Accreditation ‘a fitting endorsement of the thoughtful long term progress we are making on sustainability across the College’

St John’s College has won the highest accolade in the University of Cambridge’s environmental award scheme for the fourth year in a row.

Fellows, staff and students have been working hard on green initiatives over the past year to make the College community an even more sustainable place to live, study and work.

Now St John’s has been awarded Platinum in this year’s Green Impact awards, an environmental initiative designed by the National Union of Students.

Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s College, said: “This is a great result and fitting endorsement of the thoughtful long term progress we are making on sustainability across the College.”

Many sustainability projects go on behind the scenes at St John’s that have an impact on the College environment and beyond. In the past year the Gardens team, helped by volunteers, has planted 57,120 blubs in The Avenue, creating a colourful blanket of floral displays through the spring and early summer that saw a noticeable increase in pollinators and other insect visitors. The gardeners have also created log piles and left areas unmown to boost biodiversity, which led to the unexpected appearance of wild bee orchids as well as the rare Orchis Simia – otherwise known as the Naked Hanging Man Orchid or Monkey Orchid.

Wildlife cameras have picked up busy badgers exploring the grounds while Deputy Head Gardener David Brown, a keen birdwatcher, has reported a wide variety of bird species, including Red Kites, a Tawny Owl and even a White Stork. The Gardens team has also bought electric lawnmowers, which are not only good for sustainability but are quieter to use, allowing lawns to be mown during the exam period.

Along with the Buttery, Café and Bar, which opened last year, air source heat pumps have been installed in the new Northampton Street offices and Porters’ Lodge in place of gas heating – reducing the carbon emissions of these buildings. The same strategy is being applied to all upcoming College building projects. Almost all lightbulbs have now been replaced with energy-efficient LEDs while sensor lighting is being installed in communal areas in all shared accommodation to save electricity.

Two ‘Swish’ second-hand clothing swap parties held at St John’s this year have proved a huge success and saved hundreds of kilograms of clothes from landfill. The College community has also contributed to collection boxes placed around College in aid of Cambridge Food Bank.

Among their other initiatives, Housekeeping staff clean with concentrated products and reusable spray bottles, which are more environment-friendly and reduce water consumption, and the Catering Department ensures all fish and meat products that reach the College’s dining tables are sourced responsibly.

This year the May Ball Committee is applying for Sustainable Ball accreditation, with a range of plans in place to reduce waste.

The College’s Green Impact organisers Jessica Tearney-Pearce, Capital Projects Coordinator, and Vicky Jeffries, Maintenance Payments and Utilities Coordinator, are delighted to see St John’s win Platinum once more.

Vicky explained: “Working sustainably is a large collaboration project across the College and we are very pleased to have maintained our Platinum Green Impact status for another year in a row.”

Jessica added: “I’m so pleased to see the College achieve fitting recognition of everyone’s hard work in these areas. I look forward to us making even more progress in 2025.”

Speaking on behalf of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Team, Lauren Walia, Project Manager of SOS-UK (Students Organising for Sustainability), said the accreditation is ‘a fantastic accomplishment’, adding: “Your dedication and hard work have paid off… and we are proud of your commitment to sustainability.”

The 2024 awards will be presented at the Environmental Sustainability Team's Sustainability Showcase at Storey’s Field Centre in Eddington on Thursday 20 June.

Published 14/6/2024

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