Green Impact Awards

What is Green Impact

Green Impact is a United Nations award-winning programme that brings staff and students together across the University in an active role to help create a more sustainable workplace. Designed to encourage a greater understanding of sustainability and responsibility, it's an easy and practical way to make a difference.

How it works

Teams go through an online workbook completing criteria and providing evidence of how they achieved it. We've designed the workbook for Dundee and it works for all types of schools and departments and is suitable for both staff and students. Your team can work at their own pace, prioritising what they wish to achieve first. We have also designed Sustainable Labs to suit people who are not based in a conventional office environment

Staff

The award systems involves 'working towards', Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. This applies to both office and lab workbooks. Once you have achieved the bronze award, your team can move on to achieve a silver award and so on.

Sign up online to take part as a member of a team. If there is no existing team in your department or you would like to start a new team, you can create one and then invite people to join.

The team members work their way through the online workbook of criteria. Actions are set in different categories and teams can select from multiple categories.

The team leader (Champion) ensures the team complete the workbook correctly and they need to submit evidence your team has gathered. The Champion can be anyone within the team.

Students

The scheme works a little differently. Instead of working towards a certain level, you will pick a category and aim to achieve at least 3 out of 5 actions within that category. If you manage to complete these you will receive an award specific to that category.

Students taking part in Green Impact should pick a category to focus on, and complete at least 3 out of 5 criteria within that category to achieve an award.

If you manage to complete all criteria and want an extra challenge you can also choose to complete some of the bonus criteria. You can take part as an individual but it is probably easier to complete the criteria if you form a team. This may be an existing group you are part of, such as a student society or a class team or alternatively you can form your own team.

If you would like to be part of a team but don't know anybody who will join you let us know and we can try to match you up. You can also become a Green Impact Project Assistant to help staff teams achieve their criteria, so if you don't want the responsibility of completing your own workbook but would like to get involved this may be the option for you. 

Environmental auditing

As part of Green Impact, there is the opportunity for volunteer students or staff to take part in environmental auditing training.

You'd then visit the Green Impact teams at the end of the workbook year to ensure they've completed actions and criteria to the required standard. This offers students a fantastic chance to further develop their knowledge, understanding and practical experience in environmental training and auditing. 

Why get involved

• Have a positive influence on reducing environmental impact within your workplace/school
• Develop a team and build new connections throughout your department
• Receive recognition for changes and improvements you are already making
• Opportunity to improve on your professional and personal development
• The money saved through reducing energy costs can be reinvested in new technology and research
• An awards ceremony at the end of the year where you will receive your accredited awards
• Enhance your reputation within the University
• A sustainability award looks great on your CV