College becomes a Carbon Neutral Organisation

Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) has continued its commitment to the environment and sustainability by becoming a Carbon Neutral Organisation.

Working with Carbon Neutral Britain, the UK's Carbon Offsetting initiative that helps British individuals and businesses make an impact on climate change, the College has become Carbon Neutral by investing in carbon positive projects from around the world and offsetting its carbon footprint.

The worldwide projects include the Burgos Wind Project, the largest wind farm in the Philippines; the Andes Mountains Hydro Power Hydroelectric project in Chile; the Rice Husk Power Project in Cambodia and the Huaneng Changyi Wind Farm Project in China. The projects focus on a range of far-reaching sustainability initiatives, aiding in education within communities, employment, social development, emission reduction and the prevention of fossil fuel burning for energy. 

James Poynter, Director of Carbon Neutral Britain said: “We are delighted to partner with Burton and South Derbyshire College to help identify and offset their environmental impact for 2022 and beyond. It’s important that businesses and organisations step up and take account of the environmental impact associated with their operations.”

Students and staff at Burton and South Derbyshire College have also been actively working to reduce their individual carbon footprints through a range of initiatives, including a Sustainability Working Group and a student-led project encouraging people to measure and improve their impact on the environment. 

Additionally, the College runs a free distance learning course: Understanding Environmental Sustainability, which provides an overview of the principles of sustainable development, communities and energy management, and the social responsibility of businesses in relation to sustainability. For those looking to investigate environmental issues further and prepare for university level study, BSDC also offers an Access to HE Humanities with Environmental Studies course.

John Beaty, Deputy Principal at BSDC said: “We are proud to have become a Carbon Neutral Organisation that supports impactful initiatives that are producing ongoing positive change across the world. Carbon Neutral Britain are helping us to reduce our emissions and offset our remaining Carbon Footprint with certified projects around the world that reduce the amount of CO²e in the earth’s atmosphere. The College is committed to championing environmental and sustainability issues to make a positive impact for the future of the planet.”