Introduction
Our third strategic statement is "together we create a better world." The UN's sustainable goals guide the sustainability movement at Alfa College. We aim to make this movement increasingly visible to our students, staff, and the region. Together with DCTerra and Noorderpoort, we are working towards transparent sustainable reporting in accordance with European CSRD legislation and the OCW guidelines starting in the 2025 reporting year. In anticipation, this annual report provides the first insight into our CO2 emissions from the three largest sources: energy, mobility (staff), and waste.
Infographic
Click here to view the sustainability infographic. It contains many examples of sustainable activities and projects divided into six SDG transition pathways.
CO2 Emissions 2024
We have established a baseline measurement for CO2, mobility, and waste: in total, Alfa College emitted 1,311 tons of CO2 equivalent in 2024 (see image). The CO2 emissions from our waste are marginal (3%). One-third is from gas consumption (heating). Two-thirds are from commuting, primarily caused by work-related travel. Commuting accounts for about half of all CO2 emissions.
Regarding mobility, we have been collecting data since July 2023. Comparing the second half of 2023 with the second half of 2024, our emissions increased by 16% due to more car travel. In 2024, we traveled 6.5 million km over land, accounting for 808 tons of CO2 equivalent. Of this, 6 million km were by car (82% work-related travel), and 0.5 million km were by public transport. We flew 130,000 km in 2024, equivalent to 40 tons of CO2. In terms of waste, we removed a total of 143,000 kg across all locations (except Hardenberg and some rented properties) through Renewi, equivalent to 47 tons of CO2.
Additional Results
In 2024, 62% of the teams included two or more sustainability goals in their plans, compared to 42% in 2023.
77% of the teams integrated sustainability into their educational activities. Last year we did not measure this.
The Textile Hub in Groningen opened, focusing on making the textile industry more sustainable.
We helped drive the development of the national minor Biobased Construction. Sustainability Week took place at multiple locations.
The five most sustainable teams presented during Alfa’s Gold.
In the Sustainabul MBO ranking, we dropped from 4th to 7th place (out of 16 participating vocational colleges).
Goals 2025
For 2025, we have the following objectives and plans:
Our energy consumption will decrease by at least 2% compared to 2024.
Each location will have at least one sustainable accelerator team. We will better position existing teams, engage more employees and students, and improve information dissemination.
There will be at least fifteen sustainable initiatives per location.
We are promoting awareness by communicating the initiatives and encouraging sustainable behavior around mobility and waste.
We are developing policies on mobility, water, and biodiversity.