also have sustainable solutions in place that are working towards the development and delivery of a more circular economy by reducing single-use plastics (SUP) and increasing the reuse and recycling of medical devices.

Our Latest Sustainability News

NHS Supply Chain has a unique role to play in helping the NHS achieve the ambitious 2045 target. Here you can keep up to date with the latest news articles and case studies that support our strategy of Delivering Health Sustainably.

Sustainable Solutions for the NHS

Our compliant frameworks are aligned with NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) priority areas including remanufactured products, a wealth of recyclable products and food and nutrition. Here are a few frameworks you can start utilising today.

Downloads ▼

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NHS Supply Chain Sustainability Strategy- Delivering Health Sustainably

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Becoming the world's first carbon net zero national health system by 2045, and 2040 for the emissions we control directly. This will require big changes for the NHS and for NHS Supply Chain. So, what will a greener NHS look like and how can NHS Supply Chain support trusts to deliver on this ambition?

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Education for sustainable development (ESD) - The Education and Training Foundation

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Education for sustainable development (ESD) - The Education and Training Foundation

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Supporting quality education for sustainable development (ESD) through excellence in leadership, teaching and learning for the further education (FE) and training sector #ESDinFE

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https://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/sorted_guide_to_sustainability_in_further_educa

https://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/1_sustainability_in_fe

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Hughes Media Internet +44 (0) 1886 85 33 85 www.hughesmedia.co.uk

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The EAUC is the sustainability champion for universities and colleges in the UK.

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Workforce sustainability in further and higher education

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Workforce sustainability in further and higher education

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"Further education and higher education have an important role in future proofing UK PLC," says Tilden Watson, Head of Education for Zurich Municipal. The nation's skills base needs to be relevant and future-proofed. Universities and colleges can provide the training the national workforce needs to improve productivity, compete internationally, support industry and grow the economy.

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Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children's services systems

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A strategy for the education and children’s services systems

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Scope and purpose

This strategy applies to:

the Department for Education (DfE), its agencies and public bodies

the education and children's services systems in England - including:

early years

schools (and independent schools where applicable)

further education

higher education

children's social care

DfE has an important role to play in all aspects of sustainability. But the area in which we have the most work to do is reducing our environmental footprint, particularly in the drive to achieve net zero.

While the policies set out here are focussed on the environmental aspect of sustainability, this is done with consideration for how those policies will interact with the social and economic aspects of sustainability.

The UK government and the devolved governments (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) are committed to climate action, and we will work together in our international action. The targets and strategic aims set out relate to England.

It brings together short, medium and longer-term actions that will enable us to make progress towards achieving our 4 strategic aims and overarching vision. It is a strategy to 2030.

Action will be reviewed and updated annually to respond to new opportunities, scientific updates, evidence and data.

This strategy has been informed by:

Foreword
Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Nadhim Zahawi MP
Since spring of 2020, the British education system faced its most challenging period for generations: sustaining learning through a pandemic. The whole sector met this challenge with great resilience. Now, the UK must show the rest of the world how our education system can transition out of the pandemic and, in doing so, face the even greater environmental challenge ahead of us, by Building Back Greener.

We have promised to level up the country, to boost economic growth, encourage innovation, create good jobs and enhance educational attainment so all may share equally in our nation's success. To achieve this in a world influenced by the effects of climate change, we must level up within a context of sustainability, giving all children, young people and adults the knowledge and skills to thrive in the green economy and to help restore nature.

The challenge of climate change is formidable. For children and young people to meet it with determination, and not with despair, we must offer them not just truth, but also hope. Learners need to know the truth about climate change - through knowledge-rich education. They must also be given the hope that they can be agents of change, through hands-on activity and, as they progress, through guidance and programmes allowing them to pursue a green career pathway in their chosen field.

I would like to thank the large number of people that have worked with us in developing this strategy. The feedback from young people, educators, academics, leaders, governing bodies and experts has been invaluable in shaping this first step on our journey. By continuing to work together in the delivery of the strategy we will seek further opportunities to build on the action set out and update on shared progress annually.

I am confident that together we will support net zero through skills and decarbonisation; play a significant part in nature's recovery; build an education system resilient to climate change; and, provide the truth and hope that young people need to flourish in our changing world.

Context

The UK requires the education sector to play its role in positively responding to climate change and inspiring action on an international stage. This strategy sets out ambitious activity to respond to recommendations for education from the:

It supports the delivery of the government's 25 Year Environment Plan and Net Zero Strategy. It includes how we will meet legislative requirements and work in the context of:

the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO's 'Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030' which set out the key role of education in the successful achievement of the goals

the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact, which are important steps towards keeping the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius alive

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) which includes taking action to empower society to engage in education and training

the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) ensures the needs and views of children are taken into account in the development of climate change policies

the UK Climate Change Act (2008) and National Adaptation Programme (NAP), which include action for education in adapting to climate change and require progress reporting against priority risks

UK government legislation to meet net zero by 2050 - the UK is the first country to set legally binding carbon budgets, placing a restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a 5-year period. In the latest, Carbon Budget 6, the UK legislated to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels

the Environment Act (2021) reflects the need to tackle climate change through nature-based solutions - following the close of the targets consultation in May 2022, government will set statutory targets for air quality, biodiversity, water, resource efficiency and waste reduction, and a new target to reverse the decline in species abundance by the end of 2030, while the act also strengthens the biodiversity duty on public authorities, including the Department for Education

the cross-government 25 Year Environment Plan, which commits to encouraging children to be close to nature both in and out of school

The challenge and the opportunity

Children and young people are worried about climate change and want to know more about:

the impact it is having now

how it will impact their future lives

DfE and the education sector have a joint responsibility for preparing children and young people for the challenges and opportunities they will face - with the appropriate knowledge, skills and pastoral care.

Education

Through education we have the privilege to be able to engage directly with children and young people who:

Through their learned and lived experiences from early years to further and higher education, we will provide opportunities to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the importance of nature, sustainability and the causes and impact of climate change and to translate this knowledge into positive action and solutions.

In the UK, there are more than 16 million children, young people and adults in education. The enthusiasm of youth can inspire the whole of society to work together at the start of this crucial decade for the planet.

Green skills and jobs

Green jobs will not be niche. We anticipate that sustainability and climate change will touch every career.

The UK government's Net Zero Strategy will support the transition to net zero and 190,000 jobs by the middle of the 2020s and up to 440,000 jobs in 2030. The increased investment and legislation for nature's recovery driven by the Environment Act will also create many green jobs in the nature sector. Our programmes will provide the opportunity for people of all ages to train, retrain or upskill to go into green careers.

Learning from and connecting with nature

The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review states that 'connection with nature declines in childhood to an overall low in the mid-teens. Creating an environment from an early age where we are able to connect to nature is essential for self-enforcement in protecting and valuing nature'.

We will increase opportunities for all children and young people to:

spend time in nature and learn more about it

become actively involved in the improvement of their local environment

We know that regular contact with green spaces can have a beneficial impact on children's physical and mental health. However, access to green space is not equal and we must do more to ensure that all children have opportunities to benefit from access to green space and build connections with nature.

Buildings

Climate adaptation and decarbonisation activity in nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and care buildings can provide powerful learning opportunities. Young people can:

Seeing sustainability brought to life in the buildings around them will allow children and young people to gain experiences which will enhance and contextualise their learning.

Leading by example: cutting energy bills and carbon emissions in the public and higher education sectors shows that schools and universities represent 36% of total UK public sector building emissions.

Costs are also significant and rising. Data sources and interpretation - schools financial benchmarking shows that in 2019 schools alone were spending around £630m per annum on energy and we expect today's figure to be far greater. To reduce energy usage and achieve legal targets for carbon emissions we need to:

get a better understanding of the scale of the problem across the sectors through standardised reporting

drive action based on evidence

Adapting existing buildings and designing new ones to respond to climate change and reduce emissions will undoubtedly be a significant challenge.

By developing and delivering evidence-based solutions for decarbonisation and climate resilience we will:

reduce energy demand

adapt to climate risks

drive innovation in construction

act as a catalyst for green jobs

deliver savings

We will also drive a wide range of additional benefits that will contribute to a vibrant and resilient education community, including:

International

Through learning from others and sharing our own expertise internationally, we will be more effective and innovative. Sustainability and climate change are global problems which require collective efforts and evidence-based solutions.

Vision and aims

Vision: the United Kingdom is the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.

In England, we will achieve this through the following strategic aims:

1. Excellence in education and skills for a changing world: preparing all young people for a world impacted by climate change through learning and practical experience.

2. Net zero: reducing direct and indirect emissions from education and care buildings, driving innovation to meet legislative targets and providing opportunities for children and young people to engage practically in the transition to net zero.

3. Resilience to climate change: adapting our education and care buildings and system to prepare for the effects of climate change.

4. A better environment for future generations: enhancing biodiversity, improving air quality and increasing access to, and connection with, nature in and around education and care settings.

Guiding principles

Partnership and collaboration

Success depends on DfE and stakeholders from across the sectors working together.

We know there are many organisations working to improve sustainability and mitigate against climate change, so we will seek opportunities to:

work with others who share our objectives

extend and amplify existing good practice and initiatives

We will also facilitate partnership across the sectors to maximise the use of resources, expertise and ideas to achieve more effective outcomes.

Evidence and insight

Evidence will be at the heart of our activity. By 2023 we will develop and publish a framework to evaluate the impacts of the actions set out within the strategy.

We will also work with the sectors to develop reporting frameworks and processes to ensure strategic decisions can be taken at every level. While mandatory reporting is not currently set out within the strategy, this decision will be kept under regular review. The decision to mandate is subject to uptake and legislative reporting requirements in line with government's Net Zero Strategy.

We will work together to set science-based targets from 2025, ensuring we play our part in reducing public-sector emissions against a 2017 baseline by:

50% by the end of Carbon Budget 5 (2032)

75% by the end of Carbon Budget 6 (2037)

There are many opportunities to improve sustainability and impact climate change. Ensuring we learn before we leap, we will work across the sector to research, test and pilot with:

As our evidence base for what works grows, we will prioritise funding where it will have greatest impact.

Leadership and support

Sector representatives have called on DfE to provide greater leadership in sustainability. We will work across government and intervene where we add value (for example through sector-wide data gathering, reporting, funding and guidance). Wherever possible we will facilitate autonomy and foster innovation.

Sector leadership and institution-level accountability for sustainability will be key for success. We will continually seek opportunities to share best practice and provide support for those leading at a local level.

A whole system approach

Together we will make the greatest impact. We will adopt a systems-based approach and ensure our initiatives are delivered via action areas to deliver outcomes for the education system, rather than focussing on specific age or sectors.

By taking a holistic view of education (from formal and extracurricular learning opportunities, the physical buildings and surroundings, to the way in which they operate) we will positively improve the environment. At the same time we will influence and inspire, not only those that use the settings, but the communities around them.

Initiatives to drive the strategy

We have carried out work with sector representatives and experts to develop initiatives that bring together activity to drive the strategic aims:

National Education Nature Park

By considering the whole physical education estate as a virtual National Education Nature Park, we have a unique opportunity to:

The National Education Nature Park will:

This will help connect and amplify the excellent work already happening in this area through many national and local stakeholders and community groups.

As their work starts to have an impact, the young participants will upload their progress on the park's digital mapping services. They will be able to:

see how the park is 'growing', while increasing their knowledge of species

develop important skills, such as biodiversity mapping, data collection and analysis

The nature park's online hub will enable the sharing of best practice across the education estate. With time, it will go beyond biodiversity to show impact and climate resilience, including flood, overheating and air quality status of the estate.

A number of universities will support the launch of the National Education Nature Park by:

Climate Leaders Award

A Climate Leaders Award will complement classroom learning and allow us to celebrate and recognise education providers, children and young people for:

developing their connection with nature

making a real contribution to establishing a sustainable future for us all

The award will provide a structured route through existing awards in this area, such as the John Muir Award, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Junior Forester Award and others.

Participation will enable children and young people to acquire credits towards the prestigious Climate Leaders Award. This will be recognised and valued as supporting progression to employment and further study.

In the Children's People and Nature Survey for England: Summer holidays 2021, more than 8 in 10 children and young people (85%) agreed that being in nature made them very happy. However, the same study showed that:

children spend less time outdoors as they get older

feelings of connection to nature decline with age

We want all young people to feel connected to their local environment and see improvements in biodiversity. In the design and implementation of the park and award we will take steps to drive participation among more disadvantaged children and young people. We will also ensure all children and young people, whether they live in an urban area or rural one, have opportunities to feel empowered through practical positive action.

The National Education Nature Park and Climate Leaders Award:

are being designed and developed with young people, sector representatives and stakeholder organisations

will build on the learning and experience of the Year of Green Action

They will feed in ideas for making the initiatives as inclusive, impactful, and engaging as possible and will also consider the best names for the programmes. The park and award will be launched in autumn 2022.

Sustainability leadership

Throughout the development of this strategy, we have received feedback from the sector that they have seen the greatest impact and success in developing and delivering a whole-setting approach to sustainability and climate change when there is co-ordination and leadership of activity at a local level - with the support of senior leadership teams and governors.

Through our engagement to date, we have been consistently told that to do this best, they need more support to:

We recognise the impact of the pandemic and the priority need for education catch up. We know that for every setting, the ability, or the way in which they are able to engage with sustainability and climate change may differ. While our end goal is for all settings to have a sustainability lead owning a climate action plan (to include curricular and extra-curricular activity, procurement, adaptation and decarbonisation plans), we are keen to:

develop a facilitative approach to sustainability leadership

test where support makes the most impact

The National Climate Education Action Plan has already brought together 16 organisations and universities with STEM Learning, aiming to encourage their staff to become Climate Ambassadors to support schools and further education institutions. We will work with them to test an approach that includes support in:

climate education

accessing public and private funding

engaging in the National Education Nature Park and Climate Leaders Award

reporting emissions

developing and delivering Climate Action Plans for individual settings

As part of this approach, we will include the provision of carbon literacy training for all sustainability leads in every nursery, school and college by 2025. We will encourage a joined-up approach to leadership which brings together children, young people and governors.

Action area 1: Climate education

We know that young people are eager to:

create a greener, sustainable world

tackle both the causes and impact of climate change

We will empower all young people to be global citizens, through a:

better understanding of climate change

greater connection to nature

Practical opportunities to participate in activities to increase climate resilience, reduce carbon impact and enhance biodiversity will enable children and young people to translate knowledge into positive action to improve their local communities, their country and the planet.

1. Learning about the natural environment

Building on a foundation of fundamental numeracy, literacy and broad academic knowledge, all children learn about:

From birth to 5 years old, the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework ensures that all children develop an understanding of the world and the natural environment.

As they progress through primary and secondary school, children and young people continue to build on this knowledge through science, geography and citizenship programmes within the national curriculum. Existing GCSEs such as design and technology, food preparation and nutrition, and economics contain opportunities for students to be taught about the environmental and sustainability context of the processes and principles underlying these subjects.

By 2025 we will aim to introduce a natural history GCSE, giving young people a further opportunity to engage with and develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the natural world. In studying this GCSE, young people will explore organisms and environments in more depth, gain knowledge and practical experience of fieldwork and develop a greater understanding of conservation.

An environmental science A level is already available for those that have a keen interest in the sustainability of our planet and wish to build on their scientific knowledge of the interconnection of human activities with natural systems.

From 2022, to assess the impact of our action, we will introduce an annual climate literacy survey to benchmark progress in improving the climate knowledge of school leavers.

For those that continue their studies in further and higher education, there are many excellent opportunities to gain a more in-depth knowledge into sustainability and climate change. Many further and higher education providers are already taking steps to embed the relevant teaching of sustainability and climate change across the full range of their courses.

We will continue to identify appropriate opportunities to align climate education with the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD for 2030) framework.

2. Support for teaching

World class teaching will ensure all children and young people get the best possible climate education. The schools white paper sets out how we will provide an excellent teacher for every child, by giving every teacher and school leader access to world class training and development opportunities, including the first-ever national professional qualification (NPQ) for early years professionals.

Through our engagement with the teachers and representative bodies, we have heard that more support in teaching about climate change and in navigating the many different resources available is also needed. Therefore, recognising the importance of building confidence as well as capability, we will provide additional support to teachers of all levels.

From 2022 we will:

include climate change and sustainability in science teachers' continuing professional development ( CPD) to ensure all young people receive high-quality teaching on the scientific facts about climate change and environmental degradation

include content on sustainability when DfE is tendering for new CPD, (where it is relevant to the subject area)

deliver pilots through the National Education Nature Park, which will test an approach for sharing university climate expertise and learning opportunities with colleges, schools and nurseries

share best practice, demonstrating how sustainability and climate change has been incorporated into teaching (and how it has enriched the broader curriculum, where it is relevant) in early years settings, schools, colleges and universities, so teachers and leaders can consider how best to integrate within their own settings

consider where further steps could be taken to support the teaching of sustainability in relevant subjects, for example, the circular economy in design and technology, sustainable chemistry in the sciences, and through the learning initiatives being taken forward in the Government Food Strategy

continue to work with higher education to identify opportunities to work together to further enhance best practice in teacher training and the teaching of sustainability within university courses

promote and share relevant teaching resources from other government departments, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ( DEFRA), the Waste and Resources Action Programme ( WRAP) and the Environment Agency

By 2023 we will:

develop a Primary Science Model Curriculum, to include an emphasis on nature to ensure all children understand the world around them

develop an occupational standard for further education teaching which explicitly requires all new teachers to integrate sustainability into their teaching, through modelling sustainable practices and promoting sustainable development principles in relation to their subject specialism

support the National Climate Education Action Plan in setting up an independent expert body (including members such as the Royal Meteorological Society, STEM Learning, Association of Science Teaching) for the validation and creation of climate education resources that support the delivery of the national curriculum

provide free access to high-quality curriculum resources through the National Education Nature Park online hub, so that teachers in all settings and subjects can confidently choose those that will support the teaching of sustainability and climate change

this will initially work in tandem while we build on the success of Oak National Academy's work in the pandemic and establish a new arms-length national curriculum body which will work with thousands of teachers to co-design, create and continually improve packages of optional, free, adaptable digital curriculum resources and video lessons that are effectively sequenced to help teachers deliver an evidence-based, high-quality curriculum

provide the opportunity for all staff (teaching, leadership and support) to build their understanding of climate change and sustainability by receiving shared carbon literacy training through their sustainability leads within their setting (more information about sustainability leadership is set out in the Operations and Supply Chains Action Area)

3. Learning in the natural environment

Education settings provide a wealth of learning opportunities, practical activities and clubs which allow children and young people to bring their learning to life. Children and young people may:

take part in eco-clubs or vegetable growing

be exposed to sustainable food choices, recycling, adaptation projects or weather and energy monitoring

On top of the learning benefits, these activities can aid pastoral work in all educational settings. The physical and mental health benefits of time spent in nature can form part of targeted support to:

improve engagement and attainment, including as part of wider packages of support for pupils with SEND

give young people a sense of agency where anxiety stems from climate concerns

The National Education Nature Park and Climate Leaders Award will build on this excellent activity, ensuring all children and young people have opportunities to get practical experience and turn their knowledge into positive action. We will design these initiatives with inclusivity at their heart. We are committed to enabling those from disadvantaged backgrounds to access these opportunities.

Retrofitted educational buildings and new-build net-zero settings will also provide various learning opportunities through their design, how they work and their environmental impact. They will foster environmental knowledge that can be applied outside of the educational setting.

In 2022 we will:

explore opportunities to increase access to the outdoors in DfE's successful Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

ensure that children attending the HAF programme participate in activities that improve their knowledge and awareness of affordable, healthy eating and sustainable practice - for example, through:

taking part in activities such as food preparation

cooking, discussing food and food sources

growing their own fruit and vegetables

build on our investment into the Children and Nature Programme, by engaging with DEFRA on further research into how outdoor learning can be delivered for the greatest impact, with a view to exploring opportunities to support education settings to deliver quality outdoor education

link up across government to identify new opportunities and strengthen action as part of the levelling up agenda - for example, with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on climate education, and with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the National Youth Guarantee to increase access to out-of-school activities for all children

provide co-curricular opportunities for young people to experience and learn about nature through the National Education Nature Park, which will drive a greater knowledge and understanding of the importance of native species and develop young people's data and analytical skills

build on learning from the Children and Nature Programme, encouraging schools to join up with local delivery partners to develop effective school-specific options and build links with local communities

provide educational activities so that leaders, teachers, children and young people will learn about energy efficiency, the circular economy, climate resilience and green careers as part of educational building, maintenance and procurement projects, such as:

low-carbon boiler replacements

smart meter installation

energy monitoring pilots

sustainable drainage systems

Political impartiality

Teaching about climate change, and the scientific facts and evidence behind this, does not constitute teaching about a political issue and schools do not need to present misinformation or unsubstantiated claims to provide balance.

However, in climate education there is relevant political and scientific debate about the best ways that climate change can be addressed - there are different views and opinions, and different solutions. Debates on political and policy change need to be grounded in wider citizenship education on democracy and democratic values and topics should be handled in line with schools' legal duties on political impartiality

Action area 2: Green skills and careers

It is critical young people and adults have the green skills that will allow them to build careers and participate as Britain leads the world into the Green Industrial Revolution and strives for nature's recovery.

We will harness young people's passion and interest in climate change and sustainability to enable them to have the knowledge and skills (in STEM and other key subjects) required for green jobs. Through our education and skills system, we will seek to inspire young people to choose career paths that support the:

We will continue to support adults already in work to retrain and reskill in line with the needs of the green economy.

1. Net Zero Strategy

The government's Net Zero Strategy sets out in detail how our skills reforms will support more people into green jobs and help grow future talent pipelines. This includes:

aligning apprenticeships to net-zero objectives through the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education's (IfATE) Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel

continuing the roll-out of T-Levels to support young people into green careers

driving STEM provision through our growing network of Institutes of Technologies (IoTs)

expanding Skills Bootcamps so that adults are able to upskill and retrain in key green sectors

Through the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, we are legislating to ensure employer leadership of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) have regard to skills needed to help deliver on our net-zero target, adaptation to climate change, and other environmental goals.

Building on the work of the Green Jobs Taskforce through a Green Jobs Delivery Group, government will bring together representatives from industry, the skills sector and other key stakeholders to develop data-driven action to support the delivery of plans for green jobs and skills. This will ensure that we are offering young people and workers the opportunity to develop the skills needed to deliver the low-carbon transition.

Since the publication of the Net Zero Strategy we have:

set out investment of £3.8bn in further education and skills, to ensure people can access high-quality training and education that leads to good jobs, addresses skills gaps, boosts productivity and supports levelling up - this includes funding for programmes to support green skills crucial to the net-zero transition

committed to expanding Skills Bootcamps to provide more opportunities for adults to gain new skills, prioritising green skills in areas such as heat pumps, zero emission vehicles, and carbon capture

widened the eligibility criteria of our Free Courses for Jobs offer - from April 2022, any adult in England earning under the National Living Wage annually, or unemployed, will be able to access these qualifications for free, including qualifications linked to green sectors such as agriculture, building and construction, engineering, environmental conservation, horticulture and forestry and science

launched a pilot of our new General Further Education College Accountability Agreements that will ensure colleges strategically plan provision to meet skills needs at both local and national levels, including those in the green sector

established 8 LSIP trailblazers, where employer representative bodies have been working closely with providers and key local stakeholders to develop tailored plans to help shape technical skills provision to better meet local labour market needs, with multiple trailblazers considering the skills needed to support green growth in their local economy

started delivery of our £65 million Strategic Development Fund pilots to identify employers' skills needs, design provision, and build the capacity of local further education providers to deliver them so that, where local areas identify skills needs, providers can use this funding to, among other things:

purchase equipment

train their staff

bring in industry expertise to provide training

deliver new provision

2. Additional support for green jobs and skills

In addition to the extensive skills reforms set out in the Net Zero Strategy we will also increase the opportunities for young people and adults to engage in wider green skills and jobs needed to deliver the government's 25-Year Environment Plan.

We will support the further and higher education sectors as they deliver programmes teaching the skills of the future and nurturing future leaders.

We will continually seek to improve diversity in the take-up of STEM subjects at all levels, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in a STEM occupation:

by September 2023, a T Level in agriculture, land management and production will be available - this will support the increased focus of the UK agriculture sector on more environmental and sustainable practices and provide a further opportunity and pathway for young people looking for careers in agriculture and horticulture

we will engage employers, professional, statutory and regulatory bodies (PSRBs), further and higher education sector representative groups and students in developing opportunities to forge further links between course content and the skills needed for green careers of all kinds

Green Skills Bootcamps are available in environmental areas such as agriculture technology, and Wave 3 Skills Bootcamps will seek to prioritise further green sectors, including those specific to the environment such as nature restoration, waste management and recycling, woodland management and arboriculture.

the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) has convened a Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel (GAAP) to:

work with employers to align apprenticeships to net-zero objectives

endorse existing apprenticeships which support green career pathways specific to the environmental sector, such as arborist, forest operative, agriculture or horticulture professional advisor and ecologist

map existing apprenticeship standards against green occupations

identify opportunities to create new standards in areas including agri-tech and renewable energy

investment of up to £75 million in a National Scholarship Scheme will support high achieving disadvantaged students to reach their full potential while studying in higher education, including degree courses or apprenticeships that can lead to green careers

our network of Institutes of Technology (IoTs) across England are utilising their state-of-the-art facilities to:

offer training in green skills, such as in the built environment and agri-tech sectors

support increased participation from under-represented groups, including women, helping to grow the pipeline of individuals with STEM skills needed for green jobs

invest £120 million in the second wave of IoTs, to be set up by 2022

by 2025, as part of the pathway towards the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, we will trial short-course provision at levels 4-6 to support in-work adults to upskill or retrain, enabling learners to build flexibly towards a full qualification in subjects crucial for net zero, including STEM and digital innovation

by 2023, we will co-host an International Green Skills Conference with the higher and further education sectors to exhibit the best of UK green skills and education opportunities at further and higher education levels

we will link the Climate Leaders Award to skills required by employers and explore how participation in the award can act as a progression route to further study

by 2030, significant numbers of young people will have graduated from the Climate Leaders Award with the skills needed to enter the green economy

by 2030, we anticipate that participation in the National Education Nature Park, and increased opportunities to connect with nature, will increase the number of young people that become data scientists, ecologists and biologists, which are needed for nature's recovery

our specifications for new buildings set out low-carbon, climate-resilient standards - such as the installation of heat pumps for energy efficiency - while, as one of the largest construction buyers in the nation, these specifications will drive the market and assist in driving the development of technical fitting skill

3. Support and guidance for green careers

We are actively supporting young people and adults to understand the training and careers opportunities available to them and we will support existing organisations in their endeavours to promote green careers. This includes:

supporting schools and colleges to embed best practice in the delivery of careers information, advice and guidance, so young people are aware of the full range of training and careers available to them and have access to a broad range of employers and workplaces, including those in the green sectors - this will be delivered through the national roll-out of Career Hubs, Career Leader training, and the Enterprise Adviser Network

as part of wider improvements to the National Careers Service we will ensure the provision of relevant and accessible information on green career pathways, which will bring together all the learning and careers routes available to aid the development of a single source of government-assured career information

our educational building maintenance and procurement projects will provide opportunities for students to gain careers guidance, while installation of low-carbon boiler replacements, smart meters and energy monitoring or sustainable drainage systems, will be accompanied with assembly information and interactive class exercises allowing students to see and learn about a wide range of green careers and skills in action

Action area 3: Education estate and digital infrastructure

A green, sustainable education estate that is resilient to the impacts of climate change will normalise and inspire young people to live sustainable lives, with impact felt widely in their families and communities. By improving the physical environment in and around education settings, we can impact positively on both the physical and mental wellbeing of children and young people. We will act on both the challenges and opportunities the vast education estate presents.

There is still a lot of evidence to gather on new technologies and innovative approaches to sustainable building design, retrofit, ICT, building management and the surrounding environment. Our focus until 2025 will be piloting - gathering evidence and sharing research to learn from our experience. This work will build on and align with existing guidance currently available to help public sector organisations achieve net zero, for example, the Modern Energy Partners tools. From 2025 onwards, we will accelerate change once we understand the best value for money approach. Our approach can be summarised as innovate, test and invest.

1. New builds and new blocks

All new school buildings delivered by DfE (not already contracted) will be net zero in operation. They will be designed for a 2oC rise in average global temperatures and future-proofed for a 4oC rise, to adapt to the risks of climate change, including increased flooding and higher indoor temperatures.

Secure children's homes delivered by DfE will also be built to our net-zero standard.

In November 2021 we published our delivery framework for employer's requirements for school projects Part A and Part B and made it freely available so that all new schools and colleges can meet the same low-carbon, climate-resilient standards as centrally delivered projects.

We have uplifted basic need grant-funding rates to help local authorities deliver school capital projects to these standards. When planning the use of basic need funding allocations, local authorities will consider environmental sustainability, carbon reduction and energy efficiency to develop solutions for projects that are in line with government targets and objectives, regardless of their chosen delivery route.

From now on bids into our Further Education Capital Transformation Programme will also be assessed to determine if the new works will be net zero in operation.

We know many higher education institutions are already demonstrating innovation in this space and are going beyond these standards. We will look to the higher education sector to inspire and drive greater ambition through their net-zero buildings and campuses.

So that our education building standards remain world-leading, we will:

continue targeted and specific monitoring of education buildings to better understand their use and energy consumption

continually improve our technical standards and building specifications

This will include the use and assessment of nature-based classroom design to maximise access to the outdoors and opportunities for outdoor learning, so our education buildings positively impact on physical and mental wellbeing.

Sustainable ICT solutions will be integrated into new-build schools as standard, via sustainable procurement, design, implementation and management.

The implementation of ultra-low carbon education buildings will be accelerated. By 2025 at least 4 schools and one college will have been built via the Gen Zero Platform that we demonstrated at COP26.

We will also accelerate our Gen Zero programme and other pilots so, over time, all centrally delivered new-build projects are built using ultra-low carbon solutions.

2. Existing estate

Improved collation and use of data on energy usage, water, heat and biodiversity will allow individual settings, and DfE, to make evidence-based decisions on where to act and invest to make the greatest impact. Smart meters and energy management systems can reduce bills and usage. They also provide learning opportunities for data analysis and understanding the impact of human behaviour. We will:

continue to work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS) and water companies to trial the delivery of smart meters in schools and encourage the uptake across other settings

in 2022, work with the education and children's services sectors and energy companies to explore sharing smart meter data to avoid additional reporting requirements, and this data would also be used by DfE to help advise settings how they can reduce their energy bills and improve their energy efficiency

during 2022 and 2023, work with BEIS and Energy Sparks to trial the delivery of Energy Management Systems in schools which will provide schools with real-time information about their energy usage, presented within a user-friendly online portal

by 2025, have supported education settings to put in place Climate Action Plans, facilitating the use of setting-level data to inform action - these will increase carbon literacy and inform government on the implementation of decarbonisation solutions and nature-based solutions to alleviate flood risk, protect against increased heat, and improve air quality

A strategic approach to piloting new building technology will also be launched in order to support the future retrofit of the education estate and act as catalyst to the construction sector for implementing new technology. Our building technology pilots will support action to adapt the existing estate to protect against the current and future effects of climate change. They will also provide evidence for the efficient decarbonisation of the estate to mitigate the causes of climate change.

We will continue to seek opportunities for research, including developing innovative approaches for the delivery and use of digital infrastructure. Where opportunities arise, this will be tested in schools by retrofitting ICT to deliver energy savings.

We will also exploit existing research -higher education is already driving world leading building technology - and innovative solutions will be shared across the wider education sector

In 2022:

we will work with BEIS to help education settings access the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to support them in decarbonising their estates and, as part of that work, we are looking at how we can better align our application processes and funding windows

By 2023:

all bids for capital funding for further education and higher education will need to consider environmental impact, carbon reduction and adaptation measures, and align with the government's targets and objectives

we will share best practice and advice to help education settings in deciding where to invest money to reduce carbon emissions, improve sustainability and resilience, and share options and case studies for the retrofit of existing settings by building type

we will also develop the existing Good Estate Management for Schools guidance with updated tips and good practice on the sustainable management of the school estate, covering topics such as energy and water efficiency and addressing issues including ventilation and leaks

3. Resilience, adaptation, access to Nature and environment conditions

The 3 highest priority risk areas identified in the Climate Change Committee Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk were:

To meet these challenges and those outlined in the Third Climate Change Risk Assessment (the statutory cycle set out in the Climate Change Act 2008, specifies the next key milestone in the statutory cycle as the third National Adaptation Programme ( NAP3) in 2023) we have a duty to demonstrate:

a clear set of objectives for adaptation

policies

programmes

investments with clear timelines

measurable metrics

progress indicators

We know that nearly half of schools (10,710) are at risk of flooding, which is expected to increase to at least 13,662 by the 2050s, or 16,394 in the worst-case scenario. While overheating in education buildings is a significant threat, we need to continue to work with other government departments to get a greater understanding of the risk.

A formal Memorandum of Understanding between DfE and the Environment Agency ( EA) will ensure that our response to risk aligns with the objectives and measures set out in the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy and is based on the latest environmental data, advice and intelligence.

We know there is hope if efforts are focused in the right way. The latest International Panel on Climate Change report outlines the power of nature against the worst effects of climate change. We will use the National Education Nature Park to champion the case for nature.

Through the National Education Nature Park we will provide opportunities and advice for education settings to initially improve their biodiversity and also, with time, their flood resilience and air quality. For example, we will work with EA and DEFRA to produce guidance for schools that explains how to improve their flood resilience and access free trees to improve shading and biodiversity of their grounds.

We will accelerate pilots to investigate:

We will also empower universities to lead the way in demonstrating models for resilient, biodiverse campuses. We will share best practice via the National Education Nature Park online hub.

By 2023, we will:

work with partners to explore how funding may support nurseries, schools, colleges and universities in driving on the ground innovation to link separate parts of the National Education Nature Park, improving the biodiversity, air quality, shading and flood resistance along the routes between settings

continue evaluating the UK's first 'Biophilic' primary school, which will provide evidence of the impact of a greater connection to nature within the built environment, on the health and wellbeing of children and young people

pilot the use of smart air and environmental quality monitors in schools to understand the practical implications, benefits and drawbacks of using smart monitoring devices with pilots providing a rich dataset on environmental performance, which can be used to help feed into school building design and understand where energy efficiencies can be achieved

support DEFRA's Clean Air Strategy which aims to diminish the highest concentration of exposure to fine particle matter (PM2.5) to help tackle air pollution and reduce emissions affecting education settings

provide guidance to all education settings for practical ways to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution, encouraging schools and partners to expand anti-idling zones to reduce the impact of the school commute

support the Department for Transport in delivering initiatives to increase active and safe travel to school (such as Bikeability for children, their families and carers, Walk to School Outreach and School Streets), to improve wellbeing, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality

support an EA pilot investigating offsetting carbon emissions from their flood scheme construction work by contributing to tree planting and greening on available, nearby school land

By 2030:

through the National Education Nature Park and cross-government collaboration, we will have significantly increased the biodiversity on the education estate and implemented 'Green Corridors' for access to education settings, improving climate resilience, physical and mental wellbeing, and protecting and enhancing wildlife and ecosystems along the routes between nurseries, schools, colleges and universities

we will have supported the Department for Transport to increase active travel to school, contributing to the Prime Minister's vision that half of all short journeys in towns and cities will be walked or cycled

we will have minimised barriers to nature in school building design programmes and education building standards, increasing opportunities to connect their users to nature

4. Heating solutions

The building energy efficiency survey indicates that approximately 60% of energy use in education settings is associated with high carbon intensity fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil. There is a need to reduce demand for heating and hot water use and to deliver through sustainable means.

We are launching 10 pilots to test our Energy Pods as a way of providing off-site manufactured, low-carbon, heating solutions on the existing school and college estate. The results of these pilots will inform our strategic approach to condition, safety and sustainability for the education estate and provide important research data for education and public sector net-zero projects.

In 2022 we will:

test the feasibility of replacing school boilers with ground or air source heat solutions, and use the learning to consider how this can be scaled up to accelerate decarbonisation between 2025 and 2035

continue to work with BEIS to help education settings access the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to support them in replacing fossil fuel heating systems with low carbon heating

5. Water strategy

In partnership with EA, water companies and local authorities we will deliver our water strategy to improve:

We will work together to improve learning and awareness of risk and resilience and encourage all education settings to sign up to available weather and flood warnings. For schools at highest risk, we will share a flood risk plan template to set out emergency plans. In addition:

by 2023, the risk of school flood will be displayed alongside emissions and biodiversity on the National Education Nature Park

by 2026, we will have reduced the flood risk in over 800 schools through our Water Strategy initiatives

we will work with Ofwat and Market Operator Services Ltd to ensure their regulatory mechanisms and incentives enable and drive the water market to improve efficiency across the education estate and, should this prove successful, by 2030 we will have worked with water wholesalers and retailers to improve water efficiency at the 10,000 least water-efficient schools, significantly reducing usage and spend

we will align strategic action with the Environment Agency's National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy to ensure education settings are ready for, and resilient to, flooding and coastal change

6. Reporting Frameworks, Reporting Processes and Targets

With increased legislation on net zero, environment and nature, it is inevitable that we are going to have to ensure consistent reporting on the activity of our sectors.

The government's Net Zero Strategy commits to legislate reporting of emissions if insufficient progress is made voluntarily. We will work with BEIS in the development of guidance on monitoring and reporting for the education sector and we will look to support and facilitate reporting.

We will work with energy providers to receive data from the school estate directly (unless individual schools choose to opt out), so that by 2024 all schools are reporting their emission via a standardised framework. The installation of smart meters will improve the accuracy of this data.

We have supported the Queen's Jubilee Challenge for the further and higher education sectors to accelerate a sector-led review. This review will enable all further and higher education settings to report their emissions via a standardised and comparable framework by 2024. From 2025 we will publish targets and institutional progress for the further and higher education sectors. We will also work with nurseries and schools to set standardised reporting frameworks and implement effective data-gathering mechanisms. With the campaign Let's Go Zero, we will set targets for schools between 2025 and 2035.

Action area 4: Operations and supply chains

We have a valuable opportunity to drive change by introducing children and young people to more sustainable practices, such as:

We can inspire and instil habits that they will take into their wider communities and adult lives. Sector representatives have also confirmed that they have had the greatest results in driving sustainability in their operational processes when action has been linked to learning.

Coordination and leadership are required to bring this type of change. We recognise how much is already being done across the sectors by enthusiastic individuals, governance boards and leadership teams. They are driving effective whole-setting approaches to the challenges of sustainability and climate change - not only in teaching and learning or the decarbonisation of the estate - but in the way settings are operated and regulated.

Within DfE we will also publish and monitor progress against a DfE Corporate Sustainability Strategy. This will demonstrate how we will embed sustainability across everything we do - from how we maintain and use our office estate to our decision-making and business processes. We will align action with this strategy, the Greening Government Commitments and our overall organisational strategy.

By 2023 we will:

start rolling-out carbon literacy training for at least one person in every locally maintained nursery, school, college and university to build their knowledge of climate change, access to public funds, engagement with the nature park and Climate Leaders Award, understand emissions reporting and how to develop a climate action plan so that they can share learning and training within their own setting as appropriate, for example with leaders, support staff, care takers, cooks and teachers

support the work of the National Climate Education Action Plan to bring together universities with STEM Learning to identify Climate Ambassadors to support schools and further education institutions in the delivery of their sustainability and climate change action plans

update Good Estate Management for Schools ( GEMS) guidance to include the latest sustainability and climate change advice, covering topics such as efficient waste and water management - we will signpost to other relevant third-party materials

encourage and support education settings to procure from companies that commit to achieving net zero by 2050 and have a plan in place, showing how they will meet this target

ensure sustainability is part of the assessment and validation criteria for including suppliers on procurement frameworks, to support sustainable purchasing of products and services, including energy, in schools

support schools to buy from procurement frameworks that offer sustainable goods and services

work with education settings and partners to share best practice for delivering and improving uptake of nutritionally balanced, affordable and sustainable meal choices

pilot a food curriculum and whole-school approach to food, promoting accountability and transparency of school food arrangements by encouraging schools to complete a statement on their school websites, which sets out their whole-school approach to food, with voluntary reporting initially, and the intention that this will become mandatory when schools can do this effectively

pilot new training for school governors on a whole-school approach to food as set out in the forthcoming Government Food Strategy (school governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations)

support schools to drive up their sustainable practices in line with the school food standards, particularly in relation to school food contracts and their food preparation and practice, with consideration of the ingredients they use and their environmental impact

encourage and support education settings to gather data and take action on food waste, and to share their evidence-based best practice for sustainable waste prevention and management

work with DEFRA and the Waste and Resources Action Programme ( WRAP) to share resources for schools and children that support food waste prevention

support education settings in aligning with DEFRA 's Resources and Waste Strategy to reduce all waste, moving away from single-use items and towards reusable alternatives where possible

continue to encourage all settings to drive initiatives that promote the circular economy - providing guidance to reduce reliance on single-use items in favour of alternatives, such as reusable nappies, as well as recycled materials, second-hand uniforms and other consumables, such as sustainable cutlery and cleaning products

continue to offer a range of free sustainable period products to learners in schools and colleges across England and use the success of this programme as a catalyst for similar initiatives

seek opportunities to rationalise deliveries to education settings, through minimum order values or changes to delivery models, and encourage settings to consider a rounded approach to providing food, including practical guidance on consolidating food deliveries and sourcing food locally where possible

By 2025:

all education settings will have nominated a sustainability lead and put in place a climate action plan

all services and products procured by DfE for schools through the 'get help buying for schools' programme will go through environmental procurement frameworks

we will review existing procurement frameworks and identify those where net-zero targets can be applied, highlighting these frameworks to education providers as sustainable and net zero-compliant buying frameworks

we will ensure there is a clear route to market and associated support for schools to buy goods and services that help them to generate their own energy or reduce their existing energy consumption, for example, solar panels and LED light bulbs

we will eradicate single-use plastics and encourage the use of reusable and recyclable materials in schools and encourage all other education settings to match this target

we will work with DEFRA to provide guidance to education settings for meeting the requirements of the Environment Act 2021 - this will require settings to arrange for the collection of a core set of materials for recycling, including glass, paper and card, plastic, metal and food waste, increasing the amount of material recycled and diverted from landfill

we will develop a sustainable assessment model in partnership with the Standards and Testing Agency, considering the environmental impact of digital testing and the trade-offs with existing testing methods

we will continue to support DEFRA with implementing the Resource and Waste Strategy, to eliminate unnecessary plastics in education settings

By 2030:

education settings will be supporting a circular economy through their participation in the Climate Leaders Award and National Education Nature Park - for example, by using food waste to produce compost that can then be used directly or in the local community

Action area 5: International

We set out our vision for the United Kingdom education sector to be world leading in sustainability and climate change by 2030. In achieving this vision, we want to both inspire and respond to international action and make a difference to children and young people all over the world. There is no time to lose: extreme weather events are increasing in severity and frequency, and Safe Schools: The Hidden Crisis shows that it is disrupting the education of nearly 40 million children a year worldwide. Children in the UK say they are worried about how climate change is affecting children and families in developing countries.

The UK Foreign Policy Integrated Review positions climate change as the UK's number one international priority. Education is one of our nation's greatest strengths. We will take positive international action to enhance climate change and sustainability learning in and outside of the classroom and, in particular, through DfE 's key bilateral relationships.

In doing so we will work across government with the:

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

Cabinet Office

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

British Council

Together we will provide young people and adults everywhere with the knowledge and skills needed to:

Our action will align with and support the UK Government's International Education Strategy and supplement the great work the UK already does overseas, led by the FCDO, through education partnerships with around 20 poorer countries as leading donor to the Global Partnership for Education ( GPE) and Education Cannot Wait Fund, to support countries to respond to weather related disasters and make education systems more resilient.

The international action set out below represents the whole of the UK. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England each bring unique offers to an international strategy, and we will work closely with the governments of each nation to champion them effectively.

At COP26 we put education on a global stage, bringing education and environment ministers together to pledge action on climate education. We will continue to encourage other countries to make pledges. We will also track progress on our international commitments to complement and promote the Glasgow Works Programme on Action for Climate Empowerment ( ACE) negotiations agreed by countries at COP26 through our work and partnerships.

This work programme positions education as integral to the achievement of long-term climate goals, and calls for an approach which is grounded in principles of collaboration, flexibility and inclusivity.

Champion education and learning on the global stage

We will promote education as a key tool for tackling climate change through:

We will elevate the voices of youth in these discussions, as well as the rich experiences of other countries and stakeholders.

We will work across government and convene international partners to build a coalition for action for sustainable education. We will:

work closely with youth partners and multilateral institutions, such as UNESCO, UNEP and OECD, and in the G7 and G20 to exchange good practice through global discussions on climate education, learning and sustainable development

showcase our Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and activities, sharing our strategy as a model for others to learn from

build an international evidence base on the support and solutions needed for a range of contexts

share our latest lessons, challenges, insights and evidence from the delivery of all action areas of our strategy

learn from others, including those working at local, national, regional and international levels

Trade and exports

We will provide expertise, services, trade and exports overseas to support others in achieving their net-zero targets, increasing resilience and adaptation, and improving climate education. We will work with FCDO, DBT and the UK international trade network to:

identify appropriate export opportunities for our climate learning programmes, including the National Education Nature Park and Climate Leaders Award, sharing our expertise on flood resilience and flood risk assessments, and export innovative sustainable products such as the Gen Zero Platform and Biophilic Primary School

continue work with the further and higher education sectors to ensure prestigious green-skills learning, training and research opportunities are developed to attract overseas students

International initiatives

We will identify opportunities to broaden our actions to share innovation and provide opportunities for young people from across the world to connect and learn, ensuring we align with the UK government's Child Safeguarding Due Diligence guidance. We will:

Leadership, engagement and next steps

Leadership

In recognition of the importance of this agenda to the Department for Education, the Secretary of State for Education will also be Climate Change Minister for the Department for Education. The Secretary of State for Education will also oversee the Climate Leaders Award.

The Secretary of State for Education will be supported in his role of Climate Change Minister for the department by:

Baroness Barran - net zero of DfE-delivered buildings, procurement and supply chains (this also includes the biodiversity of the education estate)

Minister Donelan and Minister Burghart - green skills, green jobs and net zero in further education and higher education

Minister Walker - climate education

Minister Quince - physical and mental wellbeing

DfE will nominate a non-executive director for climate change. They will champion climate issues on departmental boards and provide further leadership and expertise to support the department with its unique climate mission.

Engagement

From November 2021 to March 2022, sector representatives and young people reflecting a diverse range of voices, backgrounds and experiences brought together feedback on this strategy from those they represent.

We will continue to engage formally through a quarterly youth panel and user group as we develop and deliver the strategy, to ensure it meets the needs of those it serves.

Next Steps

Each year we will publish progress against the strategy and set out new action.
The following actions will support this:

Vision: the United Kingdom is the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.

Strategic aims

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Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children's services systems

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This strategy applies to: the Department for Education (DfE), its agencies and public bodies the education and children's services systems in England - including: early years schools (and independent schools where applicable) further education higher education children's social care DfE has an important role to play in all aspects of sustainability.

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Balfour Beatty prides itself on being a responsible, sustainable business. Our new Sustainability Strategy embodies our ambition to go further to reduce our environmental footprint and to have a positive, sustainable impact wherever we work.

But 'Sustainability' is not a one-size-fits-all approach. So, in line with Balfour Beatty's "think global, act local" guiding imperative, our aim is to set out our global goals, to provide an overarching framework and empower our colleagues to take action to deliver a better future in their geographies. Across the UK, US and Hong Kong, each of our businesses are now developing bespoke Sustainability Action Plans to ensure we address specific local challenges and priorities and leave a positive legacy in the communities we serve.

Uniting each of our Sustainability Action Plans are our three 2040 ambitions:

Beyond Net Zero Carbon

Generate Zero Waste

Positively Impact More than 1 Million People

Underpinned by our 2030 targets and aligned to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals ¹(SDGs) which provide a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, each of our 2040 ambitions focuses on an area that has been identified as the most material to our business by key stakeholder groups including our customers, employees, shareholders and the communities we operate in. Each area is aligned to one or more SDGs with our Strategy as a whole focussing on the parts of SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure 2 - that are most relevant to us.

Here are some of our key highlights to date:

You can find out more about our Sustainability Strategy here:

Recognition

Read more about our recent international successes and awards in sustainable construction including recognition from the Considerate Constructors Scheme

Sustainability and Resource Recovery Initiative of the Year, Water Industry Awards 2019
Balfour Beatty's collaboration with GenQuip GroundHog and Hogen Systems

Sustainability and Environmental Excellence, Rail Business Awards 2019
Thameslink Key Output 2 (KO2) Programme

Winner, Britain's Most Admired Companies 2019
Heavy Construction category
Considerate Constructors Scheme awards:

6 gold (of which 1 was a Most Considerate Site Runner Up)

4 silver

2 bronze

Green Apple Awards:

4 gold

1 bronze

1 green champion

1. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

2. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9

We've reached a significant milestone at our Avonmouth facility, successfully unloading @hinkleypointc's first intake and outfall heads for transportation which will form an integral part of the new nuclear power station's cooling system. Well done to all involved! https://t.co/qVRcnmyo2k

Our employees across the UK have been keeping the #Pride22 celebrations going by wearing colourful clothes and eating colourful foods for #RainbowDay. Check out our photos from this week's celebrations below #BuildingNewFutures https://t.co/LyfclldqLU

Our Assistant Quantity Surveyor Katie Moys was a winner at this year's @WiPUK Women in Property South East Student Awards which celebrates the achievements of built environment students each year - well done Katie! Find out more below. https://t.co/jDrg7vf5KY

We're flying the flag with Pride! To celebrate #Pride22, we're flying Progress Pride flags from the top of our power training towers in Derby. Watch our short video to see four of the team climb 30 metres to the top of one of the towers and unfurl the flags. #BuildingNewFutures https://t.co/xOGx4wOZuQ

Well done to Balfour Beatty's 'Secret Life of Site Engineers' team who've won Project:Hack 15 - an event that brings together bright minds to tackle the various data and analytical challenges our industry possesses! Learn about the team's solutions here: https://t.co/k0c8jILwLA https://t.co/6CttFIBPQF

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positively impact more than 1 million people

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Balfour Beatty prides itself on being a responsible, sustainable business. Our new Sustainability Strategy embodies our ambition to go further to reduce our environmental footprint and to have a positive, sustainable impact wherever we work. But 'Sustainability' is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

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UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC - Glasgow 2021

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This Page is [ARCHIVED CONTENT] and shows what the site page https://ukcop26.org/ looked like on 1 Apr 2023 at 05:49:04

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What Your Most Loved Brands Are Doing to Become More Sustainable | Salons Direct

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No matter where you look these days, efforts are afoot to protect the environment. Industries as diverse as the clothing industry and the food industry are striving to become more sustainable - and the beauty industry is no exception! At Salons Direct we're big advocates of becoming greener, so we've taken a look at what your most loved brands are doing to become more sustainable.

French beauty giant L'Oréal has made some bold commitments to becoming more sustainable in recent years.

They have introduced a program called 'L'Oréal for the Future' which sets out several areas where they want to become more sustainable:

Fighting climate change.

Managing water sustainably.

Respecting biodiversity.

Preserving natural resources.

For a world without animal testing.

Within each of these areas, L'Oréal has set wide-ranging sustainability targets. But, they're not starting from scratch.

Since 2005 L'Oréal has reduced the CO₂ emissions of its manufacturing facilities and distribution centres by 81%. And, at the end of 2020, the company had 72 carbon-neutral sites. Plus, 96% of L'Oréal's new or renovated products now have improved environmental footprints.

Let's take a look at some of these L'Oréal products that are now more environmentally friendly than ever!

L'Oréal Serie Expert

L'Oréal's Serie Expert range of hair products now use plastic bottles that are made from up to 95% recycled plastic. In addition, their manufacturing process is carbon neutral and uses less water.

L'Oréal Majirel

L'Oréal's Majirel hair colouring system, which offers a rich, permanent hair dye, uses pack designs that feature a new 100% recycled plastic cap that saves 7 tons of plastic each year.

Pureology, which was acquired by L'Oréal in the mid-2000s, puts sustainability at the heart of its brand.

They ensure that both their formulas' ingredients and packaging are as eco-friendly as possible, with products such as their shampoo and conditioner bottles made from 95% post-consumer recycled materials.

Pureology has also made significant gains in reducing energy and water consumption throughout their manufacturing facilities.

Next up we have Biolage, a leading haircare brand that traces its roots to 1990, and hairdresser and entrepreneur Arnie Miller.

As a brand, one of its core values is to educate hairstylists and consumers alike on sustainable beauty practices. For Biolage, sustainability is an everyday promise.

They have three core sustainability principles that they are acting upon:

Manufacturing - their primary manufacturing facility in the US is powered by renewable energy and is continually seeking to reduce both water consumption and the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Packaging - every single Biolage bottle is manufactured from 90% PCR (Post Consumer Resin), with a target of achieving 100% by 2022.

Investment in green chemistry - Biolage is also committed to ensuring that all of the formulas and ingredients in its products are as green and sustainable as possible.

If you're looking for a sustainable hair care brand to use in your salon, you can't get much better than Biolage!

Schwarzkopf

Beauty giant Schwarzkopf is another brand that's making significant efforts to make every aspect of its operations more sustainable. Schwarzkopf has embraced the green agenda, " making it our mission to make a difference with services and products that look, smell and feel delightful ".

In order to become greener and reduce its carbon footprint, Schwarzkopf aims to:

Use 50% less fossil-based virgin plastic by 2025.

Reduce plastic waste disposed of in the environment.

Support waste collection and recycling initiatives to promote closed-loop recycling and drive the circular economy.

Reduce their footprint across the value chain by increasing their efficiency and becoming climate positive by 2040.

These actions are being taken across the company, but there are certain product lines that have been made notably more sustainable, such as Schwarzkopf's Igora Royal range.

Schwarzkopf Igora Royal

Schwarzkopf really have gone to extensive efforts to make their brilliant Igora Royal permanent colour range as sustainable as possible.

Having completely revised the Igora Royal packaging, Schwarzkopf has been able to claim that the new tubes used in their Igora Royal products save 350 tonnes of new virgin aluminium every year.

Not only that, but by using a new type of cap, they are saving 80 tonnes of virgin plastic per year. Finally, the folding box used across the Igora Royal range saves 340 tonnes of virgin paper per year.

We're sure you'll admit, those are seriously impressive figures!

Redken Hair Care

US beauty brand Redken is another company that's making brilliant efforts to become more sustainable.

Redken's packaging plant has a solar array that provides an amazing 1.42MW of power through 4,140 solar panels, which saves a total of 1,324 metric tons of CO₂ per year.

Not only that, but Redken is going to great lengths to make its packaging as sustainable as possible. For example, all Redken bottles are made with at least 93% recycled plastic.

For OLAPLEX, 'the environment comes first'. They are committed to developing and maintaining sustainable products that have environmental, social, and economic benefits across their entire lifecycle.

OLAPLEX is particularly focused on making their product packaging as sustainable as possible and thanks to their ongoing efforts have been able to save 27m gallons of water, prevent 1.7m pounds of greenhouse gases from being emitted into the environment and (our personal favourite) have saved 21,000 trees from being cut down.

They're also committed to offering entirely cruelty-free products as well as ensuring that their formulas don't contain any harmful ingredients; as a result, OLAPLEX products are free from sulfates, phthalates, and phosphates.

With over 6,000 employees across 100 countries, Wella is a beauty brand with a significant footprint, and it's a footprint they're busy making more sustainable.

Wella has set out a series of sustainability commitments that they are aiming to meet by 2030. These commitments cover multiple areas of their business including innovation, packaging, sourcing, manufacturing, transport and consumer use.

Having said that, Wella has already achieved a considerable amount. For example:

All of their factories and distribution centres now use renewable electricity.

Their factories all have energy reduction plans in place.

They are close to achieving zero waste to landfill.

They've replaced all plastic packing materials with 100% recycled paper, which has reduced the overall materials consumed and transported plastic by 46 tonnes per year.

So it certainly looks like Wella has achieved an enormous amount so far. They're another brand you should certainly consider if sustainability is at the top of your salon's agenda!

Paper Not Foil

Finally on our list we have Paper Not Foil, who describe themselves as the sustainable alternative to hair foils.

Traditional aluminium foil has a considerable environmental impact - far more than most people realise. For every 1 tonne of aluminium foil produced, 12 tonnes of greenhouse gases are emitted. Plus, aluminium can take up to 400 years to break down - and if the aluminum foils are washed, they cannot be recycled...

But, Paper Not Foil are here to make salons way more sustainable thanks to their revolutionary alternative to aluminium foils.

Just how good are Paper Not Foil's strips? Here are some eye-opening figures:

They are made using 96% less energy than foil.

Each strip is biodegradable in landfills without producing any toxic waste.

The strips are washable and can be reused for a second time.

They are produced without using water, acid or bleach.

Every strip is fully recyclable.

If you're serious about making your salon an ecological exemplar, start using Paper Not Foil!

Salons Direct: the home of sustainable salon supplies

We hope you've enjoyed our update on what some of the leading beauty brands are doing to become more sustainable.

At Salons Direct we take sustainability seriously and as such stock a huge variety of eco-friendly, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly brands. Explore them all today!
Read more salon advice on the Salons Direct How to Make Your Salon Business More Eco-Friendly & Sustainable | Single-Use Towels or Reusable Towels: Which Is Best for Your Eco-Friendly Salon? | What to Consider When Adding Vegan Treatments to Your Salon blog...

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What Your Most Loved Brands Are Doing to Become More Sustainable | Salons Direct

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No matter where you look these days, efforts are afoot to protect the environment. Industries as diverse as the clothing industry and the food industry are striving to become more sustainable - and the beauty industry is no exception!

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A Guide to 2022's Best New Sustainable, Circular, Refillable Products

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With language like "circular" and "climate-positive" swirling around the best sustainable beauty brands of 2022 (not to mention reports that 76% of consumers are now seeking out sustainable products), this is the year to consider your relationship with "wish-cycling." If you haven't heard the term, you might already be doing it. "Tossing stuff in the curbside bin and hoping for the best" is how Mia Davis, Credo's VP of impact and sustainability, defines it.

That said, the problem starts long before your wish-cycling. "Brands and municipal recycling facilities don't usually offer guidance, and a lot of plastic beauty packaging doesn't even have resin identification code on it," says Davis, pointing out that in 2018, an estimated 120 billion units of cosmetics packaging were produced globally. "Most beauty products are packaged in plastic-think of all of the plastic compacts, lipsticks, squeezable tubes, jars, caps, and pumps...but only about nine percent of plastic is recycled." When the rest is incinerated, landfilled, or dumped, and consumers are scream-requesting that Big Beauty recognizes and reforms its role in this wasteful cycle, industry experts are addressing the issue in a number of ways. Credo's Sustainable Packaging Guidelines require brands to share accurate disposal instructions with customers, plus eliminate single-use packaging. That means no more sheet masks, makeup wipes, treatment pads, or tiny sample packets (an industry first, according to Davis).

Packaging isn't the only thing that makes a product circular or conscious when factors like production methods, clean energy, harvesting techniques, and ingredient sourcing all play into a mission to improve wasteful or unethical practices. Even creating a refillable option for hard-to-recycle categories (like fragrance bottles, which many beauty-focused programs like Beautycycle don't accept) is a step in the right direction. At brick and mortar locations for Krigler Perfumes, for example, teams reuse and refill vessels. "Ship or bring back empty bottles and we can recycle them-and our stores are also trained to refill bottles," explains Ben Krigler, fifth-generation perfumer for the storied house worn by American royals like Grace Kelly ( Chateau Krigler 12, credited as a "lucky charm" after her Oscar win), Jackie O ( Lovely Patchouli 55), and John F. Kennedy ( America One 31). Plus, they've considered a circularity gap in one lucrative category: "Our scented candles are eco-friendly," says Krigler of the non-GMO soy wax blends. "We can also refill them for our clients-with the same scent or a different one." If luxury brands are considering the long game, the hope is that it soon goes mainstream.

Below, an assortment of products that are stepping (with large and small strides) into the sustainable future:

For Chanel's just-launched eco-responsible approach to beauty, the French house's new N°1 De Chanel Revitalizing Cream is made from 95% natural ingredients. New bio-based packaging is clearly marked for each component, like a refillable container made of glass and a cap that includes biocomposite from Camellia husks and wood by-products.

Housed in a 100% recyclable tube, Augustinus Bader's eye cream, rich in vitamin C and niacinamide, is created with sustainably sourced botanicals and bio-engineered actives. Even the recyclable box is made from renewable plant fibers. Pop it in its ceramic base, or simply carry it on its own for a truly minimalistic beauty approach.

An eco-forward option thanks to lighter packaging and shipping footprint, waterless shampoo ingredients work just as well when activated in the shower. Viori (of TikTok rice water fame) keeps a running tally of the (nearly 3 million) plastic bottles they've kept from the ocean, as well as the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water saved. Five percent of the proceeds are donated to initiatives that support the Red Yao tribe's community in the Huanglo mountains of China.

Launched as their first refillable product, Tata Harper Skincare's Water-Lock Moisturizer features airtight packaging and a 100% recyclable refill pod. Now, their signature green glass packaging only needs to be shipped to you once.

The main bioactive ingredient in this cleanser, olive leaf extract, is a byproduct (meaning otherwise unusable) from a family-run California farm's olive harvest. Circumference utilizes the olive leaves that would have otherwise been biowaste to carefully (and with a chemical-free method) extract potent actives, then returns the mulch to the farm to be used as compost for a circular production system.

Le Prunier's best-selling beauty oil can be used as a multipurpose moisturizer, though the entire recipe relies on a single ingredient. Formulated using upcycled plums, the fruit is sourced from a fourth-generation family farm.

In 2022, Korres will open its in-store recycle lab in New York City, though they already use 90% recyclable packaging and have picked up over 25,000 pieces of plastic in less than a year at their Athens-based recycle lab. The brand also supports over 1,000 Greek farming families by purchasing 100% of their plant materials from Greek farmers before extracting actives (often from already-discarded vineyard grapes) at a zero-waste lab, then returning any unused plant matter to the soil as fertilizer.

Salwa Peterson shares that 100% of the electricity used to produce her products is green, 100% of the water is "cleaned and returned to nature," 100% of vegetable trash is composted, 100% of packaging is recyclable, and 100% of paper is FSC certified. The women who respectfully harvest the organic Chébé seeds in the line's hair cream are paid three times the local salary, and 2% of proceeds go to African Parks Network, which manages 20 National Parks across the continent for a partnership that's helped them, technically, reach carbon-negative status.

To create an atmospheric version of their fragrance worn by Jackie Onassis, Krigler infused it into non-GMO soy wax. Poured into hand-made glass by French artisans, the vessel is designed to be reused again and again. Once the candle is at the end of its life, Krigler locations will refill the glass with the scent of your choice.

Made from clean ingredients with sustainability in mind, La Perla's new probiotic body lotion serum pump can be swapped out of its sculpted base.

A marriage of high fashion and forward-looking logic, Hermès's blush refill comes with a tiny key that can be inserted to pop out the powder pan and replace it with a new one. Perfect for the consumer who isn't ready to forgo design for a category as aesthetically focused as beauty.

For Rihanna's invisible SPF, the niacinamide-powered broad-spectrum formula is stamped with Sephora's clean seal of approval. It also now comes in a refillable container that can be used on its own for a more travel-friendly sunscreen format.

Glow Recipe has built a reputation for adorable packaging, so it makes sense that the brand launched refills so that fans never have to throw them away. The Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid moisturizer's clean formula also received reviews from 100% of consumer study subjects that it kept skin dewy and hydrated all day.

Long celebrated for clean mineral formulas, Jane Iredale was a leader in the refillable complexion category. Recyclable aluminum tins of pressed powder can be swapped in and out of lightweight compacts for easy transport.

An industry favorite for thoughtful design, Byredo offers a set of their refillable brow pencil and cartridge. Once the last bits have been used, empty refills can be dropped into Nordstrom's Beautycycle bin.

Dior's Rouge Dior line of lipsticks is refillable (and recently relaunched with more natural ingredients). For those avoiding lipsticks for masking purposes, consider the crystal clear balm.

The Organic Pharmacy launched its Diamond Refillable Collection last year for bestsellers like their eye cream. Easily popped into its glass container, the formula combines rose flower water and diamond powder for a hydrating, soft-focus effect.

Launched this week, the Everyday Humans oil cleanser (that doubles as an exfoliator) is designed to remove SPF and fight sun damage thanks to upcycled green fig extract. Repurposed fig stones that would have been food waste are pressed into an antioxidant-rich extract that's packed with vitamin C.

Charlotte Tilbury's cult-favorite Magic Cream (which was initially inspired by a home recipe she would use behind the scenes on models like Kate Moss) now features an entire refill set. Brands housing products in glamorously heavy lucite jars, take note.

For its 97% naturally derived scents, St. Rose also upcycles ingredients. Petals that create rose concentrate (a fragrance staple) are typically discarded-instead, St. Rose captures its "smokier" rose essence by saving them and distilling the petals a second time, while sawdust from a Moroccan furniture business using wood from the Atlas mountains is saved and turned into cedarwood atlas notes. Both are present in their Vigilante eau de parfum. With its recycle program, empty bottles can be returned for customer credit on a next purchase.

While the full version features a luxury glass, zero-plastic, refillable bottle, this refill wash comes in what the brand describes as "the world's first compostable refill" designed to biodegrade in six weeks with industrial composting.

Saalt shares that the average person using disposable products uses approximately 16,900 tampons in their lifetime, when a single menstrual cup can last up to ten years. After teaming up with rePurpose Global, they're slated to be the first period care brand to certify as Plastic Negative (a step beyond neutral) by pledging to remove twice as much waste from the environment as is generated in their supply chain by funding the cleanup of low-value plastic waste. Plus, those funds support recycling programs for impoverished communities affected by plastic waste and provide higher-paying jobs for waste workers.

An exponentially less wasteful alternative to makeup wipes, Face Halo's dual-sided, reusable rounds are safe for sensitive, reactive skin types thanks to pH neutrality-plus compatible with preferred cleansers. Lasting for up to 200 wash cycles (a year or more), the brand also offers a circular option for end-of-life with its launch of Modern Merch, where a team of local designers hand stitch upcycled Face Halos onto garments.

Youth to The People created an extra-large refill size for its pH-balanced cleanser that's become a favorite for even sensitive skin types. It's also stamped with Sephora's Clean + Planet Positive seal, which means that ingredients that are harmful to both humans and the planet are left out, and brands are active in climate commitments and environmental giving.

Thanks to super-concentrated formulas, one bottle of powdered hair wash is the equivalent of four liquid-based formulas. Sephora stamped the line's fragrance-free launches with their Clean + Planet positive seal of approval, and Susteau notes that removing the emulsification process during manufacturing alone eliminates over 90% of the energy in the product life cycle of traditional liquid shampoo and conditioner. Formulations are biodegradable, and bottles are made with over 95% ocean-bound, recycled plastic, and can be recycled curbside.

Bathing Culture's concentrated mind and body wash (which lasts longer than traditional liquid soaps) has become such a favorite for its clean ingredients and ethical production that it now offers an entire gallon-sized refill. It's also biodegradable, made with certified organic ingredients, and the rainbow glass packaging is what the industry calls "counter-worthy."

While Susanne Kaufmann's glass bottles fall into the industry's aforementioned "counter-worthy" category, the refill system cuts carbon emissions by 69%. Designed with 75% post-consumer material, refill bags can be recycled after use.

With a 100% post-consumer paper-wrapped box and compostable cellophane, Ayond's dreamy natural formulas are delivered consciously, though the brand takes it a step further with a recycling program. Save the original box, then gather caps, pumps, and droppers, request a shipping label, and they'll take it from there.

Disposable masks are no longer an acceptable form of self-care to many in the industry. Dieux, instead, offers a 100% medical-grade silicone alternative that can be used daily without adding to the waste cycle.

A plant-based, color-changing blush oil that reacts to your skin's natural pH, Youthforia's formulas are USDA BioPreferred (meaning they're made with fewer fossil fuels than traditional formulas for a smaller carbon footprint) and recyclable through Terracycle.

Model Miranda Kerr launched her Kora Organics brand with a focus on 100% certified organic ingredients, though the many products with refillable packaging have brought the brand recent recognition. The Vitamin C Eye Cream refill is praised in reviews for cutting cost-and waste.

Certified free of all microplastics and technically zero-waste, Superzero's waterless formulas also use compostable bio-wrappers made from beer industry leftovers and make an effort to upcycle food waste like blueberry seed oil (from the juicing industry) in their hand balm bars.

Using proprietary native plants to support biodiversity and improve soil on their regenerative farms in Costa Rica is step one for Thrive Natural Care, which also packages its products in plants like this tube, made from sustainably sourced sugarcane from Brazil. BodyShield 50 features medicinal plant oil with anti-inflammatory skin benefits, and the brand was awarded an Amazon Launchpad Innovation Grant for its mineral SPF formula and its regenerative business model.

A project of Jada Pinkett Smith (who acts as the face of the brand, its creative director, and its co-founder), Hey Humans products are packaged in "infinitely recyclable" aluminum and paper. The clean formulas are also naturally-derived and designed to be gender-neutral.

With free-range mint sourced sustainably from 4th-generation farmers in Oregon, Hello offers another addition to the waterless category of the future. Their toothpaste tablets shake around in a recyclable, reusable tin jar that requires less energy and carbon emissions for shipping and storage.

The Taos-based brand runs on 100% renewable solar energy, and recognizes water as a precious resource, making 97% of their clean line waterless, or "anhydrous" as they say. Products are housed in FSC Certified paper and recyclable through Terracycle.

"Check out MOB Beauty," Davis suggests of the line founded by Victor Casale, an original MAC team member. "Their packaging is simple and beautiful, sustainable and refillable." The compacts are reusable and created with post-consumer recycled PET, which the brand notes is the most easily recyclable resin.

Made out of 99.7% pure aluminum, the tubes used for Everist products are single-use plastic free and recyclable. The super-concentrated formulas rely on biodegradable ingredients, and the line's small carbon footprint is offset to be neutral.

Cleo + Coco's zero-waste deodorant bar (which includes charcoal without triggering a detox process) arrives in biodegradable FSC certified packaging, wrapped in compostable paper. It comes with a reusable storage bag, and the bottom consists of a wax mold (for gripping) that can be recycled, reused, or absorbed safely back into the earth.

ANISA's beauty tools are created with closed-loop manufacturing and committed to producing with 20% reduced landfill waste and scrap reduction, 50% recycled water (treated and released with a pH6 level), and 80% improved electrical efficiency with LED lighting.

Already an industry favorite for style-lengthening products (like dry shampoo), Klorane designed this innovative 2-in-1 mask to control oil while boosting volume and detangling. Made with 72% less packaging in a 100% recyclable, FSC-certified box, production requires four times fewer CO2 emissions, three times less energy, and two times less water than their traditional liquid version.

AmaSea Beauty's line depends on the ocean and supports restorative ocean farming and coastal conservation. Founder Antoinette Marquez is an ocean conservationist working to protect a kelp forest off the coast of Santa Barbara and practices ocean stewardship with PharmaSea to maintain and restore coastal marine habitats.

Touting itself as "the world's first zero-waste mascara," Izzy's mascara is reusable, recyclable, and CarbonNeutral®. Thanks to a medical-grade stainless steel tube designed to be refilled again and again, once the formula runs out, it can be dropped in a multi-use mailer (where even the shipping process is zero-waste).

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A Guide to 2022's Best New Sustainable, Circular, Refillable Products

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With language like "circular" and "climate-positive" swirling around the best sustainable beauty brands of 2022 (not to mention reports that 76% of consumers are now seeking out sustainable products), this is the year to consider your relationship with "wish-cycling." If you haven't heard the term, you might already be doing it.

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BASIS 12 Principles for Sustainability in Sport

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BASIS 12 Principles for Sustainability in Sport

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BASIS 12 principles outline environmental, social and economic markers against which sustainability performance can be managed and assessed.

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Why does sustainability matter?

The business case for sustainability

Looking to tomorrow is the right thing to do. However, there's more to it than that. There are many drivers for sustainable development for London Fire Brigade: legislation, Government and Mayoral policies and strategies, financial benefits and risk management, alongside the clear moral imperative.

So what are our big ambitions, sustainably speaking?

1. To help everyone breath cleaner, safer air by running a zero emission fleet by 2050.

2. We aim to reduce our CO ₂ emissions by 60 per cent by 2025 (against 1990 levels), and aspire to go even further achieving zero carbon by 2050

3. We want to give young Londoners a brighter future through employment and apprenticeship opportunities and programmes like Fire Cadets.

4. We are passionate about the inclusion of staff and all Londoners - this is the foundation of our inclusion strategy.

5. Reducing our consumption of resources and waste generated by moving towards a more circular approach for the things we buy.

6. We want our staff and those working in our supply chains to benefit from fair working conditions including the London Living Wage.

7. To make the public money we spend go further by buying responsibly and increasing the social value delivered to the community through our contracts.

8. To better protect the natural environment in the way we fight fires and other incidents.

9. To help our staff to be healthier and happier by reducing accidents and helping them to build resilience to deal with the stresses of their lifesaving jobs.

10. To reduce the environmental, social and economic impacts of fires by continually reducing the number of fires - every fire we attend has a very real cost to people, places and planet, so prevention wherever possible is our aim.

Sustainable development explained

What is sustainable development?

The most widely used definition of sustainable development remains that of the United Nations - 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. More broadly balancing the three pillars of sustainability: the environment, society and the economy.

These are the areas we have focused on, and you can see how we've performed on the success stories page - or by downloading our annual report below.

Want the full story?

Where to find detailed information about London Fire Brigade's sustainable development ambitions

Though these pages have been created to provide an overview of our actions and ambitions in sustainable development, there's much more to share.

Download our reports

The downloadable 'Sustainable Development Strategy 2016 - 2020 provides a detailed overview of what we hope to achieve in the near future. Meanwhile, if you'd like to get to grips with the facts and figures of how much we've achieved so far, you'll find our Sustainable Development Annual Report an interesting read. Our Environmental Policy explains our clean, green priorities.

Other documents available in our Publications Scheme hub include our Single Environment Plan, which groups together actions across all environmental themes, previously set out in individual plans covering biodiversity, waste and travel. It also identifies the actions we will take to support delivery of the Mayor's London Environment Strategy. You can also download them at the bottom of this page.

Explore stats, facts and figures

More into interesting stats and fascinating facts? Pop over to our Did you know page here. You'll find out all manner of intriguing things. For example, much of the fire hose we retired in 2017 was upcycled into handbags, wallets and luggage!

Relevant reads...

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Looking to tomorrow is the right thing to do. However, there's more to it than that. There are many drivers for sustainable development for London Fire Brigade: legislation, Government and Mayoral policies and strategies, financial benefits and risk management, alongside the clear moral imperative.

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Our Sustainability Agenda builds on tourism as a force for good, while being mindful of our footprint. Our ambition is to continue to lead the industry and actively shape a more sustainable future for tourism in all three dimensions of sustainability (social, environmental and economic). We strive to become sustainability leaders in all that we do.

Our Agenda is underpinned by three core building blocks, to empower 'People' to drive development, reduce TUI's environmental footprint on the 'Planet' and partner with others to 'Progress' the transformation of our industry.

Commitments include reducing the Group's emissions. As an important interim step, TUI has committed to 2030 emission reduction targets for its own airlines, cruises and hotels. The independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a collaboration by the UN Global Compact and WWF, among others, conducted an in-depth review of TUI's targets to ensure they were in line with the latest climate science and approved ago. By 2030, emissions from TUI Airline are to be reduced by 24 percent, Group-owned hotels by at least 46.2 percent and cruises by 27.5 percent compared to 2019 levels. Further commitments include achieving net-zero emissions across our operations and supply chain by 2050 at the latest, becoming a circular business, enabling 20 million customers a year to make sustainable holiday choices by 2030 and co-creating the sustainable destination of the future.

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We are mindful of the importance of travel and tourism for many countries in the world and for the people living there. We partner with these countries and other stakeholders to actively shape a more sustainable future for tourism. We are in a decade of sustainable transformation. TUI takes its r...

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​"The planet is our only dancefloor": How dance music events are adapting to sustainability

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Features

With sustainability at the forefront of this summer's events planning, Gemma Ross investigates how the dance music community is making an eco-friendly festival season a priority

Words: Gemma Ross | Photography: Vishnu R Nair, Jordy Brada

29 April 2022

A worrying statistic was published in 2021, offering a stark insight into the damaging impact that we - as rave-goers, city-hoppers and travelling musicians - make on the world. It revealed that in 2019, 1000 touring DJs took more than 51,000 flights around the world, tallying up to an equivalent amount of CO2 produced by over 20,000 households in a year. Sounds a little daunting, right?

In the wake of the recent Earth Day, mentions of global warming have more than likely made their way onto your phone screen, bringing startling statistics that further open your eyes to the damage being done to our planet. While the pandemic took focus as a more immediate threat and slowed down emissions for a time, as we head out the other side, tackling the climate emergency must be a primary concern. This year, the music industry is laying out stepping stones to a more sustainable future amidst the first full festival season since 2019 for most across the globe and the longest Ibiza season ever.

For some, those lengthy few years away from festival planning allowed time to reflect and build systems for change that will enable organisers to adapt more easily to sustainable measures. It was during this time that Brian Eno launched the music industry initiative EarthPercent, Massive Attack commissioned a study into the industry's carbon footprint, and a nightclub in Glasgow trialled using dancers' body heat to power the venue. Alongside hundreds of other initiatives, tools, summits, studies, and blueprints, the music is slowly taking charge of these issues, but the industry's impact on climate change still weighs heavily.

An agenda-setting event in the music calendar - Ibiza's International Music Summit - has made green issues a key focus. Each year, thousands flock to the White Isle to take part in panels, open conversations and parties across three days, signalling the launch of the Ibiza season. This year, IMS focuses on a handful of paramount topics, but the climate emergency is arguably the most pressing.

"When I think back to launching IMS those 13 years ago, we focused on more industry-related topics. As time went on, other issues started to become more of a priority and we became more conscious of our role and responsibility of putting on an event like this," says Ben Turner, co-founder of IMS alongside long-serving partner, Pete Tong. "Because of the nature of what conferences do and stand for, we felt it was our duty to help educate, inform and inspire, and look beyond those issues". Each year, IMS invests interest into the hard-hitting topics spanning sexual harassment, mental health, diversity and inclusion, and climate change. The latter discussion takes centre stage this year with multiple conversations surrounding sustainability and environmentalism within the industry.
Read this next: How dance music can limit its environmental impact

"Just before the pandemic, I remember very clearly curating IMS 2020 - I felt that year the world really woke up to the fact that there is an ever decreasing and vastly emerging timeline in which we can save this world. The music industry wasn't doing enough, the electronic industry certainly wasn't doing enough, but I felt like the world turned that year and this was the number one priority for everybody," Turner tells us. This year, IMS introduced the Eco Badge initiative encouraging festival-goers to travel more sustainably - whether it be by bicycle, ferry, or train. "We ask people travelling over to show a picture of their ferry ticket and they get a heavily discounted price in return. We've also added an eco-tax onto the delegate badge, so we're contributing a certain amount from every ticket sale toward this area with beach cleans and generally putting it back into the system."

While Turner admits that the International Music Summit is only a fraction of the way toward becoming fully circular, he knows that the end goal is in reach. "We're about 30% of where we want to be," he says. "Building one of our stages, Dalt Villa, almost completely environmentally friendly was a big idea, it's our big trophy event and finale. It's on a world heritage site so as the next few years evolve, that will become one of our next big targets."

Such schemes were set in place after consultation with the team behind A Greener Festival, one of the industry's longest-running sustainability organisations. Through training and education, award initiatives, conferences, and supplier directories, A Greener Festival has helped the industry move one step closer to an eco-friendly future. "I've been pleasantly surprised by how many festivals are taking sustainability on board this year. We've seen more festivals than ever applying to the Greener Festival Awards, everything is pushing in the right direction," A Greener Festival's Co-founder, Claire O'Neill, tells Mixmag. "The research that we first did in 2005 proved that this is actually what audiences want."

Transport is a major contributor to emissions, accounting for around 20% of global CO₂ emissions, and this figure is expected keep rising as the global population grows. "Artists have a big impact when they travel from place to place, most of the time they need to fly because they have a tight schedule," says DGTL Festival's Sustainability Manager, Mitchell van Dooijeweerd, shortly after the Amsterdam event's eighth edition. Each year, DGTL works toward one main goal: becoming the world's first circular electronic music event - meaning every material and resource used is put straight back into the event itself. DGTL claims to close material loops, eliminate CO2 emissions, and use renewable energy to create a 100% sustainable event. The festival's 2022 edition officially marked that milestone goal with a momentous breakthrough over Easter weekend, sealing it as an entirely sustainable festival through and through. "It's really important for artists to show and influence fans that it's possible to lower your impact. So, we launched The Climate Gig," says van Dooijeweerd.

The Climate Gig, another reformist initiative forged during the bleak years of the pandemic, pushes musicians to take travel more seriously. "We bought sustainable aviation fuel for artists, they pay 50% and we pay 50% - we made it accessible for everyone in the world and every event. We're hoping to get the whole music industry on board," he says. Much like Brian Eno's EarthPercent counterpart, The Climate Gig encourages those in the industry to pledge toward sustainable resources while offering advice to both music fans and artists. Tackling this new scheme alongside Mitchell is Camille Guitteau, Managing Director at Bye Bye Plastic, a foundation looking to rid the music industry of all single-use plastics. "Very simply, the planet is our only dancefloor," Guitteau tells us. "It's important for every industry and for every individual [to be eco-friendly] right now, it's our responsibility for each of us, both past and future generations."

Read this next: Sustainable sesh: How clubs and festivals are boosting the green agenda

"To me, it's the responsibility for the music industry who want to continue having fun and partying and enjoying music on this planet [to promote sustainability] - let's make sure we do this responsibly for anyone to enjoy today and continue enjoying tomorrow," Guitteau adds. The Climate Gig pushes sustainably produced fuel from SkyNRG onto the music industry: "What is needed today is the demand for this fuel to grow. As long as it does that, we can continue researching more options with more airlines taking it on board," Guitteau explains. "The goal is to make sure this industry knows that there are solutions available and we can all do our part to stimulate this next generation."

"A massive part of this is education," agrees Ben Turner. "There are a lot of good examples of people doing good work, but it's an educational process which we need to dedicate more time to. The artist community also have a huge role to play. The planning of touring consciously is really important right from the artists to the agents, promoters, and logistics teams. We've got to start making some big moves as an industry, which is why we've got people like Brian Eno talking at IMS - someone who's put a huge amount of time and energy into educating and inspiring as someone the electronic world looks up to."

Other large scale events are picking up the slack from elsewhere and beginning to hammer down on this agenda for a circular future. Paris' We Love Green, Northampton's Shambala, and the Brecon Beacons' Green Man each take their responsibility seriously, to name a few, with initiatives cutting out single-use plastics, finding alternate power sources, using compost loos, and creating space for environmental innovation.

So, how can we, as music fans, artists, and industry figures, help to combat the climate emergency on our own accord? "Organisers should be looking at ways to reduce energy usage, whether that's technical production through to catering. Something that the audience can do is choose plant-based food options on-site, and when travelling, we should be taking a hard look at why and how we chose to get somewhere. By cutting down flights or investing into something that will balance those emissions, it could help dramatically," O'Neill says. Elsewhere, festival-goers could look into their use of plastic, The Climate Gig's Guitteau says. "Bio Plastic made a travel kit both for artists and travellers so that when you're on a trip, you can find alternatives to your deodorants, your earplugs, and so on."

Read this next: 10 ways festivals are tackling social and environmental issues
Find more resources and ways you can help below: EarthPercent
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter A Greener Festival
Bye Bye Plastic
SkyNRG
The Climate Gig
Julie's Bicycle
DJs For Climate Action
CHOOOSE
Revolution Foundation
International Music Summit
Plastic has also been an issue in the past for DGTL, something that has now been completely eliminated from the festival. Dooijeweerd tells us that when visitors enter the site, they're asked to discard all waste materials at the entrance which are then taken to recycling stations. "We have control over a lot of things, but not of what our visitors do. They can cooperate with the systems in place during our events, for example, the hard cup system that we've set up. Everybody should bring back their cups and not throw anything on the floor, if you smoke, don't put your cigarette butts on the ground," he explains.

We all have a responsibility to protect the planet, and the climate emergency won't disappear without our help. By making yourself heard, partaking in the schemes in place, and taking a self-reflective look at your choices, the music industry can do its part as well as any. Toward the end of last year, some of the biggest record labels clubbed together to pledge toward net-zero emissions. Now, it's our turn to help that work continue.

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​"The planet is our only dancefloor": How dance music events are adapting to sustainability

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Features With sustainability at the forefront of this summer's events planning, Gemma Ross investigates how the dance music community is making an eco-friendly festival season a priority Words: Gemma Ross | Photography: Vishnu R Nair, Jordy Brada 29 April 2022 A worrying statistic was published in 2021, offering a stark insight into the damaging impact that we - as rave-goers, city-hoppers and travelling musicians - make on the world.

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Sustainability in Live Performance - Association of British Theatre Technicians

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Association of British Theatre Technicians

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Sustainability in Live Performance - Association of British Theatre Technicians

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Theatre Green Book Resources: Groups and individuals across theatre have been talking for some time about how to make theatre more sustainable and working on blueprints to promote change. The Theatre Green Book aims to bring that thinking together into one place, and develop it as straightforward, p…

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We are the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.

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Resilience and sustainability | Arts Council England

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Blog Series: Supporting Environmental Sustainability in Performing Arts Heritage - APAC

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APAC is committed to supporting the preservation of the UK and Ireland's performing arts heritage for future generations, but we are aware of the threat climate change presents to that task. The climate crisis is the biggest existential threat facing us all. It will take both governments and polluters to bring about legislation and radical change to ensure we have a liveable planet for future generations. However as individuals, we can and we should all be making small changes, at home and in our workplaces, which can reduce our environmental impacts, empower ourselves and colleagues, and make ripples into the wider world.

We're starting this blog series to help support our members and wider sector to make their practice as sustainable and equitable as possible. Whether that's thinking about encouraging active travel, using sustainable suppliers and products, adapting your building to go green, managing your digital carbon footprint, increasing recycling and reducing waste, or using collections to highlight the climate crisis, everyone can do something.

Throughout the series we'll be sharing:

The benefits of sustainable practice.

GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) specific sustainability research, reports, policies, and guidelines.

Relevant sustainability focused organisations, events and training.

Examples of best practice from organisations and colleagues within the GLAM sector who are leading on environmental sustainability.

Performance which has highlighted the climate crisis and its human impact proving the power of the performing arts to convey a message.

As part of the blog series we would love to hear from any of our members about the acts both big and small that they are taking to care for our climate and ensure the preservation of performing arts heritage. We want to share your skills and passion so we can expand our knowledge and make positive collective change.

Please get in touch with your tips, tools, resources or examples via email info@performingartscollections.org.uk or Twitter @apac_ssn

Posted: Friday, June 17th, 2022

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Blog Series: Supporting Environmental Sustainability in Performing Arts Heritage - APAC

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APAC is committed to supporting the preservation of the UK and Ireland's performing arts heritage for future generations, but we are aware of the threat climate change presents to that task. The climate crisis is the biggest existential threat facing us all.

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Sustainability Guide for Photography: Getting Started - Green Business Bureau

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It is time to get serious about sustainability in the photography industry. The younger generation cares about climate change, the planet, and who they do business with. They seek out products and services that are environmentally and socially responsible. Nearly respondents indicate sustainability is important for them. For those who say it is very/extremely important, over 70 percent would pay at least 35% more for brands that are sustainable and environmentally responsible. By incorporating sustainability into the core of your business, you'll attract more customers and employees, gain their trust and loyalty, and help protect the environment.

Environmental Challenges in Photography

Due to the nature of the business, you might think that digital photography is environmentally friendly and doesn't need to be regulated in terms of sustainability; however, digital photography is not as clean as we might think.

Here are some of the impacts digital photography has on the planet:

It generates electronic waste.

Production of SD memory cards produces high CO2 emissions and requires rare minerals.

Batteries only last a maximum of three years.

Data storage is kept in the cloud, which consumes resources.

On average, photographers have to replace their cameras, computers and phones every five years because they become obsolete.

Photography generates a lot of waste from printing and selling photo paper and prints (many of the products are not being sold and go to waste).

Sustainable Photography Initiatives

Below are some initiatives to incorporate sustainable photography into your business.
Buy from Green Suppliers
Buy equipment from certified green dealers to support sustainable businesses and encourage other businesses to be more environmentally-friendly. Ensure you are choosing certified green suppliers with public sustainability initiatives and avoid those that practice greenwashing, the tactic that businesses use to seem more sustainable that they actually are. Some examples of sustainable photography equipment suppliers include , , and Hasselblad.
Use High Quality or Used Cameras and Borrow
Buy one good piece of equipment instead of buying many cheap ones and changing them out regularly as they fail. Borrow lenses for special photo shoots instead of buying new ones; it will save you money and will generate less waste for the environment.

A GBB member and part of the Shutterfly Inc. family, Borrow Lenses, is an online camera rental giant with small business-style customer service. Their mission is to advance the photographic and cinematic dreams of their customers by delivering superior, cutting-edge gear through their stress-free rental process. With their business model, customers can choose the gear they want, when they want to receive it and for how long they want to rent it for, encouraging the circular economy. Learn more about Borrow Lenses in their Member Story.
Outsource Printing
Outsource your company's printing instead of buying a printer. Some of the benefits of outsourcing can include: lower costs, increased efficiency, variable capacity, increased flexibility to meet changing business and commercial conditions, and accelerated time to market.
Use Eco-friendly Recyclable Packaging
Ship the photos and your products in recyclable packaging and use sustainable mailing services. There are many advantages using recycled packaging, some of which include reducing your shipping costs, improving brand image, and expanding your customer base. To learn more about the benefits of green packaging read another of our GBB articles, 1 0 Advantages of Green Packaging to the Environment .
Create a Virtual Gallery
Have a virtual gallery instead of an in-person one, so you would print to meet order demand only and not waste any materials preemptively. Instead of renting a gallery or retail space and printing multiple photos that may not be purchased, print the ones already selected by a customer. There are plenty of online conference and video tools you can use to take your event online. and offer free tools on their platforms or you can sign up to Microsoft Teams or for paid video tools. Setting up events for your customers and including yourself as the artist is a great way to bring back that intimacy of an exhibition. Here's more info on how to host a virtual art gallery .
Certify Your Photography Business
Certify your business with any of the following available legitimate green certifications to avoid greenwashing and market your business as a green business. There are many environmental certifications that are actually reliable , so if you're looking to make a difference and kickstart your sustainability journey, you should choose from a trustworthy list. This GBB article touches on the different types of Sustainability Certifications and will help you understand all your options.

Conclusion

Photographers should become more eco-friendly and switch to sustainable business practices. Following recommendations listed in this article your business will be able to:

Help preserve the planet and play a part in a global movement to stop the global warming

Save money by reducing waste

Improve its reputation and brand

Grow sales by attracting a new group of customers who seek sustainable photographers

Retain more customers and improve loyalty

Attract new employees that care about a greener environment

Minimize waste from printing, packaging, and buying new equipment

Become a greener business that encourage other businesses to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly

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Sustainability Guide for Photography: Getting Started

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It is time to get serious about sustainability in the photography industry. The younger generation cares about climate change, the planet, and who they do business with.

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Sustainable Catering: Small Business Guide - Green Business Bureau

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Catering is an essential service for countless companies, organizations and private events, but with that comes environmental and social impacts. Thankfully, there are many opportunities to improve the sustainability of your catering services, whether it be how the food is sourced, prepared, transported or served. This article covers the how-to's of sustainable catering for business owners looking to green their operations.

Getting Started

Making your catering services more sustainable may seem like a daunting task and it's okay to be unsure of where to start. Here are 7 sustainable initiatives you can use to make your company more eco-friendly:

Reduce Food Waste

Source Locally From Sustainable Suppliers

Use Eco-Friendly Tableware

Reduce Water Waste

Offer Meatless Food Options

Make Your Kitchen Sustainable

Switch to Electric or Sustainable Fuel

Reduce Food Waste

Food waste is a huge emitter of methane, a planet-warming greenhouse gas, and takes up a large portion of municipal landfills. It's extremely important to get an accurate estimate on the amount of people you will be serving at each event as this will avoid unnecessary leftovers. Serving smaller portions can prevent food waste too.

Although it may seem obvious, properly storing and refrigerating food is extremely important when it comes to preventing food waste. Make sure your refrigeration system is working properly and has an emergency power source. Providing recyclable to-go boxes and encouraging customers to take home leftovers is another effective way to reduce waste.

Partnering with local food rescue organizations is a great way to donate your surplus food to those in need in the community. Replate and Too Good to Go are two examples of digital food rescue programs that connect food donors with nonprofits seeking food donations. As for local food rescue programs, the EPA offers a fantastic guide that your company can use to find food banks and community centers near your business.

While non-perishable food can be donated to any of these food donation programs, perishable food is trickier to donate, however there are places that will accept them if they haven't spoiled and are packaged properly.

Adding a compost system to your kitchen is a great way to turn foods unfit for donation and spoiled leftovers into nutrient-rich soil. This soil can then be donated to local farms or community gardens, or it can be used in your own company garden. Vertical gardens in particular are great for catering companies that have limited space but want to grow their own produce onsite. Hanging gardens are another space-efficient type of culinary garden as they utilize unused space and need minimal water to thrive.

Source Locally From Sustainable Suppliers

Choosing the right ingredients is key to the success of your catering services. Not just to appease people's taste palettes but to support local businesses and the surrounding community. Partner with local farms and markets to ensure your company is using only the freshest, in-season food and lowering transport emissions in the process.

This is not only beneficial to the environment. It also gives your company an opportunity to reflect the uniqueness and culture of your community in the foods you serve, as well as establish a supporting relationship with your community.

Sourcing ingredients directly from local farms also allows for seasonal dishes, which can add appeal to your menu and encourage customers to choose you over competing businesses. If sourcing locally isn't a viable option for your area, then make sure to choose food distribution companies who support small farms and offer locally sourced options. When applicable, buy food in bulk to cut down on transportation.

Use Eco-Friendly Tableware

Another significant environmental impact of catering is the massive amount of single-use waste, primarily from tableware. The single best way to avoid this is by switching to reusable plastic or ceramic bowls, plates and cups, and metal silverware. Ditch throw-away napkins and opt for linen instead.

For events with existing kitchens, such as offices or residences, a cheaper "bring your own tableware" option can be encouraged, however this option is only practical for small group events. Otherwise, outsourcing your dirty tableware to a dishwashing service provider is the most practical option for handling dirty tableware in bulk.

If investing in reusable tableware isn't an option for your company, there are plenty of ways to make single-use tableware more eco-friendly. Depending on what materials your local collection facility accepts, plastic tableware can be rinsed and recycled. There are also a variety of eco-friendly tableware products on the market today that are compostable and made from recycled content. Greenstaurant and Green Paper Products sell such eco-friendly food service products in bulk. If your company currently uses styrofoam tableware, it should be your number one priority to switch to one of the aforementioned sustainable materials.

Reduce Water Waste

Eliminate the need to buy individually packaged plastic water bottles by providing water in bulk for event attendees. You can even encourage attendees to bring their own water bottles to events to reduce the need for single use plastics. Investing in reusable cups that can be collected at the end of events and washed for future use is another option.

Using outside dishwashing services as mentioned previously is not only practical but a better means of conserving water as these companies have extremely efficient dishwashers and clean dishes in bulk. AutoChlor is one of the most widespread dishwashing service providers, with locations in nearly every U.S. state and the ability to clean both tableware and linens.

Water could also be wasted when cooking and preparing food for events. Low flow faucets should be installed along with foot pedals to turn faucets on. Additionally, employees should be educated on the best water saving practices and how to conserve water when working in the kitchen. A few green habits to note: Remembering to turn off faucets when not in use; Reusing water for cleaning purposes; Using the refrigerator to thaw foods as opposed to using running water.

Catering equipment such as steamers and ice machines can also be the cause of wasted water, which is why it's important to inspect them routinely and keep maintenance up to date. Although buying new equipment can be expensive, having high quality equipment can not only reduce water and food waste, it yields better quality food with greater efficiency.

Offer Meatless Food Options

The meat packing industry is one of the leading contributors to climate change due to the enormous amount of emissions it produces. Catering services should be crafting their menus with this fact in mind. A great place to start would be organizing an employee meeting to brainstorm new plant-based menu options. If your current food distributor cannot meet the needs of your new menu, look into switching to a different distributor with a more diverse inventory or considering partnering with multiple local suppliers to diversify your options.

Foods such as quinoa, tofu, chickpeas and many types of beans can provide excellent meat replacements while maintaining the same nutritional value, and these ingredients can be used to create unique menu items that can add some flare to your services. Plant-based meat replacements that look and taste like meat are also becoming more available. Brands such as Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and MorningStar Farms all produce reasonably priced meat alternatives that can easily be incorporated into your new menu.

For meals that have to have the real thing, locally sourced meat can be a better option due to its reduced transport emissions and healthier quality compared to mass factory-produced meat.

Although still a source of emissions, white meat such as chicken generates less emissions than red meat, so even simply reducing the amount of red meat in your menu can be an effective strategy to make your company greener.

Make Your Kitchen Sustainable

The kitchen is where most of your company's energy is being used, so it is imperative to take the necessary steps to increase energy efficiency. Kitchen lighting should be upgraded to LEDs and all equipment should be up to date on maintenance. Investing in EnergyStar certified appliances is another step your business could take to green your kitchen as these are the top energy-saving products on the market today. EnergyStar also provides guidelines on energy efficiency for businesses and homeowners, and you can visit their website for more resources and calculators to get your business on the right track.

A more ambitious feat, solar, wind and geothermal energy sources are all great renewable options to power your kitchen, depending on the availability in your region. You can also talk to your utility providers to see if you can source some or all of your electricity needs from green, clean energy.

Employee habits also play a major role in energy conservation, and if they aren't working with sustainability in mind, it will be difficult to make any significant progress. Hold a meeting with your staff to teach them best resource-saving practices such as:

Ensuring lights, faucets, appliances, etc. are turned off when not in use

Closing freezers and refrigerators immediately after use

Preparing ingredients in advance

When appropriate, using the same cookware for multiple dishes

Cooking food in bulk (Note: Keep food waste in mind)

When appropriate, reusing water for other purposes like cleaning

Educating employees on best green practices in the kitchen not only helps the environment, but improves your operational efficiency and profitability.

Switch to Electric or Sustainable Fuel

While it can be a pricey investment for some, converting your vehicle fleet to electric significantly reduces your emissions when commuting and delivering food. There are cheaper, more achievable options if your company cannot afford to make this drastic change. Carpooling should be a standard practice in your company, whether for commuting to and from work or for delivering food to events.

Biofuel technology continues to advance and hopefully one day there will be more sustainable fuel options available for businesses. Biodiesel for company trucks is the only practical option on the market today, even though it is still partially petroleum-based. It is worth noting biofuel derived from leftover kitchen oil is in development and multiple trials have shown that it can power a vehicle. Unfortunately it requires some modification to the vehicle, meaning you cannot simply dump your kitchen oil into your Ford Focus and drive off. But it is encouraging to know that such innovation is underway and perhaps one day catering companies can supply their own fuel.

For now, electrical vehicles and carpooling are the best methods for catering companies to cut down on transportation emissions.

Conclusion: Sustainable Catering Is Full Of Green Opportunities

There are many initiatives that your catering business can take right away that will put you on the right path toward sustainability. Greening your menu, sourcing locally, opting for sustainable tableware, and minimizing water and food waste are all effective strategies. It doesn't really matter where you start. The sustainable choices you make today, big or small, positively impact your community, the environment and your business.

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Sustainable Catering: Small Business Guide

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Learn about the numerous ways your business can provide sustainable catering and what it means to your business and the environment.

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SAP BrandVoice: How The Automotive Industry Is Driving Toward A Sustainable Future

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The automotive industry is racing into a new world of mobility and sustainability - and technology is the key to helping automakers achieve both.

The automotive industry is still dealing with supply chain and shipping disruptions resulting from the pandemic, in addition to ongoing parts and semi-conductor shortages. Despite these lingering disruptions, both internal and external pressures are propelling the industry toward the next normalwith advanced mobility and more sustainable practices.

Sustainable Evolution of the Auto Industry

Historically, the automotive industry has not focused on sustainable practices. Traditional assembly-line manufacturing processes - many still in use today - use huge amounts of energy, metals, plastics, toxins, and manpower; all leaving behind a massive carbon footprint.

On top of that, once vehicles are produced, most require fossil fuels to operate, which subsequently releases harmful emissions. The entire process has a vast environmental impact that has brought us to where we are today.

While COVID-19 has disrupted supply chains and cars sales, it's important to note the industry's trajectory prior to the pandemic. One report estimated that the 86-million cars that were sold in just one year (2018) accounted for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is exactly why meaningful change is critical, and why the move toward sustainable practices in the auto industry can have such a significant positive impact.

Business leaders understand that considerable change is required for the future of the automotive industry, and that is why they're shifting gears. Attitudes toward sustainability are maturing, and manufacturers are now leading the way in terms of sustainable change according to a recent survey by SAP and Oxford Economics. The results show that manufacturing executives actually outshine other industries when it comes to taking action to increase sustainability.

MORE FROM FORBES SAP BrandVoice: The Future Of Automotive And Mobility

Big and small players in the automotive industry are increasingly feeling the pressure to rethink the way they operate. They must reevaluate everything from the design and engineering stages, through the manufacturing and shipping processes, all the way to how vehicles operate, how they are serviced, and how they are dealt with at the end of the product lifecycle.

Some executives are already focused on redesigning processes to meet their sustainability goals - such as Volkswagen building an entirely new plant to manufacture electric vehicles - but all industry players must get on board to make a measurable difference in the evolution of the industry.

Three Drivers of Sustainable Change

There are three main factors driving the push toward sustainability in the automotive industry. Some of the biggest drivers include:

1. Government Interventions

Government agencies are playing an influential role in the growing momentum toward sustainable practices. New directives, such as The European Green Deal and The Paris Agreement, are forcing automotive companies to look for more sustainable solutions to meet stringent carbon-neutral targets.

For example, theEuropean Commission proposes a 55% cut in CO ₂ emissions from vehicles by 2030, and a 100% cut by 2035, which would make it nearly impossible to sell fossil-fuel-powered vehicles in the European Union. These agreements are in addition to various carbon taxes, incentives, and subsidies being offered by different levels of government to encourage electric vehicle use.

As a result, the auto industry is working closely with the oil and gas industry to build a sustainable future, as oil and gas companies transition into energy companies focused on developing vehicle charging stations and other fuel alternatives to maintain the evolving mobility sector.

2. Changing Expectations

Customer, investor, and even employee expectations are changing, which is having a big impact on the industry. Tech-savvy and eco-conscious consumers increasingly demand intuitive technology in vehicles, while also pressuring automakers to focus on sustainable practices and alternative fuel models, such as electric vehicles.

On top of external pressure from customers and investors, many auto companies are also facing internal pressure from their shifting workforce. Long-time employees are retiring along with their traditional methods and mindsets. They are often replaced with a new generation of tech-savvy, eco-conscious employees who question conventional methods.

Consequently, a growing number of employees are now asking their own employers if they are manufacturing vehicles in the most sustainable way possible, and suggesting alternative ways to save energy and reduce material use.As a result, driving forces for sustainable change are escalating from outside and inside of organizations themselves.

3. Megatrends

Several megatrends in the automotive industry are big drivers for innovative change. These include the progression of autonomous vehicles and fleets, the use of data from connected vehicles, car-sharing programs, alternative transport-on-demand initiatives, and of course the paradigm industry shift toward electric vehicles.

The increased use of advanced technology and the expanding production of electric vehicles has completely altered the way cars are traditionally produced. The shift to manufacturing e-cars has made some jobs redundant, and has also made the traditional assembly line production process obsolete.

Now, employees are being reskilled to acquire advanced technical skills, and line production operations are being replaced with modular production methods, where the car stays in one place, and specialized highly-skilled teams come to the car to work on it at different stages of the process. This has a positive impact on sustainable measures as it reduces the amount of space, energy, and workforce required in the manufacturing process.

How The Auto Industry is Dealing with the Mounting Pressure to Change

Several players in the automotive sector are dedicated to driving sustainable change in the industry. The challenge is getting the entire automotive value chain - including manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, services, and after-market retailers - on the same page.

Some key ways the industry is addressing these ongoing challenges is by encouraging more cross-industry collaboration, and using advanced technology to increase visibility across the supply chain. Supply chain visibility is imperative to future success. In fact, two-thirds of manufacturing executives in the survey said a sustainable supply chain is a competitive differentiator.

That's why networks of automotive OEMs and technology companies are coming together to address industry challenges such as supply chain issues, secure data transfer and management, electrification of the industry including vehicles and charging stations, battery lifecycle management, and sustainable business practices that lead to carbon footprint reductions.

As new issues arise, such as electric vehicle battery lifecycle management for example, industry groups can work together on developing product lifecycle management from the start - from battery design, to build, through the manufacturing process, to reuse and recycling solutions. Companies cannot manage the entire cycle on their own; they need industry collaboration to develop successful long-term solutions.

Advanced technology can provide the industry with more visibility into supply chains, and can also give companies better insight into product footprints by calculating the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle. These types of advanced technology solutions are becoming more important as an increasing number of public companies are required to measure carbon impacts and report on sustainability targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) as they attempt to balance the bottom line with the green line.

Strategies to Balance the Bottom Line with the Green Line

Automotive companies should consider the following strategies as they focus on adopting more sustainable practices:

Create a long-term strategy for foundational change that considers sustainability in every process.

Use technology to increase visibility and transparency in order to source materials ethically and sustainably.

Plan for sustainability in the design and engineering stages by using relevant data to track, measure, and reduce emissions across the product lifecycle.

Use logistics processes that optimize loads to increase efficiency and decrease emissions and carbon footprint.

Operate assets and equipment in an energy-efficient manner that is safe for the environment and for the workforce.

Collaborate with other automotive and technology companies to work toward establishing more sustainable practices in the industry.

A Sustainable Future is Good for Business

Automotive companies may face many obstacles on the road ahead as they try to balance competing pressures in their industry, but they are up to the challenge. Auto executives understand that sustainability is critical to the future of the industry, and as the survey shows, manufacturers are already leading the way when it comes to adopting more sustainable practices. While some business leaders are more dedicated than others, all organizations in the automotive industry must work together to make the entire supply chain greener - for a more sustainable industry, and a more sustainable planet.

As governments, consumers, investors, and employees accelerate the pressure on automakers to improve, an increasing number of auto executives will jump on board and set sustainability goals.

Once they realize thatsustainable choices are actually good for business, they will take further action to balance the bottom line with the green line and make a positive impact on our world.
Learn more about balancing the bottom line with the green line in the SAP and Oxford Economics manufacturing fact sheet, The Sustainable Supply Chain Paradox

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SAP BrandVoice: How The Automotive Industry Is Driving Toward A Sustainable Future

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Historically, the automotive industry has not focused on sustainable practices. Traditional manufacturing processes use huge amounts of energy, metals, plastics, toxins, and manpower; all leaving behind a massive carbon footprint. But the industry is changing to realise a sustainable future.

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At Facebook, our mission is to bring the world closer together and to give people the power to build community.

Climate change is one of the most urgent issues impacting our world today and we are committed to help tackle this global challenge. We're doing our part by working to minimize our energy, emissions and water impact, while protecting workers and the environment in our supply chain.

In addition to reducing our environmental footprint, we are also leveraging our core products and services to accelerate access to climate science information and inspire climate action, while working with others to scale solutions that help create a healthier planet for all.

Our vision is a just and equitable transition to a zero-carbon economy, where no one is left behind. At Facebook, we have achieved net zero emissions in our global operations and plan to reach net zero emissions for our value chain in 2030. Beyond doing our part to reduce our environmental footprint, our approach is to accelerate access to authoritative information and encourage positive action on climate through our core products and services, while working with others to scale solutions that help create a healthier planet for all.

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Leading the Way on Climate Change At Facebook, our mission is to bring the world closer together and to give people the power to build community. Climate change is one of the most urgent issues impacting our world today and we are committed to help tackle this global challenge.

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CSR Report : Environmental Initiatives | Nintendo Co., Ltd.

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Nintendo employs a fabless production model, in which we outsource all of our production processes, such as product manufacturing and assembly, to domestic and overseas production partners. As a result, Nintendo's environmental efforts focus mainly on our business processes, through which we advance our initiatives to conserve energy and make more effective use of resources.

Energy-Saving Activities

Whenever a new office is designed and built for Nintendo, we take into account environmental considerations to the greatest possible extent, such as incorporating eco-friendly air conditioning and lighting into our facilities.
Nintendo Co., Ltd.'s Development Center, which opened for business in June 2014 in Japan, incorporates eco-friendly technology such as a high-efficiency air conditioning system, solar and wind power generation, and a system to reuse rainwater. It achieved the S Rank, the highest rank awarded under CASBEE Kyoto*8, a green building rating system.
The Nintendo of America headquarters, which was completed in April 2010, was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED*9 Gold certification. Our other overseas subsidiaries are also encouraged to take positive steps by using renewable energy for their offices and promoting clean commuting.

*8 CASBEE Kyoto

CASBEE Kyoto is a system of original standards defined by Kyoto City to embody its goals for environmental considerations in construction. It is based on the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE), a common standard throughout Japan for prioritizing and reviewing items which enable proper evaluation and guidance of environmentally friendly construction.

*9 LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LEED is a system that comprehensively evaluates the environmental quality of a building's design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Nintendo of America Inc.

Reduction of Office CO₂ Emissions

The Sustainability Committee at Nintendo of America was established in 2020 and is comprised of members selected from various departments across the organization. It is an extension of Nintendo's ongoing environment-focused CSR activities, with the goal to explore new opportunities to advance sustainability efforts.
In 2020, as a result of the Sustainability Committee's efforts to reduce CO ₂ emissions from operations, Nintendo of America purchased 100% renewable energy for its Redmond offices and suburban shipping facility. It also participates in a carbon-balance program to contribute to local reforestation projects to offset CO ₂ generated by its natural gas usages in cafeterias and other areas.

Nintendo of America Inc.

Involvement in the Environment and Community Through the Green Team

The Nintendo of America Green Team consists of volunteers from all areas of the company who passionately support Nintendo's mission to be an environmentally friendly organization and workplace. The Green Team's objective is to build a strong community to share ideas and inspiration with employees to help them choose environmentally friendly options at work and at home.
In 2020, although we were unable to hold in-person events due to the pandemic, the Green Team continued to have virtual events to share resources and ideas to promote activities and lifestyles that have less impact on the environment.

Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Germany)

Reducing CO₂ Emissions

Nintendo of Europe (Germany) has a strong focus on reducing its CO ₂ emissions, and converted the electricity supply contract for its headquarters to renewable energy in fiscal year 2012.
Nintendo of Europe also focused on raising the energy awareness of employees by providing information via the intranet and monitoring for unnecessary power consumption.
In addition, Nintendo of Europe has been working continuously on reducing CO ₂ emissions from its car fleet.

Nintendo of Europe GmbH (Italy)

Consideration of Sustainability in Event Booths

Nintendo of Europe (Italy) exhibited at Milan Games Week 2019 and Lucca Comics & Games 2019, two of Italy's largest events dedicated to video games. For these events, Nintendo partnered with a sustainable event planning company to implement booth elements attentive to sustainability. These considerations included making use of reusable modular structures and energy efficient lighting, as well as water-based ink printing and recyclable materials in decorations.

Nintendo Ibérica, S.A. (Spain)

Pursuing Sustainability in a New Office

In September 2019, Nintendo Ibérica (Spain) relocated to a new office. The new location offers improved natural lighting and air circulation with a 25% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional buildings, and has also received a Platinum certification under the LEED for New Construction system.
Nintendo Ibérica is also reducing the amount of paper used in our daily work to create a paperless office that will lead to improved environmental sustainability. The habit of working without paper has been a great advantage when working from home. Our paper consumption decreased significantly in 2020, due in part to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, we are encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles at Nintendo Ibérica and will continue our efforts to reduce our environmental burden.

Promoting Waste Reduction and Recycling

We recognize the importance of resources, and work hard both to minimize the production of waste and to effectively utilize resources by thoroughly separating all waste products. We also strive for effective resource utilization. At each of its offices in Japan, Nintendo Co., Ltd. has established a system for proper waste management and disposal, including recycling, and has appointed a supervisor to oversee the organizational system at each location.
Similar systems for proper waste management and disposal have also been put into place at our overseas subsidiaries. Efforts such as partial digitization of workflows promote waste output by reducing paper consumption.

Reducing Water Use

Nintendo recognizes that water shortages are a serious issue in various regions around the world, and that water will become an even more precious resource in the years to come. With this in mind, we have taken steps to reduce our water usage, including installing water-conserving equipment and using septic systems that reuse stored rainwater for toilets or landscape irrigation.

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CSR Report : Environmental Initiatives | Nintendo Co., Ltd.

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Nintendo employs a fabless production model, in which we outsource all of our production processes, such as product manufacturing and assembly, to domestic and overseas production partners. As a result, Nintendo's environmental efforts focus mainly on our business processes, through which we advance our initiatives to conserve energy and make more effective use of resources.

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Trade it in.

Help the planet out.

With Apple Trade In, you can exchange your old device for credit towards your next purchase or get an Apple Gift Card you can use anytime. If eligible, your device can have a second life with another owner. If not, we'll recycle it free of charge. A win-win for you and the planet.

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With Apple Trade In, you can exchange your old device for credit towards your next purchase or get an Apple Gift Card you can use anytime. If eligible, your device can have a second life with another owner. If not, we'll recycle it free of charge. A win-win for you and the planet.

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Microsoft Sustainability - Products for a Sustainable Future

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Microsoft Sustainability - Products for a Sustainable Future

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Drive operational and cost efficiencies to help reach your sustainability goals with Microsoft technology solutions and resources.

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Activision Blizzard releases its first ESG report

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Today I am honored to share Activision Blizzard's first ever report on our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. This report is organized around new, public commitments that we are making as a company to champion our people, to advance more diverse and inclusive communities, and to protect our planet.

While our commitments are new, our work in these areas is not.

Our teams have developed some of the most diverse characters from any video game publisher in the world. Representation matters, and among many firsts our teams are proud to have created the fan-favorite Symmetra from Overwatch, our first playable character who is on the autism spectrum; Pelagos, the first openly transgender character in World of Warcraft; Tracer from Overwatch, the first LGBTQ character featured on a Blizzard game cover; Varden Dawngrasp, Hearthstone's first openly non-binary character; and more recently in 2020, we featured Leo Baker in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, the first non-binary playable character in a sports game.

Another great example is the Call of Duty Endowment, the non-profit organization our CEO Bobby Kotick co-founded in 2009 to help veterans secure high-quality jobs. As a veteran myself, this is a cause that is dear to me. The Endowment has helped place more than 85,000 veterans into jobs since we started, including more than 15,000 in 2020 alone. Additionally, of those we helped place last year, 21% were women and an estimated 28% were Black, metrics in which we take great pride, considering that women veterans and Black veterans compose just 10% and 12%, respectively, of the U.S. veteran community.

We are proud to share those accomplishments - and many, many more - across all ESG disciplines in this report. We also spotlight our ongoing efforts throughout the enterprise to make good on these new commitments. For example, Activision Blizzard -

Saved over 5.5 million pounds of plastic waste over the last five years by our estimates, through changes to packaging and materials;

Invested in Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), which allowed the organization to double participation in its extraordinary career preparation program, equipping high-achieving Black, Latinx and Indigenous Americans with skills and coaching to accelerate their careers;

Partnered with The AbleGamers Foundation, a non-profit organization and foundation dedicated to improving accessibility in video games, to host their Accessible Player Experience certification program.

Finally, we share measurable targets for improved ESG performance over time. For example, we commit to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to reducing our packaging waste by another 50% over the next five years, using 2019 as a baseline. We are working this year to establish specific baselines and quantitative targets to measure progress and meet those goals.

While many of these initiatives emerged organically from employees of Activision Blizzard, it is essential to embed this work across our enterprise and to ensure that best practices are spread across all business units. We have therefore established an ESG Steering Committee - which I chair - to set our company's ESG strategy, practices and policy, along with a cross-functional, enterprise-wide working group to identify ESG matters most relevant to our business.

Our mission has never been more relevant than during the pandemic. Our more than 400 million players needed us more than ever as they stayed home and explored our games and worlds. We responded, helping people around the world stay safely connected to friends and family while being apart.

At Activision Blizzard, we embrace our responsibility to ensure that our games reflect society - accurately, accessibly and aspirationally. Through our efforts, we want all our players to see themselves reflected in our games, and to feel safe and included in the worlds we create. This is a business imperative that also reflects our company's mission - our true north - to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment.

We are using our scale and platforms and harnessing the pride, passion and purpose of our people and our communities to be better, every day. I take great pride as I commence my journey with this team, and I marvel at the possibilities ahead.

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Activision Blizzard releases its first ESG report

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Today I am honored to share Activision Blizzard's first ever report on our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. This report is organized around new, public commitments that we are making as a company to champion our people, to advance more diverse and inclusive communities, and to protect our planet.

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Play green, Ubisoft's commitment to global carbon neutrality

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C is a global challenge that everyone in society can achieve by working together to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. As a company, we have our part to play.

At Ubisoft, we are committed to making our own active contribution to global carbon neutrality. In September 2020, we implemented a long-term commitment called Play Green to act on two key priorities:

Play Green: Ubisoft’s Commitment to Global Carbon Neutrality

Learn more

2021 CARBON FOOTPRINT BY CATEGORY

Reporting of our emissions is based on guidance from the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, with a market-based method. This reporting is certified ....

Our action plan

Reducing our environmental impact is a huge and complex challenge that requires collective thinking. So at Ubisoft, we’ve put together a global action plan drawing on expertise across a broad spectrum of specialties.

Business trips

New travel policy and development of remote collaborative working solutions

Workspaces

Optimizing on-site power consumption, ensuring environmentally sustainable teleworking

Data centers

Acquiring repurposed servers, using more recycled heat, reducing data retention times

Energy

Target : 100% electricity from renewable sources

Human resources

Team member awareness information, training and onboarding

Waste management

Target : single-use plastic, overall reduction in all types of waste, optimized recycling

IT Equipment

Extenting hardware life cycles, systematic hardware reuse and recycling, more energy-efficient workstations

Purchases

A responsible purchasing policy binding on our suppliers

Production

Digitalization of games

Games content

Using games to encourage a positive commitment to environmental protection

Latest news

Ubisoft’s Environmental Commitment – 2022 Update

My name is Nicolas Hunsinger, Ubisoft’s director of corporate environmental sustainability. With the help of my team, and of dedicated stakeholders and passionate developers across Ubisoft, I lead Ubisoft’s efforts to decrease our carbon footprint and increase our positive impact on the planet...

Read More

How Ubisoft Activates Green Initiatives In Games

Ubisoft is committed to confronting climate change and developing internal and external initiatives to help the company and its communities to go green. In 2019, Ubisoft and several other top gaming companies banded together to found the Playing for the Planet Alliance...

Read More

How Ubisoft Is Inspiring Teams To Go More Green

Climate change is a topic that affects every one of us, and Ubisoft believes strongly that videogames are a perfect platform to help spread awareness and inspire action amongst its many players...

Read More

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Ubisoft is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. We measure the main components of our global carbon footprint annually.

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Eco Friendly Pet Care | Sustainability and Pets | Animal Trust

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Over the past few years, we have all become more aware of the need to be more environmentally conscious, but have you considered your pet’s environmental footprint (or pawprint), and what eco-friendly pet care looks like?

Combining sustainability and pets doesn’t have to be difficult, and is so important for keeping our environment in the best shape it can be. Here are some small changes you can make to help reduce the impact your pet has on the environment and help us all to live more sustainably.

Recycling pet food containers

Sustainability in the pet food industry is one of the biggest issues that comes with eco-friendly pet ownership. It probably won’t come as any surprise that reducing the waste associated with pet ownership is one of the most impactful changes you can make to reduce your pet’s environmental pawprint.

Buying wet food in cans that can be easily recycled (rather than plastic pouches) can help. Half-used tins can be kept fresh with a reusable wet food can cover to avoid food wastage. If your pet has dry food, bulk buying pet food, and aiming to use brands with recyclable packaging, is another great option for improving your environmental footprint.

Reducing pet ownership waste

As with all forms of sustainability, considering the waste pet ownership generates is really important. Wasting food is a large contributor to our pets’ environmental footprint, and often comes about as a result of overfeeding. Overfeeding your pet doesn’t only have a negative effect on the environment – it also impacts your pet’s health. Ensuring you follow the feeding guidelines on pet food packets and weigh out your pet’s food every day is an important step to help control pets’ waistlines and avoid excess food. If you’re not sure about the amount of food you should be feeding your pet, read more about pet nutrition, or have a chat with your vet.

Pet plastic sustainability is another thing that’s important to think about. Choosing biodegradable cat litter and dog poo bags is an easy swap to help improve your eco-friendly pet owner credentials.

Eco-friendly pet healthcare

Keeping up to date with preventative pet care such as parasite control and neutering can considerably reduce the potential carbon cost of treatment for vaccinatable or hormonally-induced diseases. Neutering pets also reduces the burden of overpopulation on the planet, and can also improve the health and wellbeing of our pets.

Using oral parasite prevention versus topical treatment (tablets rather than lotions, for example) where possible is also a good choice for the eco-friendly pet owner. There is some recent evidence suggesting that topical parasite treatment may be affecting wildlife in our waterways.

DIY pet toys

Recycling household items into safe, sustainable pet toys is another great eco-friendly pet care hack. An old t-shirt tied in a knot becomes a pull toy, while old toilet roll tubes double as puzzle feeders. Finding safe, pet-friendly swaps like this is a great way to make use of unwanted household items and make a positive change to pet plastic sustainability by cutting out new toys. Engaging toys like this are also fantastic ways to introduce canine enrichment and mental stimulation into your pet’s life.

Additionally, buying pet products and pet toys made from a sustainable source (e.g. made from hemp or bamboo) can be another way to reduce pet plastic waste.

Eco-friendly pet exercise

We all know that cutting down on car travel is a great step towards improving sustainability. Avoiding unnecessary travel with our pets can help us to reduce our overall carbon footprint. That might mean swapping the drive to the beach with a walk around your neighbourhood, for example. You can also try combining trips – e.g. to the park and the supermarket – instead of making two separate trips to minimise unnecessary travel by car.

Sustainable veterinary care

Veterinary care is an important part of responsible pet ownership. The environmental implications of veterinary care can be large – from energy usage to run blood tests to waste produced while caring for your pet. At Animal Trust, we are striving to become more sustainable. We are looking at all aspects that go into running a veterinary clinic and are aiming to reduce our carbon footprint, while still providing the best accessible care for your pets.

Animal Trust provides sustainable health care and free consultations as part of our not-for-profit practice. If you’re looking for more eco-friendly pet care options, or are interested in booking an appointment with our friendly team, please get in touch with your local Animal Trust surgery for a consultation.

Book a free consultation

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Eco Friendly Pet Care | Sustainability and Pets | Animal Trust

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Keen to reduce your impact on the environment? We’ve put together a few suggestions on how to become a sustainable pet owner. Read more here...

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RHS Sustainability Strategy / RHS Gardening

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The RHS Sustainability Strategy: Within the decade, we aim to become net positive for nature and for people, and to encourage and enable gardeners to do the same

We are now painfully aware that we face a climate and biodiversity crisis, and that every effort counts. The RHS is in a unique position to harness its science, reputation and reach to help address this in a positive way

Keith Weed, RHS President

Net positive for nature

Net positive for people

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RHS Sustainability Strategy / RHS Gardening

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The RHS Sustainability Strategy: Within the decade, we aim to become net positive for nature and for people, and to encourage and enable gardeners to do the same We are now painfully aware that we face a climate and biodiversity crisis, and that every effort counts.

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Environmental Sustainability in the Fashion Industry

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Fast fashion comes at an astonishing environmental and social cost. While the impacts of the fashion industry in terms of pollution, water use, carbon emissions, human rights, and gender inequality are increasing, the need for a shift to sustainable fashion…

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Fashion accounts for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, but there are ways to reduce the impact your wardrobe has on the climate.

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Alicja Kwade, "Big Be-Hide", 2017. photo by Maija Toivanen:Helsinki Biennial⁣⁣

Sustainability has been at the centre of the fashion and beauty industry for quite a while now, with zero waste beauty initiatives, the rise of slow fashion and sustainable furniture and homeware. With our culture taking action towards change, the art world is joining the conversation on sustainability. Let’s turn the spotlight to the art scene, to explore what the art world has done or is doing for our planet.

Can artists make a difference in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation? Sustainability may be enrooted in artists’ practices more than we think, and the contemporary art scene is signalling that sustainability may be the future of the art world.

What is sustainable art?

Sustainable art can be simply defined in two different yet sometimes interconnecting ways: art made using sustainable materials and methods, or art that encourages conversation on sustainability. Sustainable art is about creativity to find new ways to make art that can benefit the environment, whether that is by using accessible and natural materials, or by inspiring social awareness on pressing issues.

Before diving into artists practices and artworks that are making a difference let’s talk about one of the most controversial realities of the art world: art biennials.

Art Biennials: a danger to the planet?

In 2021, the Biennial Foundation’s directory listed over 270 cities that host a bi-yearly art event. It’s alarming to think about the environmental repercussions of a staggering number of events generating very high carbon’s emission (with concentrated international tourism) and leaving behind incredible amounts of waste.

The desire is for environmental issues to be not just a topic for artists and art organisations to explore but the core of a process to transform the way we think about art exhibitions.

Biennials are more than just art exhibitions occurring every two years, they “have become structural within the contemporary visual arts exhibitionary complex” says art critic Terry Smith. The increased number of biennials brought to coin the term “biennialisation”, a neologism that reveals the event-based nature of the art world. The temporariness of the event is the reason for its success, with art presented at a specific time and place, despite not holding any connection with the location.

Since their origins in the mid 19th century, as Salons and Exposition Universelles (“universal exhibitions”), these events are essential opportunities to draw attention to artists, providing them with the infrastructure to work and survive. They play a key role in shaping fields on interests at national and international levels, but it’s fair to say that biennials have been unevenly experienced as “global” events, with Western European and North American artists dominating the spotlight.

Can Art Biennials be sustainable? The Helsinki Biennial

The contemporary art event Helsinki Biennial is setting the example for future international exhibition as a climate-neutral event. It opened to the public on June 12, taking place in the historical natural environment of Vallisaari Island, presenting 41 artists and artist groups working across a variety of media.

Only using 20% of the land and placing artworks along pre-existing paths, the biennial ensures that the heritage and biodiversity of the territory are not comprised. They adopted tools to measure carbon emissions, from waste to energy consumption, setting an example not only for future biennials but also for museums and art galleries. They use recycled and upcycled bicycles, avoid distributing any unnecessary printed material and ensure their waste is biodegradable. All staff is trained in environmental awareness and an environmental coordinator is part of the team, planning and implementing sustainable practices, measuring progress and highlighting possible improvements.

Alicja Kwade, "Big Be-Hide", 2017. photo by Maija Toivanen:Helsinki Biennial⁣⁣

Sustainability is also part of the exhibitions’ theme. Entitled The Same Sea, the Helsinki Biennial celebrates the interconnection and interdependency of everything on this planet. The title is a metaphor for our current critical ecological situation, which, even though the consequence might vary from one side of the world to the other, brought all of us onto the same sea. Many artists inspired by the unique location and the pressing environmental issues, explored the connection between human and nature.

The bridge between art and sustainability is not only built on the impact art exhibitions have on our planet. For many decades now, artists dedicated their art to highlight environmental issues. Across many media and time periods, artists of all nationalities used their creativity to defined sustainable art by using upcycled materials, reclaimed objects and natural resources to create artworks that not only wouldn’t damage the environment but would also celebrate it and protect it.

Environmental Art movement

This new approach to art emerged at the end of the sixties to raise awareness and inspire communication on the dangers our planet is facing. Artists across all media create art to encourage commitment to fight global warming and its impact on our planet, fighting for its conservation.

Land Art

A contemporary art form born in the United States at the end of the sixties, considering the intervention of the artist on the surrounding environment as an essential part of the artwork. It reflects the relationship between human and nature, making the environment not only the subject of the artwork but also the matter of the work itself.

Robert Smithson, “Spiral Jetty,” 1970. Photo by Eve Andree Laramee

Arguably the most famous example of Land Art, Spiral Jetty is a temporary work of art created by American artist Robert Smithson (1938-1973). A giant spiral in the Great Salt Lake (Utah) made of 5000 tons of basalt (a dark rock formed by cooled lava). The work is the perfect example of Land Art, as it not only uses natural materials but is inspired by the environment it occupies and becomes one with its natural surrounding.

Land Art led to the development of more explicitly sustainable movements:

Ecological art

A form of functional art focusing on activism and the restoration of the environment. This movement not only highlights environmental issues but it researches new ways to co-exist with the environment.

Bio Art

An artistic movement not primarily focused on sustainability issues but more on the type of materials employed and the techniques developed to create artworks. Bio artists use natural materials, sometimes including live tissue, bacteria, and other living organisms. Other artists create works from materials previously deemed unusable and unwanted like discarded plastic, recycled or reclaimed materials.

Eco Design

It consists of making objects taking into consideration their whole lifecycle, anticipating the impact they will have on the environment, from using materials sourced with minimum environmental impact to reduce as much as possible the production of waste and pollution during the manufacturing and distribution process.

These days, sustainability is the foundation of the practice of many artists who are finding ways to create art with the world they live in, rather than just within it. We want to share some of our favourite sustainable art initiatives from artists who, experimenting across media, are making a difference for our planet.

Our favourite sustainable art initiatives

Gender equality, affordable and clean energy, climate action are only a few of the 17 Global Goals set in 2015 by world leaders at the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Can art play a role in this ambitious and transformative plan for the planet and the people?

ART-2030, a non-profit organization, decided to work with world-renowned artists and partners as the key to achieve the UN Global Goals. They organize art projects, including public events, art experiences and education activities to inspire action for a sustainable future.

First launched and initiated by ART 2030 in 2020, the Art for a Healthy Planet digital campaign continues to call for urgent action to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet, through the power of art.

Artist Highlight

Cura Bra Cura Té – Ernesto Neto

Ernesto Neto, "Cura Bra Cura Té", 2019, in situ installation for the Octogon, Pina Luz, Pinacoteca de São Paulo. Photo by Levi Fanan

In this art installation that roughly translates into “cure Bra(zil), cure thyself”, Neto’s sensorial work transforms the viewer into the participant. The central installation covers the Octagon hall of the Sao Paulo museum and becomes a gathering place where celebration and contemplation coexist. The work is hand-woven with a crochet technique used by the indigenous community of Hui Kuin inhabiting the forest. Neto has been supporting Brazilian indigenous communities by partnering with them in several works.

“The indigenous peoples of the forest have a much deeper connection to nature. In actual fact, the word ‘nature’ as something that lies outside of us human beings doesn’t even exist in this community. They cannot make sense of this separation” – Ernest Neto

The Loughborough University propose a wonderful project visually challenging our use of plastic, raising awareness on its impact on the environment throughout its entire lifecycle, from manufacture to disposal. These inspiring artworks aim to challenge our choices and prompt a shift in our behaviours towards the use of plastic.

Issy Spurway, Plastic Exhibition 2021

Issy Spurway

The work of Issy Spurway analyse the issues with fast fashion and more specifically with “throwaway culture”. The increasing waste of textile from Western countries is jeopardising the growth of small textile businesses. Some companies are exploring new alternatives to synthetic materials (as recycled plastics) to reverse some of the damage the fashion industry has done to our planet. The powerful image, made from manipulated recycled plastic, is a political statement condemning Trump’s harmful attitude towards climate change.

Annabel Pepper

The artist challenges the viewer with a powerful image of a plastic bag-made whale, manipulating this controversial material, experimenting with different media to denounce the alarming amount of plastic polluting our oceans and endangering marine wildlife.

Annabel Pepper, Plastic Exhibition 2021

The rhythm of breathing guides the strokes of the watercolours to create a repetitive pattern of vertical blue stripes, painted on white paper or wall. The artist involved visitors in this project for them to experience their breath, body and mind in the present, and as a meaningful moment with their environment.

The Breath With Me initiative aligns with the United Nations’ global call to action on climate change, in particular, the Clean Air Initiative to improve air quality for the entire population, and more widely to urge governments to improve people’s health, reduce inequalities, promote social justice and protect the climate for future generations.

Jeppe Hein painting "Breathing Watercolours" on a wall

“ Life begins with an inhale and ends with an exhale. In-between we all breathe and live different lives. And yet, each breath keeps us together, connected, sharing the same air. ” – Jeppe Hein

The art scene offers many more examples of artists making a difference, raising awareness on pressing environmental issues and putting sustainability at the core of their art. Let us know in the comments if you have any recommendation for sustainable art initiatives and what is your opinion on the role the art world should have in the fight to protect our planet!

Eleonora Cerasoli

Eleonora is an Italian art historian and enthusiast based in London. Inspired years ago to make a change and live a more sustainable life, she now wants to empower readers through her writing. "One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."

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What Does Sustainability Mean For The Art World?

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We discuss the place sustainability occupies in the art world, exploring artists' initiatives to make a change for our planet.

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Sustainable Art for Luxury Contexts

The drive for sustainability has grown tremendously in the last few years, with individuals and businesses alike becoming committed to sustainable values. What once was more of a fashionable trend has rightly become a major cross-sector movement, and increasingly diverse industries are promoting eco-conscious practices. Most importantly, consumers are holding companies accountable for their claims, and want them to do more than swap out plastic straws or reuse cups. This has led to a push for innovative new concepts, uses of materials, and structural changes, so that the needs of projects are met in a significantly more sustainable way.

Within sectors such as luxury hospitality or residential development, a major question has arisen over how to deliver the exquisite interior design that a discerning clientele have come to expect, whilst also being sustainable. Naturally, the two do not need to be mutually exclusive - much of cutting-edge luxury design now favours natural materials and a stripped-back simplicity, which lends itself to sustainable products. A key way of sustainably creating adding luxury to these spaces are intelligently curated artworks. Sustainable artworks can bridge the gap between creating a stunning aesthetic experience and promoting environmentally responsible design.

After architectural and engineering efforts, it is critical for the interior design to likewise be sustainable, whilst creating the right aesthetic impression. Few luxury items, however, can offer sustainability, since often they are made from materials like precious metals and rare marbles. Artworks are in themselves luxury items, and can meanwhile be produced with full sustainability in mind - artists can take basic and sustainable materials and through their craftsmanship make them luxury items. Rather than being a 'token' sustainable element, a newly commissioned artwork can reflect the owner's own sustainable philosophy as each aspect of producing the artwork can be transparently low-impact.

Sustainability for Private Residences & Yachts

Structurally, many changes can be made to luxury residences to minimise their environmental impact. If designing a new build bespoke residence, for example, architects can utilise sunlight and prevailing wind when orientating architectural features; this can naturally insulate the house in winter, and ventilate it in the summer, mini mising energy consumption. In new and re-developed properties alike, the use of resources can be reduced with water-recycling fixtures, passive solar power, and low energy lighting.

This has led to great leaps in eco-yacht design. Dutch superyacht shipyard Oceanco launched Black Pearl (106.7m), whose ground-breaking ecologically focused engineering utilises wind-power, solar and hydrogen energy for onboard operations, and has inbuilt regeneration and insulation features that minimise energy consumption. Black Pearl 's engineering is efficient enough that she is capable of crossing the Atlantic without using a drop of fuel. The push towards this level of innovation was inspired by the yacht owner, whose own engineering background and climate concern encouraged the yacht yard do push existing boundaries.

Bespoke Art Commission with Bespoke Sustainably Sourced Oak Frames

Considering this level of care to incorporate sustainability, it is essential that decorative aspects are not an afterthought to the project. After great effort has gone into sustainable design solutions, artworks can be overlooked, and in reality not be that sustainable. Whilst on an individual basis each artwork's sustainability may not be a major source for concern, together they can make a significant impact. If every room features artworks as well as the lobby, stairwells, and spa areas, irresponsible sourcing and using even small amounts of unsustainable materials can quickly add up. It is essential, therefore, to work coherently with specialist art consultants who are able to make sourcing sustainable art straightforward, and curate the entire collection for minimal environmental impact.

In addition, sustainable artworks bring many benefits to the hotel project. If a hotel decides to compromise on luxury materials in favour of sustainability, and opt for a more neutral, pared-back approach to interior design, the artwork can become the accent or focal point in the space. Sourcing art is further a great opportunity for supporting local artists, as artworks can be created from local materials and shipping costs are minimised. In addition, supporting sustainable artists also makes for an engaging way for the hotel to promote its values and reflect its context.

Sustainable Art: The Transformation of Materials

As a result, many sustainably focused projects are drawn to such artists. In a recent project for a 5* hotel in Mayfair, London, Artelier has commissioned an artist to create a series of abstract wall installations created through willow weaving. The hotel project emphasises natural materials and sustainability, and so using an artist who revives the ancient craft of willow weaving was appealing.

The willow is sustainably harvested from Somerset, which has a naturally pale colour that complements the neutral palette of the hotel bedrooms. Each bedroom's feature artwork has a slight variation in design, with an organic, flowing composition. The artworks challenge preconceptions of willow weaving as being a rustic craft that is reserved for baskets; instead, the artworks showcase distinctly contemporary design that revives the ancient technique for a luxury hotel context.

One such artist is Christian Burchard, who creates wood sculptures from a tree species native to the area surrounding his studio in Oregon, USA. His expressive carving creates poetic and dynamic sculptural compositions. He aims to show viewers the essence of the wood's natural structures, allowing the material to 'speak its own language', rather than imposing onto it.Artelier commissioned a collection of Burchard's work for superyacht Pelorus (115m). The client and the interior designer used a neutral palette within the interiors, as they wanted a pure and natural design that utilised organic materials. They approached Artelier for us to identify artists that were in tune with their own materials, and would contribute to the sustainable feel of the overall design.

Found materials are also central to British multi-disciplinary artist Sir Richard Long, who uses basic materials like mud or rocks to create sculptures, paintings, and installations. In so doing, he pushes the boundaries of which materials are typically considered suitable for fine art. Many of his artworks are created while on walks in landscapes, a primordial engagement between man and earth, and are left to be reclaimed by nature. His gallery artworks likewise present a visceral engagement with natural resources, such as his paintings created from mud from the Riven Avon in England; Long uses his bare hands to paint, preserving his gestures by leaving his hand and finger prints visible.

In such ways, many artists are naturally resourceful and low impact, by their use of foraged and natural materials. Conceptually, many of these artists are also inspired by how the natural world can be represented to viewers, in a way that emphasises man's harmony with nature rather than dominance over it. Within a sustainable project, these artworks bear special significance, as they symbolise the objective behind incorporating sustainability - a re-evaluation of how humankind interacts with the environment, and how we can better preserve and respect natural resources.

Resourcefulness & Reimagining Everyday Objects

Naturally derived materials are, however, not the only way that artists can incorporate sustainability into their medium. Pursuing a career as an artist is notoriously financially challenging and rarely lucrative; as a result, artists use materials economically, and have an innately resourceful approach to their process. Artists therefore come up with ingenious solutions and creatively repurpose materials. In contrast to commercially produced decorative elements, pieces created by individual artists are inherently less wasteful due to this approach.

Sustainable Art for Luxury Contexts

The drive for sustainability has grown tremendously in the last few years, with individuals and businesses alike becoming committed to sustainable values. What once was more of a fashionable trend has rightly become a major cross-sector movement, and increasingly diverse industries are promoting eco-conscious practices. Most importantly, consumers are holding companies accountable for their claims, and want them to do more than swap out plastic straws or reuse cups. This has led to a push for innovative new concepts, uses of materials, and structural changes, so that the needs of projects are met in a significantly more sustainable way.

Within sectors such as luxury hospitality or residential development, a major question has arisen over how to deliver the exquisite interior design that a discerning clientele have come to expect, whilst also being sustainable. Naturally, the two do not need to be mutually exclusive - much of cutting-edge luxury design now favours natural materials and a stripped-back simplicity, which lends itself to sustainable products. A key way of sustainably creating adding luxury to these spaces are intelligently curated artworks. Sustainable artworks can bridge the gap between creating a stunning aesthetic experience and promoting environmentally responsible design.

After architectural and engineering efforts, it is critical for the interior design to likewise be sustainable, whilst creating the right aesthetic impression. Few luxury items, however, can offer sustainability, since often they are made from materials like precious metals and rare marbles. Artworks are in themselves luxury items, and can meanwhile be produced with full sustainability in mind - artists can take basic and sustainable materials and through their craftsmanship make them luxury items. Rather than being a 'token' sustainable element, a newly commissioned artwork can reflect the owner's own sustainable philosophy as each aspect of producing the artwork can be transparently low-impact.

Sustainability for Private Residences & Yachts

Structurally, many changes can be made to luxury residences to minimise their environmental impact. If designing a new build bespoke residence, for example, architects can utilise sunlight and prevailing wind when orientating architectural features; this can naturally insulate the house in winter, and ventilate it in the summer, mini mising energy consumption. In new and re-developed properties alike, the use of resources can be reduced with water-recycling fixtures, passive solar power, and low energy lighting.

This has led to great leaps in eco-yacht design. Dutch superyacht shipyard Oceanco launched Black Pearl (106.7m), whose ground-breaking ecologically focused engineering utilises wind-power, solar and hydrogen energy for onboard operations, and has inbuilt regeneration and insulation features that minimise energy consumption. Black Pearl 's engineering is efficient enough that she is capable of crossing the Atlantic without using a drop of fuel. The push towards this level of innovation was inspired by the yacht owner, whose own engineering background and climate concern encouraged the yacht yard do push existing boundaries.

Bespoke Art Commission with Bespoke Sustainably Sourced Oak Frames

Considering this level of care to incorporate sustainability, it is essential that decorative aspects are not an afterthought to the project. After great effort has gone into sustainable design solutions, artworks can be overlooked, and in reality not be that sustainable. Whilst on an individual basis each artwork's sustainability may not be a major source for concern, together they can make a significant impact. If every room features artworks as well as the lobby, stairwells, and spa areas, irresponsible sourcing and using even small amounts of unsustainable materials can quickly add up. It is essential, therefore, to work coherently with specialist art consultants who are able to make sourcing sustainable art straightforward, and curate the entire collection for minimal environmental impact.

In addition, sustainable artworks bring many benefits to the hotel project. If a hotel decides to compromise on luxury materials in favour of sustainability, and opt for a more neutral, pared-back approach to interior design, the artwork can become the accent or focal point in the space. Sourcing art is further a great opportunity for supporting local artists, as artworks can be created from local materials and shipping costs are minimised. In addition, supporting sustainable artists also makes for an engaging way for the hotel to promote its values and reflect its context.

Sustainable Art: The Transformation of Materials

As a result, many sustainably focused projects are drawn to such artists. In a recent project for a 5* hotel in Mayfair, London, Artelier has commissioned an artist to create a series of abstract wall installations created through willow weaving. The hotel project emphasises natural materials and sustainability, and so using an artist who revives the ancient craft of willow weaving was appealing.

The willow is sustainably harvested from Somerset, which has a naturally pale colour that complements the neutral palette of the hotel bedrooms. Each bedroom's feature artwork has a slight variation in design, with an organic, flowing composition. The artworks challenge preconceptions of willow weaving as being a rustic craft that is reserved for baskets; instead, the artworks showcase distinctly contemporary design that revives the ancient technique for a luxury hotel context.

One such artist is Christian Burchard, who creates wood sculptures from a tree species native to the area surrounding his studio in Oregon, USA. His expressive carving creates poetic and dynamic sculptural compositions. He aims to show viewers the essence of the wood's natural structures, allowing the material to 'speak its own language', rather than imposing onto it.Artelier commissioned a collection of Burchard's work for superyacht Pelorus (115m). The client and the interior designer used a neutral palette within the interiors, as they wanted a pure and natural design that utilised organic materials. They approached Artelier for us to identify artists that were in tune with their own materials, and would contribute to the sustainable feel of the overall design.

Found materials are also central to British multi-disciplinary artist Sir Richard Long, who uses basic materials like mud or rocks to create sculptures, paintings, and installations. In so doing, he pushes the boundaries of which materials are typically considered suitable for fine art. Many of his artworks are created while on walks in landscapes, a primordial engagement between man and earth, and are left to be reclaimed by nature. His gallery artworks likewise present a visceral engagement with natural resources, such as his paintings created from mud from the Riven Avon in England; Long uses his bare hands to paint, preserving his gestures by leaving his hand and finger prints visible.

In such ways, many artists are naturally resourceful and low impact, by their use of foraged and natural materials. Conceptually, many of these artists are also inspired by how the natural world can be represented to viewers, in a way that emphasises man's harmony with nature rather than dominance over it. Within a sustainable project, these artworks bear special significance, as they symbolise the objective behind incorporating sustainability - a re-evaluation of how humankind interacts with the environment, and how we can better preserve and respect natural resources.

Resourcefulness & Reimagining Everyday Objects

Naturally derived materials are, however, not the only way that artists can incorporate sustainability into their medium. Pursuing a career as an artist is notoriously financially challenging and rarely lucrative; as a result, artists use materials economically, and have an innately resourceful approach to their process. Artists therefore come up with ingenious solutions and creatively repurpose materials. In contrast to commercially produced decorative elements, pieces created by individual artists are inherently less wasteful due to this approach.

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Art & Sustainability: A Complete 2023 Guide from Industry Art Consultants

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With concern for the environment becoming a global movement, clients are now increasingly seeking sustainable artworks that present intriguing ideas and innovative use of sustainable materials. As industry leaders in sustainable art, we dive into how sustainable art can bring low-impact luxury to contemporary spaces.

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The construction industry consumes resources in a way that is not sustainable, using vast amounts at a high rate. As we move towards lower impact ways of constructing buildings and infrastructure, we consider what sustainable construction looks like and how to measure it.

Many principal contractors have made commitments to more environmentally and socially responsible operations and project delivery. Their commitment is considered by a number of ways of performance ranking. This can be through benchmarks such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, FTSE4Good or Considerate Constructors Scheme.

When awarding projects, clients will also pose a number of questions and requirements of their expectations around environmental and social performance which will form part of their assessment and ranking process for bidders. Often, clients will be following guidelines that allow them to compare your contract opportunity to their best practice and regulatory compliance requirements. For example, many public organisations working in procurement for construction adhere to The Construction Playbook, a detailed document outlining 14 key policies that should be assessed when looking to procure public work projects. The closer supplier opportunities are to these criteria, the higher they rank in terms of potentially winning bids.

Principal contractors will look to partner with other contracting organisations that can help them achieve the best scores against these criteria and hence be successful in work-winning. CHAS delivers assessment and accreditation services to help contractors demonstrate how they are best placed to make their contribution to the procurement process.

What Does Sustainable Construction Mean?

Sustainability in construction — as with all industries — is measured by assessing the performance of social, environmental and economic principles. These three pillars of sustainability are often informally referred to as “people”, “planet” and “profit”. The ultimate project will rank highly for all three — but balancing all three areas can be one of the greatest challenges in implementing sustainable construction.

In construction, sustainability is about creating projects which have positive outcomes for society and the environment. The goals of sustainable construction include:

1. sourcing renewable and recyclable resources and reusing materials where possible to avoid sending waste to landfill.

2. having a positive impact on wider society by creating good jobs and providing skills training, responsible approaches to human rights and modern slavery in supply chains, and greater encouragement of diversity and inclusion.

3. targeted outcomes associated with a circular economy and net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

How Is Sustainability Ranked in the Construction Industry

There are a number of resources available for sustainable construction standards and assessment tools. The Passivhaus Trust is an independent, nonprofit organisation that provides guidance on low energy design standards and BREEAM is another sustainability assessment method for environment construction, including new builds and refurbishment of existing infrastructure.

Achieving ISO 14001 certification demonstrates a commitment to reducing the negative impacts of construction on the environment and improving sustainability in line with the Environmental Management System’s requirements. The Common Assessment Standard is the industry gold standard for 12 key areas of risk management. A focal point of the review of risk in the Common Assessment Standard is health and safety.

The Common Assessment Standard also includes environmental questions to establish whether or not a company has taken the necessary steps to reduce negative environmental impact of projects. Compliance is crucial in achieving environmental management standards and gaining accreditation is an accepted way for companies to demonstrate their sustainability criteria. These steps include:

Producing an environmental policy for your company

Putting in place environmental planning to reduce your impact on the environment

Active evidence of environmental strategy and implementation of initiatives

Policies for management, review and adaptation where environment practice can be changed or improved.

Successful implementation of the Common Assessment Standard clearly demonstrates your business is compliant with valuable areas of sustainability and environmental management. It makes it easy for clients to identify your approach to sustainable construction, opening up new work possibilities, which is why the Common Assessment Standard is becoming the recognised construction-wide standard of accreditation. The process can also help you locate areas of performance improvement. By working with CHAS, you can carry out your Common Assessment Standard accreditation process and reap the rewards it offers.

Achieve the Industry’s highest recognised accreditation, backed by Build UK & CECA with CHAS Elite

The Common Assessment Standard streamlines the construction supply chain and makes it easier for companies to achieve compliance and gain accreditation.

Opportunities to Improve Sustainability in the Construction Industry

In such a varied industry with so many layers to each project, there are a huge number of opportunities to create more sustainable outcomes. The materials used on a construction project are the perfect opportunity to implement more sustainable practices. Considered planning and usage will help reduce the amount of waste on a project, as there will be fewer materials ordered at the beginning stages. Having limited materials on-site will influence the way they are used, maximising efficient use and reducing the chance of reckless waste. If there is waste, care should be taken to find ways to recycle it to reduce the amount of material that ends up going to landfill. Over time the capture and recycling of ‘waste’ materials in construction has vastly improved but with good management practices on site there is still room for improvement.

The industry has also seen a move to more modular and off-site construction with elements arriving on site in a ‘finished’ form. This significantly reduces waste from the approach to manufacturing in controlled environments. This can still produce material that leads to waste on site, notably through protective packaging such as plastics. So while off-site construction can help reduce waste we still need to be aware of the need to find ways to capture, recover, reuse and recycle.

Sourcing materials that are renewable, or themselves recovered and recycled, is also an opportunity to implement more sustainable construction methods right from the concept stages. Sourcing materials locally is another straightforward but crucial opportunity to improve sustainability. By sourcing locally, the social aspect of sustainable construction is being met by helping to support local jobs and creating a positive financial impact for the community.  From an environmental point of view, sourcing materials that arise from local sources, for example bricks, aggregates or timber, can have a lower impact than shipping from overseas. This may not always be the case if materials have been imported in the first instance, further demonstrating the importance of knowing where your materials come from.

Buildings use energy in their construction, and also over their lifetime. Energy consumption in the built environment is an opportunity to reduce impacts by making buildings more thermally efficient meaning they take less energy to heat or cool. They can also be designed to allow better use of more natural light, again reducing energy consumption. The energy that has to be supplied should come from renewable sources either through the provision of on-site solutions such as solar, or by contracting to a renewables contract for grid-based supplies.

Reducing mains water consumption is an opportunity for many construction sites. Reducing water in the build is a great step, and implementing water-saving devices will maintain the sustainability of a site post-completion.

The Advantages for Construction Companies of Sustainability

Sustainable construction should not only prioritise the environmental impacts of a project. To uphold the three pillars of sustainability, we must also consider the social aspect of the construction industry. The construction sector contributes £117 billion to the UK economy — 6% of total economic output. There are also 2.4 million jobs in the sector — 7% of the UK total. Providing masses of employment helps to create a sustainable construction industry in the UK by fulfilling the social element of sustainability. Creating any job improves the economy, but providing specifically green jobs that commit to protecting and promoting the environment will create a more sustainable future for the industry. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) predicts that changes in production and the use of energy have the potential to create around 18 million jobs in the world economy.

The Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution is a commitment to 250,000 green jobs, transforming the economy and putting clean, green technology at the forefront of industrial change. This will have an impact on new construction projects and also the refurbishment of existing buildings. Adopting sustainability best practices can have a positive effect on workers too. Having a sense of purpose has a significant influence on employee engagement and including employees in sustainability initiatives will generate enthusiasm in being part of something that really matters. This sense of pride in their work positively impacts health and wellbeing in the workforce.

Sustainable construction projects are collaborative by nature. Planners will set the sustainability objectives at the planning stage. However, the importance of the reduction of waste, the introduction of new materials, and better practices are communicated to whole teams throughout the project. Improving communication across the project team, including on site, will help implement techniques while raising awareness and educating all those involved in ways to improve sustainability in projects moving forwards.

Many construction company managers believe costs are a barrier to improving sustainability in the industry, it’s crucial to look at the evidence of the potential for money saved. The financial advantages of sustainable construction processes are rooted in the whole-life costs and impacts of projects. Buying materials responsibly, based on exactly what you need, you can save costs on excess materials as well as waste management. These small steps will have positive financial repercussions, but the reduction of cost doesn’t stop there, as green buildings can come with lower operating costs.

Aside from the social, environmental and economic benefits of sustainable construction, a commitment to improving the industry’s sustainability is also very good for your company’s reputation. It can give you the edge over your competitors at the bidding stage, but new projects also often come with clear commitments to environmentally and socially-responsible ethics. So, once a company builds a reputation for being proactive in this area, they can expect to see more sustainable projects coming their way.

How Building Managers Benefit from Sustainable Construction

The World Green Building Council, located in London, reports on savings achieved through long-term use of energy efficient practices in construction. Their review of costs for property development outlines that ‘the energy savings alone typically exceed any cost premiums associated with their design and construction.’

At the cost of a greater investment of time and money today, building managers will benefit from a reduction in running costs, saving costs over the lifetime of a project through better design and delivery. The World Green Council also suggests these cost savings come ‘with a reasonable payback period.’

Improved health and productivity is another benefit of more environmentally friendly construction builds. Research shows that companies that invest in healthy building design improve workers’ mental and physical health, in turn benefitting from fewer absences. Building managers can use this as a promotional tool when selling or leasing builds as the working environment is a safer and healthier option than other buildings that don’t rank as highly in sustainability.

This makes the benefits of sustainable construction extremely far reaching. From the workers on site throughout the construction phase, to promotion of the benefits of environmentally friendly buildings and the residents or workers who eventually end up in that space, each will reap the benefits of those projects that have a more positive environmental and social impact.

Follow the CHAS blog to get guidance on current construction regulations and advice on improving sustainable construction practices.

Begin your journey towards sustainability by becoming a CHAS contractor and demonstrating environmental compliance through assessment schemes such as PAS91 (CHAS Advanced) and the Common Assessment Standard (CHAS Elite). As an accredited CHAS member, you can demonstrate your compliance with sustainable building legislation to clients, prequalifying for more work opportunities.

Alex Minett

Alex Minett is the Head of Product & Markets at CHAS, the UK’s leading health and safety assessment scheme and provider of risk mitigation, compliance and supply chain management services. With a working history in the audit and management consulting industry, Alex is experienced in implementing visions and strategies. Skilled in negotiation, management and business development, he is passionate about driving CHAS in its mission to safeguard organisations from risk in the UK.

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How is Sustainability Ranked in the Construction Industry? | CHAS

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What is sustainable construction, and how is sustainability ranked in the construction industry?

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Yesterday (21 April) the Department for Education announced the launch of its new Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. This strategy aims for the UK to be “the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.” with four aims:

Excellence in education and skills for a changing world

Transitioning to net zero

Resilience to climate change

A better environment for future generations

The DfE’s policy paper outlines a range of new measures to support education settings with climate and environmental awareness but it refers to maintained nurseries, with no mention of private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings including childminders. PACEY raised this point when we worked with the DfE to develop their strategy and will continue to raise this matter with the Department and let PACEY members know how they can get involved in this work.

Liz Bayram, Chief Executive at PACEY comments:

“We welcome the Department for Education’s commitment to do more to combat climate change and improve sustainability but it would be a missed opportunity not to include PVI nurseries, childminders and pre-schools as this is where most children under five receive their early education.

“PACEY raised this point when it worked with officials to support the development of the now published strategy and will continue to push for this recognition in the strategy. Early years and childcare practitioners already make huge efforts to connect children with nature via hands-on activities and learning that builds awareness and respect for the natural world."

You can read the full strategy here

Get involved in Earth Day

Today is Earth Day and we are encouraging PACEY members to share examples of how you help children in your setting to connect with nature and learn about protecting the environment. Please share your photos with us on our social media pages and use the hashtag #ClimateInEducation and #EarthDay to join in the conversation.

More for PACEY members

PACEY members can find a range of case studies, resources and ideas in MyPACEY to make your practice ‘greener’ and to encourage children in your setting to be involved in preserving the natural world.

Business Smart: Efficiency by recycling

Business Smart: Reuse and recycle

PACEY Cymru's Inspiring Environments toolkit

BLOG: Environmental awareness in the age of COP26

BLOG: Sustainability, efficiency and recycling

Activity: Plastic bottle ideas

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NEWS: DfE launches its new sustainability and climate change strategy

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Yesterday (21 April) the Department for Education announced the launch of its new Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. This strategy aims for the UK to be “the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030.”

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Sustainability is a vital issue for the music industry. UK Music is working with our members, stakeholders and other organisations to help bring about positive changes.

Julie's Bicycle

UK Music is committed to working with Julie's Bicycle on the issue of environmental sustainability across the music industry.

Julie's Bicycle is a not for profit organisation making sustainability intrinsic to the business, art and ethics of the creative industries.

Founded by the music industry, with expertise from the arts and sustainability, Julie's Bicycle bridges the gap between the creative industries and sustainability. Based on a foundation of peer-reviewed research, they work to sustain creativity, enabling the arts to create change.

They work with over 1000 arts organisations across the UK and internationally, large and small to help them measure, manage and reduce their environmental impacts.

For more information click here.

UK Music Sustainability Policy

UK Music recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving our environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods, with regular review points. We will encourage customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to do the same.

Carbon Off-Setting

Nigel Adams (Full Time Hobby co-founder, AIM Board member and AIM Climate Action Group founding member has created a guide to off-setting. Read here.

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Sustainability is a vital issue for the music industry. UK Music is working with our members, stakeholders and other organisations to help bring about positive changes. UK Music is committed to working with Julie's Bicycle on the issue of environmental sustainability across the music industry.

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We aim to provide the world class services and programmes the BBC is renowned for while doing everything we can to keep our environmental impact to a minimum.

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ITV’s Regional News has become the first UK newsroom to achieve albert certification, making it Britain’s first sustainable news operation.

This milestone is part of ITV’s undertaking to ensure that all programmes produced by ITV Studios, ITV regional news and ITV Sport are albert certified, awarded for reducing the environmental impact of the production. In addition, ITV is the first broadcaster to commit to albert certification for all programmes commissioned for ITV’s channels, to be achieved by the end of 2021.

“The next 10 years are key in averting irreversible and catastrophic climate change.  It’s why we have aligned ITV’s 2030 environmental targets to the reductions that science is telling us we need to do. I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far, and look forward to the solutions we’ll find to continue to create programmes that have the biggest impact on the audience and the smallest impact on the planet.”

Clare Phillips, ITV’s Director of Social Purpose

Joining ITV Creative, who were the first in-house creative agency to achieve albert certification in 2019,  the latest change to the way regional news programmes are produced comes as ITV outlines its ambitious 2030 environmental targets.

The company pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 46% by 2030, in line with a 1.5 degree science based emissions scenario.

As part of ITV’s Social Purpose Strategy, today’s announcement illustrates how ITV intends to take action to improve the environmental impact of the areas most material to the business - its global carbon emissions, its waste, its supply chain, and culture.

“We’re very proud to be declared Britain’s first sustainable regional news team. We all have a part to play in tackling climate change and achieving albert certification is an important step forward in the way we produce and broadcast our news bulletins, to ensure we grasp the opportunity to not only reduce the impact of our production, but truthfully communicate the climate agenda to our viewers too.”

Guy Phillips, Editor for ITV Regional News

ITV’s environmental ambition is to create the biggest shows with the smallest footprint. Taking action on ITV’s environmental targets in every business area is crucial to achieving these targets. As signatories to the Task force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ITV is embedding climate risk and opportunity into its global governance, risk management and strategy.

Using 2019 as a baseline, ITV’s environmental targets are outlined as follows:

Reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46.2% by 2030

ITV aims to reduce scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 46.2% by 2030, scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030, and power the business with 100% renewable energy by 2025. ITV’s emissions targets will be approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative, ITV will also join RE100, this year.

100% Sustainable Supply Chain by 2030

As part of its ambition towards running a 100% sustainable supply chain, 100% of ITV’s highest environmental risk suppliers will meet ITV’s best practice sustainability criteria by 2025, and by 2030 ITV will work with all other suppliers to reduce their environmental impact.

Zero Waste by 2030

Zero waste is defined as 90% of all UK waste reused and recycled by 2030. ITV has committed to an interim target of 75% reused and recycled by 2025, and eliminating single use plastic across operations, productions and supply chain by 2025.

Sustainable Culture by 2021

To embed a sustainable culture at ITV, ITV already announced earlier this year that all programmes produced by ITV will be albert certified, and is now committing to all programmes commissioned to be certified by 2021. All ITV colleagues will also complete climate crisis training by end 2021.

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ITV's regional news goes green in ITV sustainability plan

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As the UK's leading commercial broadcaster, we get the country talking. Join the conversation with our national and local advertising options designed to suit businesses of all sizes.

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Sustainability

At The Savoy Collection we are passionate about the environment. We're also acutely aware of the negative effects that the activities of our business can cause. We believe we have a responsibility to our community, our guests, employees and business partners. It's something we take very seriously.

Mission Statement

Our Commitment
The Savoy Collection is committed to reducing our environmental impact through better efficiencies of water and energy and reducing our waster and packaging. To do this, we continue to inform our guests, train our people and demand more of our partners.

What We Can Do

We will achieve our goals, both locally and globally, by continually striving to improve our environmental practices in a range of areas throughout our hotels and restaurants. Items are returned to our suppliers or collected for recycling on a regular basis. For example:

Food waste is collected for composting

Paper, packaging, glass, cans, plastic bottles,

Used light bulbs and batteries, coffee cups,

Food containers,

How our guests can help

We encourage our hotel guests to assist us in reducing their carbon footprint as much as they can during their time with us. Towels and linen will only be replaced if it is left in the bath or when a specific request to do so. Electricity is activated by a key card, so that lights and air conditioning is automatically turned off when they leave their room. To help us with recycling, separate bins are provided for materials that can and cannot be recycled. We also provide an express checkout service, where guests bills can be emailed to them rather than be printed on paper. We have also replaced newspapers and magazines with complimentary online versions. Finally when it comes to venturing outside and enjoying the many things to do in Limerick City, we always encourage our guests to explore the city on foot or using one of the bikes station just outside the hotel. Alternatively, there is an electric car charging point adjacent to the hotel, with a further 3 located in around the city.

How our employees can help

We actively encourage all our employees to assist us in reducing their carbon footprint. For example, we contribute to the cycle to work scheme and provide safe and secure storage for their bikes. We also provide regular training in green policies, where our green team host monthly briefing sessions to all their colleagues. And we remind them to continue to adhere to our recycling policies and turn off all lights and air conditioning when they are not in use. We know that their great efforts benefit us all, which is why we also have incentives in place for departments that achieve their recycling targets.

How our suppliers can help

We are proud and happy to support the best local artisan food producers whenever and wherever we can. However, we prefer to work with those suppliers that take sustainability as seriously as we do. That's why we actively encourage each and every one of our fantastic suppliers to assist us in reducing their carbon footprint. They do this by either reducing their food packaging, reusing it where possible and recycling it when they are finished with it.

Support local artisan food producers when possible

Reduce food packaging

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Sustainability At The Savoy | Savoy Collection Hotels

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Sustainability At The Savoy Collection we are passionate about the environment. We're also acutely aware of the negative effects that the activities of our business can cause. We believe we have a responsibility to our community, our guests, employees and business partners. It's something we take very seriously.

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Reducing our footprint - Planet | Behind the beans | Costa Coffee

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We're proud to say that all our company-owned stores have been powered by 100% renewable energy since April 2017. In a growing number of our stores and our Roastery, we also have on-site energy generation such as solar panels. We work closely with our suppliers to develop new energy efficient equipment that we can invest in for use in our stores.