Schools and universities are bustling hubs of activity and knowledge. And with the main goal being to educate young people for a better future, there's a great opportunity for these spaces — including yours — to become sustainability models. Not only can schools and universities provide a more holistic education by prioritizing eco-friendly practices, but also positively impact operational costs, the environment, and your community at large. 

 

So, let’s dive deeper into the benefits of “going green” in educational institutions and how to implement effective sustainable practices at your facility. 

 

Sustainability entails enabling the planet and the people living in it to thrive. This means schools and universities already play a big role in it, with quality education leading individuals to better work opportunities and economic growth.  

 

On the flip side, though, educational institutions can also cause environmental damage. According to analysis conducted by clean energy non-profit Generation180, schools emit as much carbon dioxide on average as 8 million homes. [1]

 

With this in mind, putting sustainability at the heart of your school or university operations, could make a positive impact and contribute to a better future.

The education sector can support a greener world in many ways, benefiting your students and employees alike. This includes finding strategies to reduce carbon emissions and cut down on waste, which in turn can free up your facility’s budget and even create a more fulfilling educational experience.

 

Here are some steps you can take to transform your institution into a green school or university:

Making the switch to more sustainable hygiene and cleaning products can reduce your school or university's impact on the planet and protect people’s health. For instance, traditional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals, known as volatile organic compounds (VOC's). These compounds can lead to poor indoor air conditions and if they find their way into our water supply, they can affect the quality of drinking water. You can avoid this by choosing eco-friendly alternatives instead. 

 

Keep in mind that sustainable hygiene and cleaning products are verified by third-party certifiers and usually made from renewable, recycled, or even natural ingredients too. At Tork we have taken steps to ensure our products are as sustainable as possible, including:

Preferring eco-friendly products for your facility could be the first step towards sustainability, but not the only one. How everyone at your school or university uses them makes a big difference. You can influence this by raising awareness around the importance of only using what is needed, together with hygiene solutions designed to enable that. For instance, Tork hand sanitizer and paper hand towels dispensers can optimize consumption and hygiene at your facility thanks to controlled dosing and one at a time dispensing features. This can have a positive effect not only on the planet by reducing waste, but also on your budget. 

 

Waste goes beyond that, though. Research conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) estimates that US schools produce 530,000 tons of food waste per year. [2] This often ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane, a common greenhouse gas that traps the sun's heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The result? Further climate change issues.

 

Here are some ways that your educational institution can tackle this:

Your cafeteria can focus on meal planning and portion control to ensure that only the necessary amount of food is prepared and served. By accurately estimating the number of students and employees who will be eating each meal and how much, school and university cafeterias can avoid wasting food.

 

Introducing these practices means your educational institution could lower its overall carbon footprint (the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions created by your actions), as well as reduce unnecessary waste and ingredient costs.

 

Any school or university can create natural fertilizers by composting food scraps. This helps divert food waste from landfills and create nutrient-rich soil for gardening or landscaping purposes within your same facility. That not only reduces environmental impact but can also optimize your costs. A composting program can additionally provide an opportunity for students and employees to take a hands-on role in your sustainability efforts by taking part in the process themselves.

 

Keep in mind this simple rule of thumb to create effective compost:

Creating green spaces (which can be maintained with in-house compost) helps improve air quality, promote biodiversity, and stabilize outdoor temperatures. Not to mention it can enhance mental and physical well-being for students and staff alike. This is particularly relevant because schools and universities sometimes produce high levels of stress and creating calming natural spaces allow for some much-needed relaxation. 

 

A study conducted by BMC Public Health shows that spending time in green spaces can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower levels of stress hormones, and increase feelings of happiness. [3] So, creating school gardens and green spaces is not only better for the planet, but can result in happier, healthier students and employees that enjoy their studies and jobs.

 

Just be mindful to plant species that are native to your institutions’ area, as introducing foreign ones can upset your local ecosystem’s balance. 

Hundreds and in some cases even thousands of people commute every day to your school or university. This means that reducing the use of fossil fuels and emissions from vehicles can help protect the environment and improve air quality on campus.

One effective way to encourage greener transportation options is by providing incentives for students and employees who choose them. 

 

This could include:

Your commitment to sustainable transport can extend beyond the journey to and from your facility. For instance, opting for local field trips reduces your institution’s carbon footprint while supporting local educational or entertainment venues and national parks.

University and school buildings need considerable energy to run effectively, from powering laptops and projectors to basic lighting, heating, and air conditioning. Using non-renewable energy sources at that scale leads to carbon emissions and high costs. According to the Better Buildings Initiative, school districts spend more than $6 billion annually on energy. [4] This highlights what a difference becoming more energy efficient can make, especially for institutions on a tighter budget.

 

Steps that your facility can take in the right direction include:

 

 

Your school or university plays a crucial role in shaping our future generations. By keeping a sustainability perspective on education, you’re not only enabling a population that thrives but also actively protecting the planet we all live in. Implementing sustainable practices has the potential to reduce costs, waste, and energy consumption at your facility, while also providing a more fulfilling and well-rounded experience for students and employees alike. Together, with the support of Tork products and resources, you can make this vision a reality.

 

 

To continue learning, why not explore how to teach hygiene and cleanliness to children or how to keep your offices hygienic and spotless with our quick office cleaning guide?