Sustainability and Net Zero Award

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Cambridge University Press & Assessment reaches over 100 million learners around the globe. We have the power to inform debate and action around the world’s most pressing challenges.

As a leader in the sector, Cambridge has a key role to play in the transition to a sustainable future and plans to reach carbon zero by 2048. Our submission includes some of our most exciting progress from the past year, including the launch of Cambridge’s new internal sustainability framework: a powerful tool to align organisational planning with sustainability commitments across the four pillars of People, Environment, Education and Society.

You’ll also discover the progress our Academic product group is making towards print-on-demand services and switching 70% of print journals to digital by 2030 – a topic that is closely supported by collaboration with our supply chain.

LinkyThinks

LinkyThinks is an online tutoring provider committed to delivering high quality education while taking meaningful responsibility for its environmental impact.

Since 2022, the organisation has measured and offset the carbon footprint of its operations, including staff activity, digital infrastructure, online lessons and resource production. From January 2026, LinkyThinks embedded a tree-per-child commitment into its core model: for every pupil enrolled, one tree is planted. Based on independent carbon calculations, this offsets nearly three times the emissions generated by each child’s participation in online lessons.

Its sustainability approach also extends to physical learning resources. All materials are produced using carbon balanced paper and printed with vegetable-based inks and dyes, ensuring environmental responsibility at source as well as through offsetting.

Through verified global reforestation and restoration projects, LinkyThinks has contributed to the planting of thousands of trees. Sustainability is embedded into how the organisation operates, grows and serves families, demonstrating that online education providers can combine academic excellence with measurable environmental action.

Notts Sport – CocoTurf®

CocoTurf® – Plastic-Free Surfacing for Playgrounds and Cricket

CocoTurf® is an innovative artificial surface designed to reduce the environmental impact of playgrounds and cricket facilities by eliminating plastic from the playing surface. Manufactured using natural coconut husk fibres combined with natural rubber latex backing, CocoTurf provides a durable and high-performance alternative to traditional synthetic surfaces that typically rely on plastic fibres.

Traditional artificial turf systems can contribute to microplastic pollution and long-term waste challenges. CocoTurf® addresses these concerns by removing plastic entirely from the surface layer, helping to prevent microplastics entering soil and drainage systems while reducing reliance on petrochemical materials.

The surface has been developed for use in a range of environments including school playgrounds, community recreation areas and cricket practice facilities. By combining sustainable materials with the performance required for sport and play environments, CocoTurf® offers organisations a practical way to reduce the environmental footprint of their outdoor spaces.

Recognised with the 2026 SAPCA Sustainability Award, CocoTurf® demonstrates how innovative material design can support the transition towards more sustainable infrastructure while maintaining the safety, durability and usability required in playground and sports environments.

Oxford University Press – Oxford International Curriculum for Sustainability

The Oxford International Curriculum for Sustainability is an uplifting year-on-year structured programme for ages 5-14. It is designed to inspire and educate about sustainable living whilst strengthening students’ connections to their local community and nature. The Oxford International Curriculum for Sustainability is a pioneering curriculum that provides educators with a thorough, interdisciplinary approach to teaching sustainability that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will empower them to drive change towards a sustainable future.

The Oxford International Curriculum for Sustainability offers:

• An interdisciplinary curriculum integrating science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), plus English, humanities, and social science.

• Enquiry-based learning, encouraging students to make real-world connections.

• Learner-centred instruction, enabling students to take an active role in the learning process.

• A project-based learning structure, ensuring students acquire a deeper knowledge through exploration.

• Place-based learning, engaging students in their community, including their physical environment, local history, people, or culture.

• A coherent, age-appropriate curriculum.

• A strong focus on wellbeing, with dedicated wellbeing activities embedded in many lessons.

• Subscribers receive the full subject guide, schemes of work with all learning objectives, resources, and lesson plans.