Christ’s collected a platinum award - the highest accreditation - in the University of Cambridge Green Impact scheme ceremony at Wolfson College yesterday.
The annual accreditation scheme supports and encourages departments and Colleges to act to reduce their environmental impact and to implement sustainable policies that lead to positive change.
The University’s Sustainability Team carries out audits of environmental measures based on criteria such as energy use, sustainable food, waste management, transport, and biodiversity.
Christ’s won a gold award last year and staff, students and Fellows have worked hard to achieve the highest award this time around.
This year’s submission was co-ordinated by the JCR and MCR Green representatives Rachel Doran and Maria Ikonomova with Head Porter, Kevin Cash.
Initiatives this year have included a push to encourage sustainable travel and introduced sustainable food practices.
For example, members of the Admissions Team travelled to Denmark for an outreach trip by train. The College has also purchased an electric vehicle for staff to use and hosted a free bicycle maintenance workshop for students and staff in February. The 'bike to work' scheme is also successfully encouraging staff to choose cycling over car use.
Initiatives to encourage sustainable food practices are also implemented. The canteen adopts carbon footprint labelling and fish and meat options are offered on alternate days in College thereby halving the number of high carbon meals. Vegan and vegetarian options are also enhanced with vegan food as the default option for booking in Halls.
Christ’s hosts regular Green Formal Halls, including one held to celebrate the university-wide Green Week last April.
The Gardening Team grows vegetables which are distributed to students and staff in the summer and the JCR introduced a new food waste disposal scheme for kitchens in college accommodation.
Maria said:
“The Green Impact Award is a wonderful recognition of the efforts of our college community to make Christ’s more sustainable. I want to thank everyone for their brilliant engagement over the last year and for participating in and supporting environmental initiatives at Christ’s!
The Green Impact Award builds on several long-term initiatives in our college and the great work of our previous JCR and MCR Green Officers, as well as ongoing commitment from staff and students to help to support sustainable practices at Christ’s.”
