Environmental Policy

Context

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is the world’s largest community of postgraduate-only art and design students. Studying at the RCA is the starting point for UK and global creative leaders. With more than 30,000 RCA alumni all over the world, the College’s graduates form a diverse international network of artists, designers, creators and innovators.

We have a responsibility, through the RCA’s influence and activities, to ensure that we limit our draw on resources and have a positive impact on nature, people and the planet wherever possible in order to achieve net zero by 2035.

Through teaching, research, knowledge exchange and innovation, we will make global contributions to sustainability, climate change and the circular economy, which will be reflected in our own operational behaviours and decisions.

We are committed to guiding and supporting every member of our community so that they can contribute to the collective task of tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies. And we recognise that changes in individual practices must be accompanied by structural, institutional change.

We must acknowledge the intersectionality of sustainability and that the climate crisis has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities and biodiversity. The Environmental Sustainability team works closely with the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team, with EDI represented on the Environmental Sustainability Committee, to review environmental and social inclusion and sustainability across the College. Through this mechanism, we are able to target different areas across the College, to trial, pilot and implement more sustainable, ethical practices. As an example, together with the Procurement team, we approach sustainability in our supply chain holistically, considering environmental impact alongside human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion as outlined in the Responsible Procurement Policy (PDF).

The RCA has committed to achieving net zero by 2035. At an operational level, the institution is actively working towards minimising the global impact of its carbon usage at Scopes 1 & 2, and we will commit to reviewing our Scope 3 emissions in 2027–32 in order to achieve net zero carbon by 2035.

Commitments

We will demonstrate the environmental commitments of the RCA through:

Net zero

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in order to reach net zero emissions by 2035.
Reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.
Ensuring that all construction and refurbishment work takes into account sustainability principles. All new buildings are a minimum of BREEAM Excellent and major refurbishments are SKA Gold.
Considering environmental impact within procurement and implementing the Responsible Procurement Policy.
Investing in companies whose activities are, on ethical grounds, consistent with the educational and/or research objectives of the College and excluding investments in fossil fuel companies.
Minimising emissions and environmental impact from travel.

Sustainable resources use

Protecting the environment through preventing pollution and minimising waste through the efficient use of natural resources on campus.
Maintaining zero operational waste to landfill and promoting reuse and material circularity on campus.
Continuing to sell zero single-use plastic bottles and identifying further opportunities to reduce single-use plastic.
Seeking opportunities to introduce more biodiversity in our urban estate.
Fulfilling, and wherever possible exceeding, our compliance obligations,
Working towards, and thereafter maintaining, an environmental management systems accredited to the ISO 14001 standard.
Continually improving the environmental management system to enhance environmental performance.

Teaching and learning

Ensuring our students continue to learn about environmental sustainability through formal and informal teaching and learning in order to contribute to global challenges.

Research, knowledge exchange and innovation

Continuing to support solutions to the climate crisis and circular economy through research, knowledge exchange and innovation.
Seeking to minimise the environmental impact of conducting research, knowledge exchange and innovation in alignment with the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.

Reporting, awareness and engagement

Developing and implementing an environmental sustainability strategy, including objectives and targets, and climate action plan to support the delivery of these commitments.
Reporting on environmental data and progress against objectives and targets on an annual basis at a minimum.
Providing resources in order to achieve these commitments.
Raising awareness of environmental sustainability and the Environmental Policy amongst students, staff and stakeholders.
Collaborating with external stakeholders and networks, including South Ken ZEN+, EAUC, London Higher and Wandsworth Sustainability Partnership, and engaging with the local community and the Further and Higher Education sector on sustainability, climate change and decarbonisation.
Creating a positive impact on people, families and organisations in the communities around the RCA's campuses through our Community and Public Engagement work.

Environmental sustainability strategy

The Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2024–27 outlines specific objectives and targets which detail how we will work towards the commitments of the Environmental Policy by 2027.

Monitoring, reporting and governance

To give effect to its commitment to its Environmental Policy the RCA will:

Publish its full Policy on its website and intranet.
Review on the Policy on an annual basis by the Environmental Sustainability Committee and Senior Management Team.
Provide an annual update to the RCA Council.

Any expressions of concern should be made to:

yoursay-staff@rca.ac.uk for staff
feedback@rca.ac.uk for students

The Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Committee, along with the Vice-Chancellor & President and the Executive Board, are responsible for this policy.

Delivery of the policy will be overseen by the RCA’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, chaired by the Chief Operating Officer.

Date approved: 5 May 2026 by Executive Board
Due for review: May 2027 by Executive Board