Green Impact is an award-winning programme that breaks down the often complex world of sustainability into practical steps that staff and students can take to improve sustainable practice within their building, department or college. Teams work towards actions in an online toolkit that align with the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, earning points towards a final award level.
The programme complements LEAF, taking sustainable actions outside of the lab and into our day-to-day lives. There are a wide range of actions available to choose from, from items as simple as changing printer settings, to larger activities such as organising sustainability-themed events.
36 teams around the University received awards this year, completing 1600 positive actions and reaching more than 11,000 staff and students.
The NDCN Green Impact team is currently made up of members of professional services staff, primarily based on Level 6 of the JR which is where many of the practical actions have taken place.
The NDCN Green Impact team are:
- Alexandra Almeida, Strategic Initiatives Manager
- Niki Andrew, Events Officer
- Jayne Bullock, Executive Assistant
- Suzanne Ii, People and Culture Co-ordinator
- Clarissa Marley, Senior Facilities and Lab Technician
- Joanna Whiting, Communications Manager
Actions which helped earn the bronze award this year were a mixture of sustainable practices already in place alongside actions supporting the University's environmental campaigns and new initiatives. These included:
- Taking part in Green Action Week with a plant and book swap event
- Maintaining a policy of vegetarian/vegan-only food at department events
- Introducing new food waste bins at JR sites: Level 6 kitchen, OxCIN (FMRiB building), CPSD (Wolfson Building)
- Encouraging sustainable transport by sharing Vision Zero cycling safety resources and provision of a bike repair kit at Level 6 reception.
- Ordering fairtrade tea and coffee as standard in Level 6 kitchens and offering a choice of oat or dairy milk.
The team are already planning for 2025/26 and aiming for a silver award! They'll be looking at bigger projects, working with other Green Impact teams and widening their impact across all NDCN sites.
They would love more people to join the team, especially staff and students at other sites. You can meet the team and find out more via the NDCN Environmental Champions Teams channel or contact sustainability@ndcn.ox.ac.uk