Stay informed with free updates
Simply register at Sustainability myFT Digest – delivered straight to your inbox.
What is wise in 2024 remains a hotly debated topic: but the value of a good education is one that few would argue with. For this week’s cover story, we followed Oxford student Grace Clover as she enjoyed her final days as an undergraduate at Wadham College, at a university recognized by many as the most prestigious in the world. Grace writes about her experiences in a room accompanying the images, and captures the strange contradictions, exaltations and adventures that accompany student life. In particular, she notes the special isolation that comes with meeting weekly writing deadlines, “constant socializing,” and the immense privilege of being surrounded by so much history and beauty.
As someone who has just taken her child to university (but not Oxford), I found Grace’s essay particularly relevant. I also felt an immense nostalgia for this short moment when we find ourselves on the edge of the precipice of “adult” life. The undergraduate experience is emotionally intense, confusing, and wonderfully liberating. The images capture the great gift of being a student. Side note: this is also testament to the many friendships formed as teenagers – the shoot photographer, Tom Craig, and I were both in the same year graduating from Edinburgh.
Reading and studying are two ways of understanding the branches of universal wisdom. Other articles in this issue examine different ways to live smart. Grace primarily carries vintage and second-hand fashion, a business that has transformed with the rise of sites like Depop and eBay, but can be somewhat overwhelming for those who prefer a more curated in-store navigation. Rosanna Dodds made a list from the world’s best vintage dealers, many of whom have online and in-person dealerships as well as areas of specialization. The guide is designed to sort jewelry from the clutter and, in a crowded and largely ungoverned market, help guide more productive research.
Next, a personal obsession: since the ban on single-use plastic cutlery in England in 2023, restaurants and fast food outlets have had to introduce a range of sustainable alternatives. There are now dozens of options for compostable cutlery, but most create an unpleasant dining experience – there are few things more revolting than eating your lunch soup from a “squeaky” wooden spoon with rough sides . Ajesh Patalay investigates the state of eco-friendly cutlery, the problems of making something both satisfying and durable, and whether current composting options are even viable. He finds few options are particularly compliant: so I vowed to try and keep a real spoon around the desk.
Speaking of the working lunch, how many of you have a kitchen or catering service in your office? You will probably enjoy Grace Cook’s article on some of the best company canteens in the world. From Polentina, an Italian restaurant in an east London garment factory, to Kantine, the kitchen restaurant that feeds staff – and visitors – at David Chipperfield’s Berlin headquarters, Grace has looked at the new wave of avant-garde cooks and employers who are rehabilitating this much ridiculed type of catering. I rather envy the folks at On Labs in Zurich, who have a dining room designed to mimic a living space where they can enjoy a “vegan buffet.” Fortunately, many of these kitchens are open to non-employees: you don’t need a visitor pass to try them for yourselves.
Do you want to read HTSI before everyone? Get all the news delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here
