GREEN FOR GO
Journey – Erika Marshall of Etc ., which is ramping up its ‘ green ’ credentials .
Etc . is leading the charge when it comes to greener ways of living , working and training
It makes sense for the organisations that make up the Education Training Collective ( Etc .) to prioritise their green credentials .
Not least because the Tees Valley is leading the way when it comes to the UK ’ s green industrial revolution .
Efforts to improve the environmental impact of the college group , which incorporates Bede Sixth Form College , NETA Training , Redcar and Cleveland College , Stockton Riverside College and The Skills Academy , are already gaining momentum .
And it shows , as the Etc . is among the first colleges in the UK to achieve ‘ certified carbon neutrality ’.
“ Reducing our environmental impact is something that truly matters to us as an organisation ,” said Etc .’ s director of marketing and recruitment , Erika Marshall . “ And working with thousands of people , we have the opportunity to make a real difference .
“ Achieving carbon neutral status is another step on our green journey and certainly something to be celebrated .”
For the group , going green has , so far , meant mighty efforts , such as the procurement of electricity from 100 per cent green sources , food waste from all sites is now being disposed of and anaerobically digested , and a dramatic reduction in wastepaper .
A Green Initiatives Group ( GIG ), made up of volunteers from across the campuses , is driving positive change by sharing ideas and creating focused action plans on areas such as staff and student engagement , waste energy , procurement and travel .
And to offset its carbon footprint , working with Carbon Neutral Britain , Etc . has provided financial support to projects in the renewables sector .
But perhaps hardest of all , the group is working to help change people ’ s everyday habits .
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