Aberdeen school calls on others to learn their lesson on sustainability

Camphill School Aberdeen are urging organisations across the North East to "follow in its green footsteps".

The charity, which supports children with learning difficulties and additional support needs, has taken a variety of steps to reduce its environmental impact. 

Nicolas Nino-Ramirez, the charity's sustainability lead, says, "Our journey to sustainability has been going on now for eight decades and we still have work to do here. But organisations can start on their own green path at any time, it’s never too late to make positive changes. And what better time to begin than in the spotlight of the UN climate change conference.

"We are calling on organisations in the North East of Scotland to join together now to help each other achieve their sustainable goals. We are always on the lookout for partners who we can work alongside on new initiatives to improve our eco credentials - and encourage everyone to reach out within their community or network."

With the support of the local community, it runs a sustainable farm on its 50-hectare estate which uses "organic and biodynamic practices". The farm produces food for the school's residents and shares surplus with local food banks. 

Nicolas continues, "We have a few hundred mouths to feed every day on our Aberdeen campuses and if we were buying all our food from a supermarket, we’d have a vast amount of packaging left over. By growing our own produce, we've not only significantly reduced our packaging but also cut our food mileage. 

"Our whole community plays a meaningful role in helping care for the environment. Our walled garden where we have a hot composting initiative offers a project to many of our residents, helping them understand how we can be smarter with the waste we create. And as part of our Learning for Life Day Services, we deliver a range of craft workshops which upcycle, repurpose, or create new items out of recycled materials."

Camphill School Aberdeen was founded in 1940 and was one of the first places in the UK to dedicate itself to educating children with additional needs. The school says it is committed to building links with the local community. 

And Nicolas considers community-led action on the climate crisis and other environmental issues to be "absolutely key". 

"I think it's everyone's responsibility. I think that there's not a single sector or industry that can say that this is not relevant to them. And when it comes down to communities, I think everyone's got to do their bit."

The school has also hosted a collection point for recycling company, Terracycle, allowing the local community to access product specific recycling schemes. Over the past two years they estimate this has amounted to "approximately two tonnes of crisp packets, biscuit wrappers and oral hygiene products".

“There are so many ways that organisations can become more sustainable," Nicolas says. "But the best advice I can give others is to start their journey slowly. You need to be in this for the long haul so begin by getting to know what local partnerships you can develop which will support you in reaching your green goals. If we all helped each other, we could achieve so much more - and being part of a community like Camphill has meant we’ve become pretty good at collaborating to get the job done.

"Each of us has a meaningful part to play to protect our planet and create a more resilient future for us all. So, let’s get started."