Staff from Solihull College & University Centre were recently invited to share a sustainability achievement from the past academic year and reflect on the College’s journey towards becoming more environmentally responsible.
The feedback highlighted a wide range of positive actions, from personal lifestyle changes to improvements in teaching practices, workplace behaviours and campus management.
Many staff members have made more sustainable travel choices, replacing some car journeys with greener alternatives. One member of staff said: “I started walking to work two or three days a week rather than driving. It started as an environmental choice, but I have found I enjoy the journey and arrive feeling more ready for the day.”
Others have chosen to use public transport or take advantage of the College’s Cycle to Work scheme.
Environmental improvements across the campuses have also been widely praised. The College’s grounds are now maintained without pesticides and chemicals, while more plants have been introduced into working environments and new trees planted across the sites to enhance biodiversity.
Staff have also taken steps to reduce paper waste by limiting printing and photocopying. One colleague commented: “Our team moved most student information and internal documents onto Teams this year, and it’s made us question what needs to be on paper.”
Smaller changes are also making a difference, from switching to reusable cups and bottles to building knowledge through carbon literacy training and sharing best practice with colleagues.
Together, these actions demonstrate how small individual changes can make a significant collective impact. By embedding sustainable habits into everyday activities, staff across the College are helping to make sustainability an increasingly integral part of College life.
