Creating Value In Schools
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Forecasts suggest that by 2055, we’ll have a shortage of 6 billion litres of water per day in England. That might seem a long way off, but with more hot spells predicted for summers and more erratic rain patterns, periods of drought are likely to become more common. And it’s not just our direct water usage we need to think about, it’s our indirect usage too – our water footprint. How much water does it take to create the products we consume? Food, uniforms and digital devices all carry a cost to the planet.
You might know that you can reduce your personal water consumption by not using the hosepipe or flushing the loo less often. You might even time your showers! But have you considered your water footprint?
Your water footprint is the water you indirectly use, through the goods and services you consume. It’s calculated by adding up all of the water required for each step of the production process.
For example, did you know that it takes 8,000 litres of water to make a pair of jeans? And over 12,000 litres to make a smartphone?
Many of these products are made in other countries. We outsource! And that means that the water usage and resulting problems (for example water pollution from textile processes) are problems for someone else – usually a less developed country.
Globally, 90% of garment production is outsourced to low- and middle-income countries. While we consume 'affordable' fashion, water depletion and pollution disproportionately affect Global South communities that farm raw materials and manufacture clothes, significantly contributing to water scarcity in these regions. The water cost of fast fashion
| Want to know more about water? See Water Literacy Programme for details of free training sessions. |
School uniform is a hot topic, and the government is committed to reducing the cost for parents. But how about the cost to the environment?
It takes 2,700 litres to make a cotton t-shirt. 3,350 litres for a sweatshirt. (See Reading and resources section below for references.)
That’s a lot of water for one school uniform!
So, swap shops for school uniform aren’t just a money-saver: they also mean getting more wear out of clothing.
The DfE’s statutory uniform guidance recommends that when considering supply arrangements, schools and trust should consider cost and value for money, including an item’s:
It’s not just food miles you might want to consider when looking at your catering menu from a sustainability point of view.
The average water footprint of a pound of beef is a staggering 1,850 gallons (more than 8,000 litres). Whereas producing a pound of wheat takes 220 gallons (around 1,000 litres).
Have you considered putting more vegetable items on your menu, and less meat? What do children and parents think about your menu choices?
It takes up to 190,000 litres of water to make a laptop, and 12,760 to make a smartphone.
There’s another reason to explore refurb opportunities, rather than buying new every time (or trying to repair laptops before replacing if things go wrong).
If you are replacing laptops, consider sending them to a dedicated IT recycling program, where components can be re-used. See Donate Laptops and Computers to charity - The Air Ambulance Service for example.
A slow drip leaky loo can lose up to 200 litres of water a day. A fast flowing leaky loo can lose up to 1,500 litres. Leaky loos cost money too: 200 litres a day could cost you £100 a year. And 1,500 litres could equate to £700 a year!
Asking pupils and staff to help identify leaky loos could help your setting save water and save on water bills too.
Water scarcity isn’t the only problem we’re seeing. Erratic weather patterns mean more heavy downpours and rain all coming at once. This can cause problems: drains overflow; if there’s been a period of drought, the ground doesn’t absorb water easily.
Have you checked the flood risk for your school or settings? Remember: it’s also floods nearby that could cause problems, e.g. by blocking roads and transport routes.
What could you do in your school grounds to create more areas for water runoff and soaking away? Could you create a wetland area? Plant more trees?
