Sustainability

Hello everyone and welcome to this latest episode of our podcast. I'm Nick and I'm joined today by my co-host Deb. Hi everyone, great to be here. So before we dive in don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a lovely five star review. It really helps us reach more apprentices like you. So today we're tackling a topic that's relevant to everyone. Sustainability. Now whether you hear about climate change on the news or perhaps your particular setting as an eco-committee the issue of looking after our planet and all of our resources it's got to be crucial for everyone. Does any of that chime with you, Deb? Absolutely Nick, it really does. Sustainability isn't just a buzz word. It's about those choices that we make every day whether that's reaching waste or conserving energy or thinking about the long-term impact of our actions. Absolutely. So today we're going to be speaking to Adam and Colott. He's a deputy head of land-based apprenticeships at Bridgewater and Torrenton College who deliver qualifications in this growing area and Adam is passionate about the environment and sustainable living. He'll be sharing his insights on global agreements, organizational policy and leaving us with some sun how to make sustainable impact in your own setting. So Adam, could you first of all tell us where you work and what you do please introduce yourself? Hi Nick, so yeah I'm Adam Colott. I'm a deputy head of apprenticeships for land-based at Bridgewater and Torrenton College covering a wide range of sort of environmental apprenticeships. Right. Are people like farm workers or agricultural things? Is that kind of a. Yeah, so if I've got agriculture in there we've got countryside management in there, we've got grounds management, horticulture, those sorts of areas. So hence why sustainability quite an important part of that. Yeah, right. So from your perspective, just simple starting question, what is it? We all hear it and we're now part of our lexicon, we'll talk about it, but from your point of view, what is sustainability? So sustainability kind of, I think, began as a sort of environmental concept really, sort of ecology and environment and looking after the environment. That's where it sort of started out. It's then evolved somewhat. The United Nations now have 17 key goals for sustainability and that includes a range of things. So things like their number one goal is no poverty worldwide. Running through to sort of quality education, clean water and sanitation, affordable energy, those sorts of things. So sustainability has sort of evolved and developed into something a bit more than it was originally kind of intended. Couple of definitions for you. The Brompton report in 1992 said that sustainability should be development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. So it's about sustainability being able to continue things as we go along. So that's kind of a definition of sustainability. It found its sort of roots in the Rio Earth Summit. So back in 1992, there's the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and that's kind of where the concept was first kind of brought about or kind of talked about. And then it's developed over time and as I say the UN's now got sustainable development goals. We've got all sorts of things like the Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocols, those sorts of things that very much fed that environmental view of sustainability. But then it's sort of looking at it as to how do we then implement it in other areas and it has developed over time like that. So Adam, it feels like there's a global perspective first and foremost. Because again, I hear all those words on the news. I'm not exactly sure where it fits in the world, but I can imagine that the global agreement world leaders then come back to their own countries and parliaments and decision making and then pass those policies and ideas on to organisations. Is that the right kind of feel for it? Absolutely. Yeah, definitely. So there is a very much sort of global view and an overarching view that's right at the top. And that then as you say filters down through local government and into policy and procedure and legislation of course. And really so there's some highly level conceptual ideas, things like putting back more than we take. Intelligent design that considers inputs and outputs. And these are sort of very high level concepts that we then have to translate into what do we actually do day-to-day on the ground to make sure sustainability thing happens. And so yeah, and yeah, I mean looking around at the legislation and things, there are a number of things that are brought into play. We have sort of the Environmental Protection Act for instance. A lot of the information that around sustainability is now built into that. And as these bits of legislation things like the Town and Country Planning Act, things like that, these get implemented and that's where those things filter down from that very high level at these big sort of global summits all the way down through government and interlocal legislation. The other thing we're mentioning legislation of course to talk about is the ISO standards. The International Organization of Standardization has several ISO standards around it. There is the ISO 26,000 which is the guidance on social responsibility. So that has some stuff in there about sustainability. There's the ISO 50,000 and one which is around energy management. So that's all around how we can look at things like solar power, wind power, nuclear power, trying to get green energy going and looking at how that contributes to being sustainable. And then there's also ISO 14,000 and one which is around environmental management systems. And those are looking at systems that manage things like buildings, so things like heating, lighting and all those sorts of things. And how those can be made more energy efficient, which then makes them more sustainable. Yeah. Right. So again, you've saying words that I've heard before, but you're helping me make sense of them. So an ISO standard would be something that a contractor or an organization that or a provider, they would have to meet that kind of industry standard in what they gave you in terms of food or whatever they delivered to you. It has to meet that standards. Is that right? Yes, absolutely. So that provides a standard for people to work to. So if you are trying to be more sustainable, you can look up one of these standards. You can have a look through the guidance involved. And then you can see what you can do to get your organization to meet that standard. Or as you just suggested, if you're looking at suppliers, so people that supply food, people that supply office goods, people that supply materials, tools and equipment, those sorts of things, you can check do they meet ISO 26,000, the guidance on social responsibility. And if they do, then that helps you to factor that into your sustainable management policies. So if you're writing a policy on sustainability, then saying that you use suppliers that meet ISO 26,000 would be a really good way to show that you're meeting those sustainable goals and trying to achieve sustainable outcomes. Yeah. Fantastic. Yeah, I never knew that, but that's really helpful. Just jumping back to something you said earlier about some of the principles as high-level principles. I was just thinking the countryside, the wider environment, the green spaces, that feels quite a natural place for sustainability to happen. And then in the built environment, in organizations and schools and libraries and all the rest of it, it feels a very different place. And yeah, those standards and principles have got to apply across all environments. This is absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. So I mean, this is where those further goals from the UN come in. Things like industry innovation and infrastructure, decent work and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities. So it's looking very much in the built environment. It would be things like simple things like replacing light bulbs with energy efficient ones. It might be having more glass in a building. So if it's north facing, it gets more sunlight, doesn't need so much heating on during the day. It's very simple things that can be implemented in the built environment to actually reduce energy use, improve sort of reduce water use and things like that that can make those buildings more sustainable. And therefore, those companies or organizations more sustainable. So it's looking at those sorts of things. It's also introducing green spaces as well because one of the big things that sustainability also kind of factors in is that kind of well-being as well. And so there is an element of that involved. So whenever you're considering sustainability for your organization, it's also important to not only consider the environment, the impacts and reducing those, but also to look at, you know, can we introduce some green space into into an urban area into a built environment that will actually help people's well-being and improve that as well. Because number three on the UN list is in fact good health and well-being. So that's an actual really clear sustainability target as set out by the UN. So that's another important point there as well. And very important when you think about that built environment, yeah, how do we do that? And we're seeing all the sort of benefits of green space for people. And so actually factoring that into your sustainability policies is a really key thing too. Yeah, I like the idea that, because I mean particularly for our schools, some will be in very rural areas and those green spaces and those things we're talking about will be immediately available. And yet some of our more urban schools will have to work an awful lot harder. So I do lot of the ideas that there are. range of waste to get into it. The thing that's been kind of on my mind recently is the cost. I don't know what you think about this Adam, but it sometimes feels that to be sustainable, you've got to pay more. Like, another, some schools will say, we want to get our paper and resources from sustainable sources or renewable resources, but they're not the cheapest. So, what's the feeling about putting in? And you're certainly about don't take out more than you put in or whatever that was, but it feels like it's more costly. Yes, yeah. I can't be the cost or I'm afraid. That is very much the case. But then what you have to look at is what are the ongoing costs to plan it and people and to the cities and urban areas that you're in? Because, yeah, economic sides of things is always a big factor. However, the flip side of that sometimes sustainability can also be about reducing costs. So, one of the key things that you'd look at to do with sustainability is looking to source things more locally. And obviously, if you're sourcing things more locally, very often, that means lower transport costs and therefore you may be able to reduce costs that way. So, there are areas where it is possible to save money, but yes, I would agree that very often it comes down to the difference between doing what's easy and what's right and sometimes doing what's right has a cost implication. And that is something that all the way up to the top at the UN, they recognise you know, they say, well, actually, yeah, this is this is key. And obviously, that their absolute top goal is no poverty. Now, of course, that means, yeah, there's going to have to be some financial input somewhere to support that goal and to try and make that happen. Yes, it can be more tricky to get things that are more environmentally friendly. That could be more expensive, but again, the savings can come on the flip side of that as well. Things like, yes, it'll be very expensive to install your solar power and have your batteries and your electric car charging stations, but then over time, you're suddenly saving money because you're reducing your electricity bill because you're putting some money back into the grid and getting a kickback from that. There's various potential to actually save money down the line if there isn't a initial outlet. So, it's very important with sustainability. People can very often get hung up on that initial cost and say, oh, well, that's so much more expensive than doing it the other way, but actually, then when you look at the long-term cost and cost over time, you're actually going to benefit. So, sometimes, yes, it will be more expensive at the start, but very often, those longer-term costs are reduced because you've gone down a sustainable route or more environmentally friendly route. Yeah. The reason I asked that Adam was that I know that sometimes decision-makers, whether the burses or business managers or head-tidgetal governors, if they're not persuaded of that argument, it's hard to get some leverage, isn't it? So, I'm just wondering about a policy level. How do you kind of get the message spread away? Yeah, I think that is a challenge and I think really is about looking at the longer-term goals and also using some of that ISO standard to your advantage. I think when you're arguing for a more sustainable approach to things, very often the important one to note is that the reputational impact of doing that is huge. With the environmental agenda being very high in everyone's minds at the moment with everything that's going on, on the planet, climate change and all those sorts of things, actually an organisation, a school or any business being able to determine and say, well, actually, we're doing all these things to make ourselves more sustainable, to make ourselves more environmentally friendly and to improve that. That has a huge reputational impact. Very difficult to link that direct to a cost, but it is a really important point and that, I would say, when you're talking to decision makers and policy makers, that's actually really strong argument to use is to say, well, actually our reputation from doing this will be massively improved. And then, as I've just said, looking at those longer-term costs as well, so saying, yes, okay, initially it's going to cost this, but over five years, 10 years, 15 years, you're going to save this money by doing that. Again, that can persuade those policy makers to say, okay, yeah, that makes sense, that's viable. So yeah. Yeah, that's really useful. That's a great, great strategy to take as well. And I think in terms of taking the sustainability agenda and then turning it into action at organisation or school level, I just wanted to, as we kind of wrap up, what kind of techniques or strategies or thoughts have you got about getting some traction for this in terms of activity? Yeah, so in terms of activity, I think there's one of the first things you can look at is, as I've already mentioned earlier, suppliers. So looking at local suppliers, looking at suppliers that already meet sustainable goals themselves, so you know that you're getting your recycled paper, for instance, you know what I mean, it's something we just take for granted now is the fact that all our papers recycled and it should be, but it is just checking those things. Looking at suppliers that provide natural goods, things that are made in a more environmentally friendly way, in a more sustainable way, even looking at, you know, perhaps considering a change of energy supplier, things like that, that can be all tied up in higher level policy that you have no influence over, so that can be tricky, but that's another thing you could do. And even down to, like I was saying earlier, just is there an area in an urban school that you could turn into a green area, perhaps some raised beds and grow some vegetables, you know, get the kids involved in that sort of thing, you know, is there little things you can do that seem very, very small that might not cost very much, you know, a few bits of wood and some compost and suddenly you've got some raised beds areas, a nice little sustainable section of the school that's good for well-being, good for teaching around sustainability and environmental consideration and all that sort of thing and just doing that. So there's various little things you could do there in terms of that sort of stuff and yeah, just having green areas, yeah, eco areas, things like that can really enhance children's understanding of it and then that sort of wider school responsibility for sustainability. Yeah, I completely resonate with that in my time in schools. I mean, children are one of the easiest audiences of this kind of thing because genuinely it is, we're sustaining it for them and if they grow up with that, then they will replicate that kind of, absolutely, and replicate sustainable mindset as it were. But a couple of things you've said have really helped is not just for children, it's not for them to kind of enjoy grown potatoes or catching worms, those lovely garden spaces for teachers well-being, for that little five minute brain break or that absolutely. The moment to go and breathe that there's a tangible benefit here and now, it's not all of it, but always about the future, is it? There's a here and now to enjoy as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally. And I think that's the thing and it's the Dorset Education and Sustainability Network said that we cannot just add sustainable development to our current list of things to do, but must learn to integrate the concepts into everything that we do. And that's really what sustainability is about and what you've just said, you know, it's like how can we make it now? How can we do it now? And it is kind of looking at all the different concepts around sustainability and thinking about everything you do, whether it's sitting down and turning your computer on in the morning or teaching a class or going into a room and opening the windows or whatever it is you might be doing. Just have it in your mind, how can I make that more sustainable? Is there a way? And sometimes the answer might be no, but it is just thinking about how can we integrate it into everything? How can we, you know, can we go and teach a lesson outdoors? You know, things like that, yeah. Yeah, that's fascinating, Adam. Thank you so much for spending time with us today for sharing your your immense knowledge of all the ISOs and all the other legislation. I think it's been really helpful giving us some pointers for actually turning that into traction on the ground. So yeah, thank you very much. We really appreciate your time. Thanks Adam. No problem at all. Thank you. Thanks Nick. That was really interesting conversation with Adam. Sustainability can feel like such a huge area that we don't know where to start. Yeah. What more key takeaways from the interview? Well, I was fascinated with the research on international agreements. I'd heard all those words on the news like Paris Agreement and then the Rio Conference and COP and all that kind of stuff, but until he put it in context, I hadn't really understood how that global agreement helps. And I was particularly interested in the ISO things about using those standards to check that the suppliers and the contracts that you've got. So yeah, I found it really fascinating. It is isn't it? It's interesting how for me how those small changes can make such a big impact. Something that really sort of gets me going is about building in those habits that ensure that future generations inherit a world that's thriving and not struggling. Yeah. You know, I always think about sustainability in school and if you build that in, it gives people a sense of responsibility and community and mindfulness. Yeah. And then such as green spaces, sustainable food choices and reducing single use plastics contribute to both environmental and personal well-being, which I think is good. Absolutely. It's about if we're not, you know, if we're not coming on. Yeah, yeah, that's right. I mean, and if only this podcast and the contents helps people start that conversation in their schools, there are lots of decision-makers involved in these processes. As we know that, it could be bursars, business managers or governors, but I think Adam has given us lots of good starting points to at least initiate those conversations and start to see things change. So yeah, I thought it was great. Yes, I agree. I think that Adam has certainly given us some useful starting points. Yeah. So as we wrap up, don't forget, if you enjoyed today's episode, Make sure to subscribe and leave us a review. It really helps us keep bringing you useful content. Thanks again Nick, great discussion today. Helping the next generation care for our world has to be one of the most important priorities. Yeah, and I know everyone listening will agree to that, Deb. So thanks for listening everyone again and we'll see you next time.