Green Impact

Green Impact is a programme where teams can choose to complete a project or work through a list of suggested sustainability actions. The actions are managed through an interactive online workbook, providing staff and students with a framework to implement sustainable changes in their workplace. There are tasks applicable to different University workplaces including labs, offices, colleges, and home working, giving teams flexibility to choose and complete actions suited to their specific working environment.

Each action is clear and simple to implement, with additional guidance provided, and is scored depending on the amount of impact that it has on making your work more sustainable. At the end of the year, these points are tallied up and will result in your team receiving a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond award following an audit of evidence by volunteer student auditors.

Projects offer teams the opportunity to focus on developing a sustainability initiative of their choosing instead of, or in addition to, working through the Toolkit actions. Teams undertaking a project will identify a sustainability project to implement in their workplace and submit a project plan before working on their project directly for that academic year. Once complete, teams will submit a case study of their project detailing its reach and impact. The project plan and case study will be audited by volunteer student auditors and teams will receive a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond award.

Both staff and students at the University can get involved in Green Impact.

If you're a staff member or postgraduate you can take part by joining your departmental team, or by creating a new team.

If you're a student, you can volunteer to be a Green Impact Project Assistant or Green Impact Auditor. Apply now to be a Green Impact Project Assistant. In-person training will take place on 5 November (1.30pm - 4.30pm). Complete the form to apply.

1. Express your interest in joining by emailing greenimpact@york.ac.uk, stating your department and localised work team.
2. Register with an existing team or create a new one by registering on the University’s Green Impact Online Toolkit.
3. Work through the interactive online workbook to make positive changes within your department or office.
4. Gather evidence of your positive actions, earn points, and work your way up the levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum).
5. Your team has until early April to complete as many actions as you can, and submit your toolkit for your Green Impact award. You can also request a student Green Impact Project Assistant to help you achieve them.
6. Student volunteer auditors will then check that the workbooks have been completed.
7. All awards are presented annually in June, accompanied by a celebratory lunch.
8. There are also special awards for efforts above and beyond the workbook. You can also choose to do a project based award, which focuses on one action and its spread through the University and the community.

Access the workbook on the Green Impact Online Toolkit, which contains all essential information about completing the criteria, including links to relevant resources and key contacts. 

Also find more resources, including starting guides and templates. 

You can also join the Green Impact Slack Channel (#green-impact) for tips and support from other teams across the University.

For other questions and queries, you can email greenimpact@york.ac.uk

Green Impact is an annual cyclical programme. Take a look at the key dates:

• The programme is reviewed every summer and launches in September/October. The programme launch event for 2025/26 is on 8 October - sign up using this form. Registrations for the new Toolkit open on 28 October.
• Deadline for staff to request student Project Assistants: end of November (first-come, first-served)
• Deadline for students to apply to become a Project Assistant: 29 October
• Staff and students are notified of their pairing by end of November
• First meetings between staff and students to be arranged between them within Semester 1
• Green Impact submission deadline: 1 May 2026
• Green Impact Audits: 6 May 2026
• Annual Awards Ceremony: June, date TBD

Further information and additional dates.