Schools today are balancing a wide range of priorities, from academic achievement and student wellbeing to digital transformation and future-readiness. In this rapidly changing world, however, sustainability is no longer optional—it is essential, both for schools and for the students they prepare for the future.

At The British School of Barcelona, we recognise that our students are already being affected by climate change and must be equipped with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a more sustainable world.

Over the past year, sustainability has become a key strategic priority. We have established a Sustainability Action Team, appointed campus leads, and expanded student-led initiatives, with students actively contributing through energy reduction campaigns, waste projects, and community engagement.

Working in Partnership
A key part of our journey has been our partnership with Sustainability at School; an organisation focused on reducing the environmental impact of schools while building sustainability leadership among students and staff.

Together, we have identified priority areas, supported student-led initiatives, and tracked impact across campuses—embedding sustainability into daily school life and aligning it with our long-term strategy.

BSB Executive Principal Neil Tetley and Clare Garey, founder of Sustainability at School, will also share the impact of this work, demonstrating how a strategic, whole-school approach can drive meaningful change and empower students to become future changemakers on 13th June in the Festival of Education Spain.

Key Focus Areas
Our initial focus was on reducing energy consumption, with students leading audits and campaigns such as Race to Zero and Cool & Conscious to monitor and lower usage.

This year, the focus has shifted towards reducing waste and encouraging reuse, moving beyond recycling to address consumption habits more directly. These efforts have already resulted in nearly 400 items of clothing being repurposed, promoting circular economy thinking within the school community.

Alongside these initiatives, operational improvements have been introduced across campuses, including reducing single-use plastics, improving food systems, introducing biodegradable materials, and adopting more sustainable alternatives in daily operations.

Key Highlights
Our sustainability initiatives have already delivered significant results across the school community:

  • 7 % reduction in electricity consumption, saving over 68 000 kWh and avoiding 12 tonnes of CO₂e emissions.
  • Nearly 400 clothing and book items repurposed through swaps and exchanges.
  • Food waste reduced from 32 kg to 19 kg per day on short-term campaigns.
  • Reduced printing per student compared to the previous academic year.
  • Thousands of single-use plastics avoided, including 257 000 yoghurt pots, 13 000 plastic water bottles, and 18 000 non-recyclable coffee capsules each year.

A Future-Ready School
Looking ahead, sustainability is being embedded into learning through a new Primary curriculum launching in September. Built around Digital Literacy, Entrepreneurship, and Global Futures, the curriculum integrates sustainability across subjects and encourages students to explore solutions to global challenges through practical action.

Students have also taken part in beach clean-ups in Sitges, Castelldefels, and Barcelona, gaining first-hand experience of environmental challenges and the impact of collective action.

This commitment will extend to our upcoming BSB Maresme campus, which will open in September 2026 and has been designed with sustainability at its core.

Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to preparing students not only for academic success but also to become responsible, informed, and proactive global citizens—ready to shape a more sustainable future both in and beyond our BSB classrooms.

A Year in Review
A more detailed report on all sustainability actions is available here: Our Sustainability Journey so Far