Sustainability Day for Staff at Bournemouth and Poole College in Early October

Staff were given an insight into the workings of the ‘Net Zero Challenge’ - and beyond - with guest speakers from Poole-based ethically-sourced beauty and cosmetics company, Lush, Simon Wyatt with the talk ’Let’s talk Trash!’ from 1^st Waste Management and Daniel Peacock from the Suez waste company. 

On Tuesday, 8^th of October, whilst students were off-site and teachers attended the Teachers’ Conference at the Vitality Stadium of Bournemouth AFC, professional services staff got to grips with sustainability issues.  Such sustainability issues spanned from responsible consumption and production; an issue at the forefront focus of 1^st Waste Management and Lush whom had guest speakers at our Bournemouth and Poole campuses. 

RNLI delivered on sustainability policy, particularly in the addressing what the core values were that their employees believed in, such as consistent economic growth for future generations as well prevention of slavery and modern-day slavery; particularly at sea. Anna Frizzell of RNLI highlighted the importance of acknowledging the depth of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals beyond the limited perception of standard recycling, switching off lights and caring for the climate.  She demonstrated the importance of risk management, gender equality, famine and poverty prevention and many more sustainable development goals that are typically not thought of in terms of sustainability. For this reason, her talk involved Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) principles that would later, in conjunction with other sustainability frameworks, support RNLI’s overall sustainability strategy.

At Poole campus, guest speaker Tom Baker from ‘JUMP’ explained the ins and outs of the Net Zero Challenge app – an app where you can monitor, track and offset your carbon footprint. He walked through the app and how it is used. He provided staff members with the opportunity to download it with the QR code on his presentation, explaining that you can compare with colleagues, work in a team to reduce your footprint, and more. The website for more information is: http://www.do.thenetzerochallenge.org. 

Organising the day, Nathan Auger, Bournemouth and Poole College Carbon and Sustainability Officer said: “It has been a real passion of mine to get this day in motion and while I am confident in my own knowledge of sustainability issues and practices, I am grateful for the speakers as I have also learned more about sustainability too.  The event highlighted some common themes for me.  While there is a desire to act more sustainability by many of the employees here in our College, perception of sustainability is limited to regularly turning off lights when not needed, recycling and environmental care, all of which is good, however; should be second nature to everyone.”

He added: “This would be a perfect opportunity to further develop a greater understanding and impact on what we currently know as well as all other 17 Sustainable Development Goals (THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org)).  I firmly believe that many employees at the College are already far more sustainable than they realise, and it’s time to celebrate and cherish what we have done. Let’s set some tangible, meaningful goals and work towards our progression to develop sustainability in the forefront of our culture.  Here’s to a brighter, greener future.”

Simon Myatt, Manager at 1^st Waste Management, speaking at the Sustainability Day, said: “1^st Waste Management had the privilege of holding a talk for Bournemouth & Poole College staff members during their Professional Services Day. We addressed some of the most pressing environmental issues facing us. Our agenda covered four key topics: The Global Environmental Problem, Challenges for the Waste Industry, The Recycling & Recovery Process, and Minimising Our Environmental Impact.

“The engagement from the college staff was fantastic. Participants were not only attentive but also actively involved in discussions, sharing their insights and experiences. This high level of interaction enriched the session, making it more dynamic and impactful. Some key facts were discovered through a quiz which I think offered a few surprises!

“The event proved to be highly worthwhile. It provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges we face and equipped them with practical knowledge on how to address these issues within their professional and personal lives. By fostering a collaborative and informed community, we are better positioned to make meaningful strides towards a more sustainable way of living, and what better way to achieve this then through an educational establishment.”