Environmental
action at ECS

What we do

#1 Our directors don't fly for ECS

ECS co-directors, Chris and Sarah Etchells, rarely fly for business. They hold meetings online and attend events digitally wherever possible. When they do travel for meetings, professional conferences and other work events they take the train. They avoid flying in their personal lives and never take short domestic flights. Instead they enjoy travelling by train or in their electric car.

#2 Encouraging staff to use low-emission transport to ECS

We use an our ECS staff Facebook group to encourage our summer team to use low-emission, overland transport like train when they travel to and from ECS in the summer.

#3 At ECS we walk and cycle locally

As ECS is a residential summer school, there is little extra travel once you arrive here. Everyone lives together on one campus rather than in separate residences across a town or city. Our pupils can walk between classes, meals and activities – a healthy and low emission way to get about! And many of our staff choose to cycle around campus.

We enjoy the campus on nature walks for younger pupils, take pupil-led walks into the surrounding countryside and visit our local town, Shaftesbury by foot. It is a small market town just 30 minutes away.

#4 Summer trips by train and coach

When we leave our campus to go out on excursions and trips, we arrange the most environmentally friendly form of travel available. As ECS is based in the countryside, this is most often a coach or minibus.

When we choose our coach provider for the summer, we always ask about their environmental policies and pick the most responsible operator we can find. We also travel by train from the nearby Gillingham station, for example for our London explorer weekend for pupils aged 13+.

#45 Cars and taxis are a last resort

We very rarely need use taxis or cars at ECS. Instead we plan in advance and arrange more efficient group travel by minibus, coach or train. If we do have to use taxis we always try to arrange shared journeys for a full car and a more fuel-efficient journey.

#6 Our brochure is digital

It's not only people that travel! Shipping things around the world also uses energy. That's why make sure all the information you need is online.

The ECS brochure is available digitally and we only send out physical copies by special request. This helps us save paper, energy and other materials like ink, as well as reducing transport emissions.

What you can do

#1 Take the train to ECS if possible

What we do

#1 Renewable energy

Many of the school buildings at Port Regis are solar powered and practical tools like leaf-blowers, grass cutters and hedge trimmers are now recharged from the panels. We have asked about their other sources of energy and work with them to ensure they are from other renewable sources if they aren't already. At our home office, where we are the rest of the year, we use 100% renewable energy.

#2 Low energy devices and good habits

Port Regis has invested in many energy-saving measures such as lights and windows controlled by sensors. They are not allowed to make changes to the older, mansion building so there we focus on good habits and taking responsibility for our surroundings.

We encourage pupils and staff to turn off lights and electronic devices and reduce water consumption, e.g. by taking shorter showers. We practice these same good habits in our home office the rest of the year.

#3 Rewarding and supporting reusable bottles and backpacks

Plastic bottles are a problem – making them releases millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and then they aren't all recycled and can pollute water, choking and poisoning fish, whales and seals.

That's why, starting in 2023, we are encouraging our students to bring their own reusable bottle. We will promote this action in communications before the course, on social media and through the packing list. We'll also reward those who do with praise and special collectable green ECS stickers.

Previously we provided every pupil with an ECS bottle, but we realised we may be creating waste by giving bottles to those who do not need them. Now we only give bottles to pupils who don't already have a reusable bottle to bring with them.

#4 Meat free days and plant-based options

Vegetarian and plant-based foods are much more environmentally friendly than meat and diary because they use less land, water and energy.

That's why we always serve a vegetarian option and encourage our pupils to choose it.

We have at least one meat-free day per week and work hard to provide really delicious, plant-based alternatives. Share your experience and encourage your friends back home to join in with #MeatFreeMonday!

#5 Recycling facilities and composting coming soon

At ECS we have clear and easy to use recycling facilities. We explain everything to our pupils as we know recycling rules vary between countries.

Port Regis recently invested in a food waste machine called Big Hannah that digests waste food and converts it into compost. ECS will use it too from summer 2023.

#6 ECS is reducing paper and almost single-use plastic free

Plastic comes from fossil fuels. Often it can't be recycled because of contamination, it's the wrong type or there's just too much - only 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally. So it's burned, buried or ends up floating in the sea. This is harmful to people and other animals.

At ECS we use almost no single-use plastics. Some plastic cups were still used at parties and BBQs this year (2022) and we are going to make an effort to remove those too next year.

We encourage our staff to reduce photocopying and use less paper in their lessons. The paper we do use is recycled and bleach free ...

We used to send out thousands of brochures. This not only used energy to ship or fly them around the world, but it also consumed large quantities of paper - some of which was simply thrown away at the end of the year. By providing our brochure digitally, we are saving trees.

#7 Reducing toxic cleaners and chemicals

We, along with Port Regis, are also making an effort to ensure that no toxic waste products enter the drains from your school. For example Port Regis has started using new foam soap that not only eliminates use of plastic but is also is environmentally harmless. They are also reviewing their cleaning products and will replace them with ecofriendly products.

What you can do

#1 Choose the veggie option at mealtimes

Food is one of the biggest sources of emissions because raising animals, especially large animals like cows, requires a lot of land, water and food (that others could be eating!). Animal agriculture also contributes a lot of emissions, causes pollution and deforestation.

So choose the veggie option at ECS and when you're out on trips. It's one of the easiest ways to reduce your contribution to global warming and there are loads of delicious vegetarian and plant-based options now.

#2 Bring your own bottle (and win prizes!)

Plastic bottles are high-carbon and cause terrible pollution. Even if you put them in the recycling bin, many bottles are not recycled because of contamination and mismanagement.

By bringing your own reusable bottle you are reducing this problem. And it means you have more spending money because you won't have to buy a drink when you're out!

Plus, everyone who brings their own bottle can choose one of our special collectable green ECS stickers! ... and is entered into our 'green leader' raffle.

#2 Don't buy or take more than you need

You may have heard of the green Rs: refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair and finally recycle. They are in that order because everything we use - from a sheet of paper to our mobile phones – needs materials and energy to be made.

The first Rs are refuse, rethink and reduce. That means refusing unnecessary items like plastic bags and products with too much packaging, rethinking what you need and buying less. It's lovely to buy treats and souvenirs while you are on holiday with us, but choose your items carefully rather than buying too much.

Similarly, don't overload your plate with food – this helps us avoid waste. And you can always have a second helping if you are still hungry!

#3 Take care, reuse and repair

Once you have something, it's important to avoiding binning it for as long as possible. Thinking about all that energy and hard work that went into making things, look after them, reuse and repair them.

If you no longer need or want something, there may be someone else who does. You can give items away to friends or second hand shops.

Throwing something away and recycling are the very last step.

So take care not to lose or break things, and pack all your things when you go – we don't want to throw away forgotten items!

What we do

#1 We donate to environmental projects each year

In addition to reducing our emissions – the most important part of environmental responsibility, especially in a wealthy and high-emissions country like the UK – we also want to invest in our future by supporting environmental projects and organisations. If you are a current or past ECS student you can help us choose our next project by completing our ECS Green Survey.

#2 Encouraging biodiversity

Our host school is committed to planting around sixty new trees each year, and encouraging wildlife to use the woodlands on campus, with bird and bat boxes. We support these efforts wholeheartedly. We organise tours around the school grounds for our pupils to learn what the school is doing and hopefully to provide ideas to take home to their own schools.

The woodlands, stream and ponds on the campus are a wonderful teaching space, where pupils can learn about biodiversity.

#3 Connecting with nature

As educators, it is essential that we use our role to help deepen our pupils' connection to nature and environmental awareness through our choice of teaching materials and activities such as countryside walks, nature photography workshops, nature projects and nature documentary screenings.

Port Regis is fortunate in being set in large grounds in beautiful countryside and we make use of this rural setting to strengthen the pupils’ connection with nature.

#4 Maintaining the momentum

We appoint green leads among pupils and staff over the summer to ensure we are not only doing what we say but are also always looking for new ways to reduce waste and emissions and connect with nature.

Between summers, Chris Etchells (Co-Director of ECS) continues his English Language Teaching environmental work through Green Action ELT. He is also a founder of Win Green Town, encouraging environmental action in his home town of Winchcombe. Recently Chris has been working with local school children on a project called Eco Schools and will be bringing this experience to ECS in Summer 2023.

What you can do

#1 Match our charitable giving

We invite parents and guardians to match our environmental giving when you book a course with us. It is wonderful to have your support investing in great projects that are reducing pollution, protecting wildlife, empowering and educating people. ...

Together we can have a real positive impact on our world.

#2 Enjoy and respect nature

Our campus at Port Regis is green and beautiful with woodland, ponds and even a small stream! Take time to explore and enjoy being in nature in your free time. Join our countryside walks, star gazing, nature projects and photography workshops to make the most of our amazing surroundings and to connect with our world.

Please do not pick or damage any plants. If you are under 11 years old, please ask an adult before you go exploring.

#4 Keep our world tidy

Don’t spoil your surroundings with litter. Litter can pollute soil and water. And millions of animals  like hedgehogs and voles die each year because they get stuck or eat litter.

Collect any food wrappings, papers or other items you have taken outside and drop them in the waste or recycling bins. Be especially careful on windy days!

What we do

#1 Discuss environmental topics in the classroom

We use our classrooms as a safe space to explore issues about the world. Our teachers talk to pupils about all sorts of topics, developing their critical thinking skills, and encouraging discussion and research, especially with older learners.

This gives our pupils lots of opportunities to express themselves in English and learn a huge range of topical vocabulary during their summer residential course at ECS.

#2 Pushing for green action across ELT

Chris, Co-director of ECS, is part of an industry effort to encourage good environmental practice at language schools across the UK and beyond.

The small group of dedicated volunteers at Green Action ELT give their time to raise awareness and run events, all to encourage and support environmental action in the English language teaching industry.

#3 Working with Port Regis School

When looking for a host school for our summer courses, environmental sustainability is a key priority. And we have a wonderful partner in Port Regis.

Port Regis shares our commitment to a more sustainable future, makes considerable efforts to save energy, reduce waste and encourage sustainable living. See Port Regis' green vision.

#4 ECS is a Green Standard School

Here at ECS we are proud to be one of the first UK schools with independent accreditation for green action and sustainability in English language teaching.

Green Standard Schools is a not-for-profit association of green language schools.

What you can do

#1 Keep it up when you return home

Remember the good times you had at ECS and the things you learnt about the environment and sustainable living. Try to continue living responsibly and encourage others to do the same when you are back home.

You can stay motivated by following inspiring people like Greta Thunberg from Sweden, Nyombi Morris from Uganda, Luisa Neubauer from Germany, Autumn Peltier a first nation activist from Canada or Amy and Ella Meek who founded Kids Against Plastic in England.

#2 Talk to friends and family

We hope to send our pupils home with a renewed interest in environmental issues and energised to take action.

So when you get home, ask your friends and family ‘what more could we be doing?’ And then think together about the changes you could make to reduce your emissions. There are lots of calculators out there to help you understand what has the greatest impact in your life. The key areas for most people in wealthy countries are transport, food and other shopping, like clothes and electronic devices.

#3 Join or start a green club at your school

And you don't need to stop at home. If there isn't already an environmental group at your school, sports team or other club, form one! It is much easier to make changes together and this group can share ideas and make plans for greener provision.