Reporting Boundary: Eton College
Emission Sources: Electricity, T&D Losses, Natural Gas, Water, Waste, Grey Fleet
Reporting Period: 01 Sep 2021 – 31 Aug 2022
We engage our employees and wider stakeholders to unlock their talent and knowledge to drive year on year progress in sustainability.
We recognise that transparent communication is essential for transformational change and we quantifiably contribute to 5 SDGs.
Having already implemented a range of sustainability initiatives over the past decade, Eton College is now committed to starting its journey to net zero by measuring and reducing its carbon emissions.
By becoming a Planet Mark member, Eton College has committed to further implementing sustainability into its actions, processes and policies across the College and the wider Eton community, and to engaging staff and pupils along the way.
Beyond the classroom, sustainability and environmental education has become increasingly important to the boys at the College as they look to understand and improve the world around them. They are provided with a range of opportunities to engage with environmental and climate action as well as being encouraged to actively pursue their own environmental-related interests. The Engagement Team from Planet Mark were invited to work directly with the staff and pupils at the College to support them further with education and awareness to enable them to articulate thoughts and ideas about how they as individuals interact with environmental issues and a more sustainable future.
“As a school rich in tradition, history and heritage, Eton College will have some unique challenges to overcome on its net zero journey, not least as it stewards and supports historic buildings which are both for the school and wider community use. At Planet Mark, we are here to offer expert guidance to help overcome these challenges and realise ambitions. The education sector has a unique role to play in combatting the climate crisis and creating a better world for future generations. Empowering young minds, can help deliver the innovations our planet so desperately needs. As Sir David Attenborough has said, “bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on Earth and can motivate a sense of responsibility to safeguard it.” Now is the time, not just to inspire a passion for the future, but to prepare for careers that increasingly require knowledge and awareness about sustainability initiatives, policy, and legislation.”
“The significance of the role the education sector has to play in face of the climate emergency is reinforced by the Department for Education Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, published in 2022, which responds to recommendations from the Committee for Climate Change and supports the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy. As a leading educational institution, Eton College is embracing the Department for Education’s strategy, and is already embedding these principles into our approach to carbon management, the wider ecological and sustainability agenda, and environmental education. The work that Planet Mark has thus far undertaken with the College, brings together the environmental sustainability initiatives that Eton has put in place over the past few years to use this as a starting point for our journey towards net zero.”
Senior members of Planet Mark’s Engagement Team delivered workshops on Sustainability Leadership for pupils and staff from across the whole College. 150 pupils and staff took part and were encouraged to explore complex thinking and discussion around the attributes required for leadership in sustainability; they also delved into inspiring examples of businesses that are having a positive impact on the environment. Pupils were set a house challenge which invited them to consider ways in which they can reduce carbon emissions and engage their peers.
In the second stage of the engagement programme, Planet Mark’s workshops taught how to encourage change using effective communication methods and to instil confidence when discussing sustainability with different audiences. By exploring communications campaigns, brand messaging, and company partnerships, pupils were informed on what successful and unsuccessful sustainability communications look like. The sessions have been designed to unlock creativity, encourage critical thinking, and foster collaboration amongst pupils on how to take meaningful and effective action.
Furthermore, Planet Mark delivered a net zero masterclass to the Eton College Leadership Team to introduce the relevant terminology and standards and explore how these apply to the College. To help pupils realise their commitments made in the initial sessions and to reflect on the house challenges, Planet Mark’s Engagement team also hosted additional workshops.
Through the Planet Mark Business Certification, Eton College has helped to protect endangered rainforest thanks to their partnership with Cool Earth; a charity working alongside rainforest communities to halt deforestation and protect these valuable ecosystems.
In 2022, Planet Mark Business Certification helped Eton College contribute to 5 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To recertify next year Eton College must reduce emissions by 2.5%.
A 5% year-on-year reduction is the target reduction recommended by Planet Mark.