Change is on us! Jesus College ditches single-use takeaway packaging in sustainability push
Catering outlets in Jesus College will no longer offer single-use takeaway packaging, as part of a wider sustainability strategy due to launch this summer.
The Jesus College catering team began their Change is on us! campaign today, as the College prepares to publish its ambitious Sustainability Strategy and Responsible Investment Policy later this year.
Fellows, staff and students from across the College community have been developing these comprehensive environment and sustainability policies for a number of years. The College has long recognised the urgency of addressing climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic only made our efforts more crucial.
Students, staff, Fellows and visitors will have the option to use reusable containers or eat in using conventional crockery. College-branded ‘use, clean and reuse’ containers and Keep-Cups will be available to purchase from catering outlets from Monday 17 May.
"There is no future in single-use, so it's fantastic to be able to go even further than pre-pandemic by introducing this change.”
Alexis Moreau - Manciple, Jesus College
Alexis Moreau, College Manciple (Head of Conference and Hospitality), said: “Prior to COVID-19, we were making great strides in reducing our waste. 2020 forced us to suddenly switch to 100% takeaway meals in single-use containers. Over the last 12 months, we have used in excess of 60,000 of these containers – this makes up as much as 8% of the College’s non-hazardous operational waste. There is no future in single-use, so it's fantastic to be able to go even further than pre-pandemic by introducing this change.”
Jesus College has been gradually reducing its environmental impact and improving sustainability measures across its operations, estate and wider holdings for over a decade. This year’s initiatives include introducing free plant milk in the Roost Cafe, and installing a ground source heat pump as part of the new kitchen project. Jesus College now joins Darwin College and Girton College in removing single-use containers from their catering outlets.
