Sustainability at Christ’s College

Sustainability at Christ’s College is at the heart of what we do and we have implemented various sustainability and green initiatives to reduce environmental impact and promote eco-friendly practices on campus.

Our green initiatives are continuously discussed by students, staff, and Fellows, and our visitors must understand our commitment to reducing harmful effects on the environment.

We’re proud to share our Green Credentials:

We made the landmark decision to divest reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.
Our focus on sustainability is reflected in the de-gasification of our properties, sustainable energy procurement, and waste management solutions.
We recently received a Platinum Green Impact Award in June 2023.
We continuously strive to progress and enhance our green credentials.

Carbon, Energy and Water Management:

Our implemented sustainability measures:

Replaced gas boilers with efficient condenser boilers, saving over 600,000kwh/year.
Procured electricity from a renewable energy provider.
Upgraded lighting to low-energy LED bulbs and used motion sensor lighting.
Encouraged efficient heating and laundry practices.
Installed water-saving devices in accommodations.
Harvested rainwater for watering plants.
Started installing Solar Panels on buildings over four years, beginning with Yusuf Hamied Court.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management:

We prioritize environmental sustainability by:

Avoiding hedge-cutting during nesting season.
Using peat-free compost and recycling wood cuttings.
Not using pesticides or fungicides.
Cultivating free vegetables on-site.
Using eco-friendly cleaning products.

Hospitality and Sustainable Procurement:

Our procurement initiatives are at the forefront of decision-making.

MCS-certified fish suppliers are used in kitchens.
Local and UK sourcing by Chefs.
Regular filter maintenance for lower costs.
Removed single use bottled water from conferences.
Reusable containers for takeaway food.
Recycling bins are available, recycling paper, cards, cans, batteries, and plastics.
The catering team promotes greener, seasonal, healthy, vegan, and vegetarian options.
Promotion of reusable mugs and efforts to reduce food waste.
The conference team have stopped providing stationery in their standard day delegate rate packages to help towards our sustainability pledge.

Travel:

Our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint includes:

The College promotes cycling through the “Cycle to Work”
Scheme and expanded bicycle storage.
Electric vehicle charging points were added in 2022, with one College vehicle replaced with an electric one.
Visitors and staff are encouraged to use public transport, with guidance provided on the College’s website.

If you would like to take a tour of the College and see how we put sustainability into practice, please get in touch. Further details of our sustainability practices and policy can be found here

Here at Christ’s College, we have excellent conference facilities, in the heart of historic Cambridge.

Our meeting and dining rooms can accommodate all types of events from small gatherings, to large conferences and summer schools, making us the perfect choice for your next event.

We are accredited by MIA (Meetings in Industry) an assurance of excellence.

Our dedicated team of staff recently won a Visit England 4 Star Campus Award, as well Gold Bid Award for Best Overall Customer Experience 2022, so you can be sure of a warm welcome.

Cambridge has a Purple Flag Award. This is given to cities judged to be safe and vibrant places to enjoy a night out.

To find out more about our conferences, summer schools, functions, and events visit: christscollegeconference.co.uk or email. conference@christs.cam.ac.uk