Sustainability Meets Cultural Heritage

Our Senior Conservator and Restorer Elizabeth Esteban-Teruelo last week attended Courtauld’s sustainability in cultural heritage course, and is already looking forward to integrating key course take-aways into her conservation decisions at our Grade II listed One Great George Street.

As part of the EU-funded GoGreen initiative, last week's course at the Courtauld Institute of Art focused on advancing sustainability in cultural heritage and education. The programme explored how green conservation principles can be integrated into teaching, research, and professional practice.

Participants engaged with practical approaches to reducing environmental impact in art conservation and cultural work. Discussion highlighted innovative tools and methods developed through the GoGreen project to support more sustainable decision-making. The Forum brought together educators and practitioners committed to reshaping the future of heritage through greener practice. A shared goal emerged: making sustainability a core part of how art, culture, and conservation are taught and applied.

What does this mean for the conservation and restoration work at One Great George Street?

Conservation decisions (materials, treatments, storage conditions, interventions) now sit within a measurable carbon accountability framework. This indirectly contributes to the Institution of Civil Engineer’s carbon footprint program, reporting through procurement choices, conservation methods and preventive strategies. Conservation is not only about preservation; it is also about reducing environmental impact while extending heritage life.