Sunderland College ( part of EPNE)

Sunderland College, part of college group Education Partnership North East

Sunderland College is part of a regional college group, Education Partnership North East, providing further and higher education to 14,000 students and apprentices. The college group is committed to the transition to net zero and reducing its carbon footprint. Through its Green & Sustainability Group, chaired by a Vice Principal, the college group seeks to: inspire students, staff, governors and stakeholders to adopt green behaviours and take action; develop the skills students need to secure and sustain employment in the 'green economy'; reduce the environmental impact and improving the sustainability of all college campuses; and, adopt green and sustainable supply chain and waste management practices across the college group's operations.

Operational delivery of the green objectives is supported by the college group's professional services teams including Estates, IT, Procurement and Health, Safety & Environment Teams. Progress in the last year included: implementing a new recycling scheme across five campuses; rolling out the WarpIT software to encourage reuse of furniture and other consumables; ensuring 100% of food and oil waste has been converted into renewable energy, biofuels, and fertiliser; reducing energy usage by the equivalent of 44 tonnes of CO2; and, continuing to reduce staff mileage, 124,883 miles in the last three years.

Work has also continued to embed sustainability into the curriculum and wider student experience. Sustainability is an integral part of the college group's Self, Society & Skills and personal development sessions for all 16-18 year old students.

Ellen Thinnesen OBE, CEO at Education Partnership North East, said: "Over the past year we have been very busy accelerating improvements to our carbon footprint and ensuring the college's operations support a growing green agenda. "We are delighted to support this ambitious new Low Carbon Framework and intend to use it to raise awareness and bring about further positive change right across our North East college community."