As a graduate college within the University of Oxford, we recognise our responsibility to contribute to the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy while taking practical action within our own operations.
Through our building maintenance programmes, purchasing decisions, catering, travel, and community engagement we can make a meaningful contribution to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Although our formal Sustainability Strategy is currently in development, sustainability is already being embedded across College activity, operations and governance.
Our Vision
To become one of Oxford’s leading graduate colleges for practical environmental sustainability by embedding sustainable thinking into every aspect of College life
By 2035 St Cross College will:
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- Support the University of Oxford’s Net Zero 2035 ambition
- Reduce the College’s operational carbon emissions year-on-year:
We are taking steps to reduce energy waste across our estate and improve how energy use is monitored and managed.
- Improve biodiversity across College-managed spaces:
Although the College has a relatively small estate, we will seek opportunities to enhance biodiversity across our sites.
- Embed sustainability into procurement and financial decision-making:
Reduce the environmental impact of goods and services purchased by the College.
- Encourage sustainable behaviours amongst Fellows, staff and students
In partnership with our new B-Corp Certified catering providers, Wilson Vale, the College is focusing on reducing food waste and improving plant-based menu options as well as eliminating single-use plastics throughout out catering operation. Improved tracking of attendance at the hall, bar and café will support better planning and waste reduction. We will also seek to reduce emissions associated with College business travel, digital services.
- Report openly on progress against measurable targets
- Transparent governance
A dedicated Environment Representative is part of our Student Representative Committee, ensuring student perspectives inform decision-making and that sustainability-related activity is clearly communicated.
Next steps
A comprehensive Sustainability Strategy will be published in due course, setting out priorities, targets and opportunities for engagement. Updates will be shared on this page as work progresses.
