Sustainability

We are committed to increasing sustainability, protecting the environment and becoming one of the world's most sustainable historic buildings. The Fitzwilliam Museum is part of the University of Cambridge, which is committed to making a positive impact through outstanding environmental sustainability performance.

Our approach aligns with the University’s strategy to shape improvements to its estates and operations. In Autumn 2023, the University released a new strategy addressing sustainability in its broadest sense, encompassing the social and economic aspects, as well as retaining a keen focus on the key commitments the University has made, including reducing its carbon emissions to absolute zero by 2048.

We will be publishing our own Sustainability Action Plan in Spring 2025, taking an holistic approach to understanding influences within the whole organisation and beyond.

Our approach to sustainability sits across four pillars:

• Programme

• Operations

• Place

• Energy use and sources

PROGRAMME Through our diverse and imaginative programme and drawing on our collections and the scientific expertise of University partners, we will engage our audiences, colleagues and communities in issues of the climate crisis and inspire them to contribute to and shape a more sustainable future.

OPERATIONS We will support our people, partners and sector to embed sustainable decision making and practices, and to share knowledge and skills.

PLACE We will reduce the negative environmental impact of how we deliver our activities and operate our buildings.

ENERGY USE AND SOURCES We aim to dramatically reduce waste and energy usage (and sources) in our buildings and will carefully consider how we collect, care for and store the Museum’s collections.

Are you a community group looking for free construction or craft materials? We are building a directory of local community groups who might be able to put to good use some of the materials our temporary exhibitions generate when they are taken down. This can include re-useable timber, cardboard, textiles and ready-made plinths. Past recipients have included theatre groups, arts and crafts groups and community festivals. If you would like to register your interest in these materials, please send the details of your organisation to: enquiries@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

Image credit: Founder's entrance © The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge; Photo: Lewis Ronald.