The annual initiative supports and encourages departments and colleges across the University to act to reduce their environmental impact and to implement policies that lead to positive change - and the Platinum award recognises the College's ongoing commitment to sustainability.
It is the fifth consecutive year that St John's has been a recipient of the Platinum Colleges Award, following an audit by the University’s Environmental Sustainability Team of the College’s green initiatives, including energy use, sustainable food, waste management, recycling, and biodiversity.
Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s, said: “Achieving Platinum in the University of Cambridge Green Impact award scheme for the fifth year in succession is a fantastic achievement, testament to the sustained commitment and innovation of our staff, students and Fellows when it comes to making everyday life at John’s ever more sustainable.”
The many sustainability projects at St John’s have a big impact on the College environment and beyond. Air source heat pumps in the Buttery, Bar and Café as well as new College offices in Northampton Street and the Porters’ Lodge reduce the buildings’ carbon emissions, with the same installation strategy being applied to the College’s current and upcoming building projects.
Careful planting and land management by the Gardens team has seen noticeable increases in pollinators and other insect visitors in the past couple of years.
Wildlife cameras have most recently filmed fox cubs playing in the Fellows’ Garden, and a wide variety of bird species have been spotted – including kingfishers by the river.
The ‘Swish’ second-hand clothing swap parties held at St John’s save hundreds of kilograms of clothes from landfill and, among its other initiatives, Housekeeping uses environmentally-friendly cleaning methods and works to reduce water consumption, and the Catering Department ensures all fish and meat products served in College are responsibly sourced.
Vicky Jeffries, Maintenance Accounts and Utilities Coordinator, who organises St John’s Green Impact submission every year, said: “I am thrilled we have managed to win the Platinum Green Impact Award again this year.
“This is a great way for us to be able to show just how much we as a College consider the environment in every aspect of our day-to-day lives – from our choice of cleaning materials in Housekeeping what we source in our Catering Department, and our Gardens Department who are at the forefront of protecting the diverse environment we are so fortunate to live, study and work in.”
Green Impact is a United Nations award-winning programme designed by the National Union of Students.
Lauren Walia, Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) Project Manager, on behalf of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Team, said the College’s ‘dedication and hard work have paid off ’with the latest Platinum accreditation.
She added: “This is a fantastic accomplishment, and we are proud of your commitment to sustainability.”
The award will be presented at the Environmental Sustainability Team’s Sustainability Showcase 2025 at Newnham College on Thursday 19 June.
