Sustainability at Capital City College: Working together for our future
At Capital City College (CCC), sustainability means taking action today while preparing our students and staff to thrive in a changing world. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact, encouraging innovation, and building a culture of responsibility and care. By working together, we can create meaningful change for a greener, healthier future.
Inspiring a greener generation
We want to inspire learners and colleagues to take meaningful action on climate change. By fostering sustainable behaviours across all areas of college life, we aim to build a culture of responsibility that empowers everyone to contribute to a greener, more sustainable world.
Our sustainability plan
Our sustainability plan focuses on four strategic pillars: Waste Reduction, Optimise Energy Usage, Greening Our Estate, and Sustainability Through Education. These pillars shape the actions we take across the college to embed sustainability into everyday life.
We will reduce all types of waste CCC generates by increasing recycling, cutting down on single-use plastics and promoting a culture of reusing materials. Reducing waste means less rubbish going to landfill, it lowers CCC’s environmental footprint and promotes responsible consumption and eco-friendly living habits. This links to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals by minimising environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy system where we waste less and conserve resources.
We will optimise our energy consumption by improving the efficiency of our buildings and promoting energy-saving behaviours. Optimising our energy use will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions and lower operational costs while promoting responsible environmental behaviour. This links to national and global goals, as energy efficiency directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and moves us closer to being carbon neutral.
We will increase our green spaces and biodiversity, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, and improve water management at our sites. By taking these actions to green our estate, we will create spaces that reduce our carbon footprint, benefitting the environment and our staff and students’ wellbeing. This aligns with the UK commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050 and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
In line with the Department for Education’s guidance, we will embed sustainability across our curriculum and raise awareness through staff and student campaigns and events. We aim to equip people with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to adopt sustainable practices on campus and beyond, preparing them to lead on future sustainability challenges. By doing so, we contribute to global goals and empower our community to drive lasting change for people and planet.
Greening our campuses
Our college is committed to creating greener, more sustainable campuses. Through initiatives such as upgrading building management systems, reducing our reliance on gas, improving waste management, and encouraging sustainable behaviours, we are actively working to reduce our environmental impact. We involve students and staff in these efforts, fostering a campus culture that values environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Our sustainability goals
Our key sustainability goals for Academic Year 2025/26 are:
- Achieve a 60% annual recycling rate at all campuses.
- Reduce energy demand – 10 % year-on-year from the 2020/21 baseline year.
- Reduce Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e) – 10% year-on-year reduction from baseline year 2020/21.
- Develop Sustainability Networks – Student Ambassadors and Staff Champions.
Certified for sustainability
As a signatory of the London Anchor Institutions’ Network (LAIN) Charter, we’re working with other major organisations across the city to create more opportunities for local people, opening up career pathways for Londoners. We’re also playing our part in tackling the climate emergency by contributing to the capital’s net-zero goals. Alongside this, our membership of the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) shows our dedication to sustainability and to helping our students and communities thrive in an inclusive and resilient future.
King’s Cross
London
WC1X 8RA
United Kingdom Contact Us
