The University of Cambridge launched the Green Impact Accreditation Scheme to encourage departments and colleges to reduce their environmental impact through a set of clear and achievable criteria related to water, waste, travel, energy, food, and other areas. With support from the Environment and Energy team, we have implemented a large number of actions aimed at engaging staff and visitors and encouraging simple behavioural changes.
- In 2018 the Institute was awarded a Bronze Green Impact Award, our first step on the Scheme. This was followed in 2019 by the Silver Green Impact Award.
- In May 2020 the Institute was awarded the Gold Green Impact Award, following a virtual audit. The auditors gave extremely positive feedback as well as helpful comments about activities to look at for the following year.
“We are extremely impressed by how much INI has managed to achieve this year, especially given the lockdown and changes in their staff. They (INI) have established sustainable action as integral to the way they operate, and we look forward to seeing what they go on to do. They have some great plans for a wildlife area/garden that were unfortunately delayed by the current lockdown situation, but we are keen to see how that develops in the future. Overall just a fantastic effort. It was a pleasure to talk to them all and their enthusiasm really shone through.”
INI’s 2020 environmental action plan details our broader aims for adopting sustainable, ecologically-minded practice in all of our activities.
Highlights of what we have been doing to reduce our environmental impact
- Sets of recycling, compost and general waste bins are available in the building along with a photographic signage to guide visitors.
- No single-use plastic bottles are sold in the Institute. There are reusable water bottles for sale to encourage participants to use mains water and reduce the use of disposable plastic.
- We use reusable plates and glasses where possible. Only plant-based disposable crockery and cutlery are used when catering for workshops.
- Printers set up to duplex.
- Signs throughout the building encourage energy saving.
Services in place:
- Collection of stationery items for appropriate reuse and recycling.
- Collection of plastic bottle tops for donation to Barnardo’s charity.
- Staff have access to a pool bicycle which can be booked out to cycle to events, meetings etc.
Click here, or on the image below, to watch “Creating a sustainable campus at Maths“,
a short film created by Cambridge University and the Green Impact initiative.
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