Authored by – Kirti Sharma, Co-CEO, Crimson Schools
The harmful effects of climate change, air pollution, and resource depletion have made it urgent to include environmental stewardship in education.
As a result, schools are increasingly adopting sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint and shape students into eco-conscious citizens.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has further streamlined and reinforced this shift by emphasizing the need for sustainability-oriented education and environment-friendly learning environments. Similarly, UNESCO’s Greening Education initiative advocates a holistic approach, integrating sustainability into governance, teaching, and infrastructure.
Across India, several institutions are leading the way in sustainability-driven education, incorporating green infrastructure, energy conservation, and student-led environmental initiatives. Here’s a look at five schools redefining education with their commitment to a greener future.
1. Don Bosco International School, Matunga
At Don Bosco International School, students don’t just learn about sustainability; they experience it firsthand. The school’s urban farming initiative, launched in 2017, allows students to explore the farm-to-fork concept, immersing them in organic farming and natural resource management.
Initially introduced as an extracurricular activity, urban farming soon became part of the academic curriculum, covering germination, microgreen cultivation, and composting. The initiative has since evolved into a rooftop herb and vegetable garden, designed and maintained by students.
The school’s efforts extend to community-driven sustainability efforts, including the Nature Club, which transformed a section of the parking area into a landscaped food garden. In addition, the greenhouse has been repurposed into an oyster mushroom farm, underlining the school’s focus on self-sufficiency and ecological awareness.
Don Bosco’s Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) subject, field-based learning experiences, and the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) program also help integrate sustainability in education by encouraging students to take on environmental outreach projects.
With its hands-on approach, Don Bosco International School bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring students develop a deep-rooted connection with nature and sustainability.
2. Crimson Schools, Hyderabad Pune, Bangalore, Agra, Varanasi, Uttarakhand
Crimson Schools have taken a laudable and inspiring step towards sustainability, with a mission to become Net Zero—ensuring their campuses produce more energy and resources than they consume.
A strong emphasis is placed on green infrastructure, where natural ventilation, solar power, and LED lighting form the backbone of energy-efficient school buildings. Stormwater harvesting further reduces the environmental impact, ensuring responsible water consumption.
Crimson Schools are actively reducing carbon emissions by adopting to e-cars, CNG buses and planning a transition to e-buses paving the way for a greener future.
Their initiative to promote a circular economy is equally groundbreaking—retired school buses have been repurposed into ‘Food on Wheels’ cafes, reinforcing the importance of reusing and recycling resources.
Sustainability is deeply embedded in the student experience, with programs like Crimson-O-Farm, which introduces organic farming, and the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Curriculum, ensuring that students become environmentally conscious leaders.
Crimson Schools are setting a precedent for future-ready and environmentally responsible education by integrating eco-friendly consumer practices, such as sourcing sustainable uniforms, shoes, and stationery.
3. Shikshantar, Gurgaon Shikshantar’s approach to sustainability is reflected in its physical infrastructure. The school’s horizontally spread green campus features hexagonal classrooms with high ceilings and large windows, eliminating the need for artificial cooling while optimizing natural airflow.
Solar power enhances energy efficiency, meeting a significant portion of the school’s electricity needs and reducing its carbon footprint. Outdoor spaces are designed as learning environments, turning gardens, terraces, and natural landscapes into interactive classrooms.
To promote waste reduction, the school has replaced plastic folders with those made of cloth or recycled paper, transitioned to fountain pens over disposable plastic ones, and notably reduced the use of plastic tiffins, water bottles, and aluminum foil.
Recycling is a core practice at Shikshantar. Students actively repurpose old newspapers and materials into artwork, bunting, and display boards, reimagining waste as a resource.
Special events such as birthdays are marked by lighting a diya instead of using packaged goods, encouraging a culture of mindful consumption and sustainability.
At Shikshantar, sustainability is not a lesson but a way of life, ensuring students absorb these values through lived experiences.
4. Montfort Valley Sr. Sec. School, Idukki, Kerala
Nestled amidst the lush spice plantations, the school benefits from an environment that nurtures a love for nature. Blending traditional wisdom with modern environmental practices, it creates a self-sustaining learning environment.
As a proud participant in the Green Schools Programme (GSP), Montfort Valley School audits and manages its resource consumption, and also allows students to take lead in monitoring air quality, analyzing carbon footprints, and implementing solutions to reduce pollution and waste.
Students also actively participate in school beautification drives, recycling programs, and climate awareness projects, developing a deeper understanding of ecological responsibility through action.
5. Adhyapana School, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
A leader in sustainable water management, Adhyapana School has garnered accolades for its state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant that recycles wastewater using soil and sunlight. The 10,000-liter capacity system enables the school to reduce freshwater dependency by 70%, with treated water repurposed for irrigation and cleaning.
The school also champions plastic-free living. In 2024, it hosted the ‘Thumbz Up’ campaign, during which students pledged to eliminate plastic use, delivering presentations, performances, and street plays on the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
In 2023, the school received the LAMPS Eco-Friendly Campus Award for contributing to environmental conservation. With a focus on water conservation, waste reduction, and student-led activism, Adhyapana School is cultivating a generation that values and protects natural resources.
These five institutions exemplify how sustainability and education can go hand in hand, proving that schools are powerful agents of positive environmental change. Through experiential learning, they prepare students to take meaningful environmental action that contributes locally and can potentially drive global environmental impact.