International real estate advisor Savills, working with non-profit organisation Rethink Food, has announced its sponsorship of 17 vertical farming tower gardens in state primary schools across the UK.
Savills became Rethink Food’s founding sponsors in 2019, with the business sponsoring nine towers in schools in Yorkshire. This year, Savills pledged to sponsor towers in 17 schools in cities across the UK.
The sponsorship will fund the installation of Rethink Food vertical tower gardens in 17 state primary schools, accompanied by year-long curriculum support based on growing food and sustainability. The education programme focuses on enabling pupils to relate to food, understand where it comes from and for them to learn about sustainability and avoiding waste. In addition to the theory, children also gain practical skills through building the tower, planting seeds, measuring growth and checking PH balances and water levels.
Alison Mennecier, head of Savills Socio Economic group, comments; “It is clear that Rethink Food has already made a significant impact in local primary schools by educating pupils about food and we are incredibly pleased to be able to help the organisation reach more state primary school age children across the country through this sponsorship. They’re an organisation that share values and goals in line with Savills own sustainability strategy and as a business we’re proud to have upheld our commitment to sponsoring 17 vertical farming towers in 2020.”
The 17 towers provided by Savills echo the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. This is in line with Savills UK sustainability strategy that has aligned its targets with nine of these 17 goals including:
- Good Health & Well-Being - to provide healthy workplaces, encourage healthy lifestyles and raise awareness of mental health & wellbeing.
- Quality Education - to create opportunities for growth and development to our people and within the communities we operate in.
- Gender Equality - to promote gender equality and create a diverse and inclusive environment for all.
- Affordable & Clean Energy - aim to maximise energy efficiency, minimise carbon emissions and achieve Net Zero by 2030.
- Decent Work and Economic Growth - committed to operating responsibly and offering fair, safe and a diverse workplace.
- Sustainable Cities and Communities – to work with councils and town centres to create sustainable places and are committed to supporting communities and local initiatives.
- Responsible Consumption and Production - seek to reduce our environmental impacts through active operational management and responsible procurement.
- Climate Action - aim to achieve Net Zero carbon for our workplaces and company owned vehicles by 2030.
- Life On Land - expect suppliers to operate responsibly and seek to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.