News

Sustainability Update, Summer 2023

W2 Summer Eights Day 1

Welcome to the latest sustainability update, bringing you termly updates on all things environmental that are happening in and around the college!

Operations Manager Elaine Huckson writes

Bike Rental

The college is in partnership with OxBikes, a second hand bike sales and rental company run by Oxford students. It’s aim is to provide quality refurbished bikes at the click of a button, and in doing so, reduce the bike wastage in Oxford. They have partnership with eight colleges plus some other depots across the city, where students and public alike can rent bikes 24/7.

Second hand goods

Register with the University’s WARP-it account to share and receive quality second-hand and new items from other departments/colleges completely free of cost! Some of the most common items include office furniture, stationery, printer consumables, laboratory equipment and more. WARP-it removes purchasing and disposal costs while helping the environment. On average, the University prevents 100,000 kilograms worth of waste and saves £100,000 every year by using WARP-it. Register with WARP-it today!

Events

Sustainability Formal Poster

Sustainability Formal

Wednesday 24 May at 18:45

Reception and lecture in the Common Room followed by a sustainable meal.

Speaker: Professor Stephen Scharper, University of Toronto

Robert Hunter, the charismatic Canadia co-founder of Greenpeace, experienced several ‘diagnostic moments’ which led to his history-making environmental activism. With reference to the just published Mr Mindbomb: Eco-Hero and Greenpeace Co-founder Bob Hunter – A Life in Stories, edited by his wife, Boby Hunter (Vancouver: Rocky Mountain Books, 2023). This talk will touch on three such moments in the kaleidoscopics life of Robert Hunter, and explore how they shaped his unique variety of direct activism along with its continuing importance in a time of radical climate change.

College members should book into dinner as usual.

Switch Up Your Lunch

The Switch Up Your Lunch initiative is to encourage everyone in Oxfordshire to make a positive difference to the environmental impact of our food. The college is once again taking part in this initiative on Tuesday 13 June, and has pledged to offer vegan and vegetarian meals only on this day. Please join us at lunch to support a positive difference.

Repair Cafe

Repair café, Oxford is where skilled volunteers help you to fix your things over a cup of tea and a slice of cake. They help with electrical, electronic, mechanical, sewing and bike repairs. The next one is on Sunday 21 May. Booked online

Help us recycle

  • Many of our recycle bins are being contaminated with incorrect items or we are finding items that can be recycled in the general waste
  • Please help us improve our recycling rates by putting in the items below in the blue mixed recycling bins

Did you know?

  • The library recycle unwanted books. Last year the college sold 49kg and recycled 12kg
  • The lodge can provide you with equipment to help you repair your bike
  • Creeping Marshwort has been planted as part of the Ashmolean National History Society conservation plan to help save the plant
  • The college is working with Ashmolean Natural History Society and have planted the endangered creeping Marshwort in the College grounds to play our part in bringing it back from the brink of extinction

Sustainability Working Group

The college has a Sustainability Working Group which brings together a core group from across the community who help ensure that sustainability is embedded within the college strategy and operations. We welcome new members so please get in touch if you are keen to be involved.

We would love to hear any sustainable stories or initiatives, please email: sustainability@gtc.ox.ac.uk

See more information on the sustainability actions the college and community are taking

Created: 15 May 2023