Departments making a Green Impact
Posted on 15 August 2022
Green Impact is an award-winning programme, created by SOS-UK, that helps implement sustainable practice into the workplace and places of education and culture. The teams collectively completed 897 actions, saving 90 tonnes of carbon dioxide, approximately £16,531 and raising a total of £3,500 for charities, decided by the departments.
The initiative has been operating at York for 11 years and continues to progress as it is highly acknowledged as a success.
“The Green Impact Awards acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff teams in continuing to improve sustainability at York, and I was delighted to present 24 awards this year"
Vice Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery.
Award Winners
Awards are achieved by gaining a certain number of points by completing actions on the toolkit. Alternatively, departments/colleges can take part in a project, which is one larger action that has an impact beyond their workplace.
The Bronze award was achieved by seven teams:
- Communications
- Goodricke College
- Health Sciences
- Lab 1
- Langwith College
- The Green Stables at Home
- Wentworth College
The Silver award was achieved by four teams:
- Constantine College
- Institute for Safe Autonomy
- Natural Sciences Green Team
- WACL Waste Warriors
The Gold award was achieved by five teams:
- Environment and Geography
- Halifax College
- Imaging & Cytometry Lab, Bioscience Facility
- Natural Sciences Green Team
- WACL Waste Warriors
The Platinum award was achieved by eight teams:
- Archaeology
- Biology DMT Hub
- BTL Technicians
- Green Careers
- Green Chemistry
- Green OPPAtunities
- International Pathway College
- M2 Lab
Individuals could also be nominated for special awards, which recognised their extraordinary efforts in their contributions towards Green Impact. Awards were given as follows:
- Sustainability Hero - Angie Hudson (Grounds team) and Chloe Harman (Institute for Safe Autonomy)
- Innovation for Engagement - Constantine College
- Student Leadership - Millie O’Neil (Constantine College) and Hugo Ong (Constantine College)
- Sustainable Cities and Communities Action (Constantine College)
Get Involved
Green Impact continues progressing as we approach the next academic year and is keen to continue expanding.
This year, the toolkit is being adapted to implement the University’s Sustainability Plan, providing an easy way to immerse this into your department. The initiative also provides the opportunity to pursue professional development and network with new colleagues as it is designed around a team-based approach.
Green Impact also trains students to provide support as a Green Impact Project Assistant, who can add resources and creativity to their team, as well as increase student-staff collaboration for sustainability.
If you and your department are interested in getting involved, please express your interest now!