Eton Students Play Integral Role in School’s New Sustainability Strategy

On the 5th of June, World Environment Day, Eton College announced a new Sustainability Strategy in which Eton boys have an integral role.

Some of the Strategy’s action items include greener heating systems campus-wide; 100% landfill-diverted waste management; new solar panel installations; enhanced insulation in boarding houses; increased recycling; tree planting by boys and groundskeepers; boys teaching sustainability in local primary schools; establishment of a school re-use thrift shop; model COPs with partner schools; and participation in global environment initiatives such as The Earth Prize.

The new Sustainability Strategy builds on the ideas and efforts of Eton boys, faculty and staff, and sets ambitious goals for sustainability at Eton and beyond. All Eton boys are involved in sustainability initiatives through their curriculum and residential life, and most are also involved through co-curricular and community service activities, including Environmental Action, the Environment Society, the Boys Environment Committee, Boarding House Environmental Representatives, Eton Action, Eton Roots & Shoots and Florentina, the student environmental magazine.

Boys in Environmental Action are encouraged to pursue their own environment-related interests, lead projects, lobby for change, or work outdoors to enhance biodiversity. Boys in the Environment Society host speakers on environmental issues, from rhino conservation to the running of an electric car company.

The Boys’ Environment Committee reports to the College Committee, ensuring boys’ voices are heard by faculty and staff, on subjects including energy, food consumption and waste, biodiversity and net zero targets. Boys can apply for the role of Environment Representative for their Boarding House. These boys, along with others, make up the Boys’ Environment Committee.

Boys involved with Eton Action run the Eton Action Fair, an annual fundraiser that provides funds to a select number of charities each year, some of which have an environmental mission. Eton Roots & Shoots works with the Jane Goodall Institute and reports on Eton boys’ efforts on behalf of animals, people and the planet. Florentina, the boy-run Eton environmental magazine, publishes articles about environmental and sustainability topics.

Examples of projects undertaken recently include:
• Intergenerational collaboration at Planet Mark workshops on net-zero audits and reducing carbon emissions within a large institution.
• Model COP event with partner schools.
• Partnerships with local schools to organise environmental events.
• Eton’s Environment Week, including Green Careers networking.
• Running a sustainability-themed book/podcast club.
• Boys entered the Earth Prize international sustainability competition.
• Trips to sites of interest, e.g. Grundon’s waste management facility.
• Fundraising for green charities, including a plogging (litter-picking fun-run) for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford Wildlife Trust.
• Working on Eton’s local allotment.
• Enhancing the biodiversity of Eton’s green spaces.
• Engaging with COP26 in Glasgow and COY27 in Egypt.
• Assemblies for year groups about sustainability goals and Eton’s work with Planet Mark.
• Boys led the schoolwide implementation of reusable water bottles, with Year 9 boys now given their own bottles on arrival.

Written by Thomas G