Green Champions Network

The Green Champions are a vital part of our sustainable actions, which align with our Net Zero Carbon by 2030 Plan and Sustainability Policy.

The relaunched network is staff-led and co-created. The aim is to create a network of staff with a common interest in sustainability, and empower them to promote behavioural change in the university. Until June 2023, we have 60 champions across 3 campuses!

If you are a champion you can:

  • Help make sustainability happen in your team and drive the change you want to see.
  • Join an enthusiastic network of staff who are interested in sustainability to share ideas and make new contacts.
  • Receive training and attend events to boost your knowledge and skills.
  • Have fun!

What does it take to be a Green Champion?

You do not need any prior knowledge or skills.  You just need enthusiasm in nature and the environment, and commitment to engage staff in sustainability!

Time Commitment

Expected to be on average no more than 1 hour per week. Training and meetings normally take place once in every 1-2 months.

First Meet-up!

In June 2023, we have conducted our first meet-up with 45 champions both online and face-to-face to kick-start the project. We discussed with champions what they expect from this network and will include their feedback/ suggestions in the future activities.

We will get in touch with champions to let them know the dates and details of future meetings and activities.

Champion Spotlights:

Mary McCartney at the Faculty of Business is the sustainability driver in her Faculty ensuring all staff and aware of and engaged in key sustainability programmes. She has a welcomed role in running the charity plant sale that raises funds for local charities.

Caroline Troy is a dynamic and committed Champion helping push the agenda in our Medway Campus. She undertakes internal audits for our ISO14001 accreditation, and helps encourage staff in the NRI to the small changes too.  “We cancelled our bottled water contract and encouraged staff to drink tap water, we keep track of who travels where and by what means – whether in the UK or overseas – and we have been looking into off-setting our carbon emissions – in 2020/21 is are aiming to reduce our travel emissions within the NRI through a formalised strategy.  We also collect data on who our visitors travelled to the campus, our management team meeting has gone paperless, we print publications/invoices/leaflets on recycled paper, and we have participated in Green Week, Climate Week and Fairtrade Fortnight since the beginning of 2012. In addition we are working on making our laboratories greener including looking at projects to improve the energy used by our greenhouses and controlling the energy used by our CT suite. But there is still a lot more to accomplish.”

The HR department including Liz Lawrence and Anna Radley have over many years worked as their Directorate’s Sustainability Champions helping ensure sustainability is integrated in int Directorate functions and activities. They are also central to the initiative to collect food from our Avery Hill Campus site to donate to the local food bank.

Our Library Services undertake annual collections of books that are donated to schools in the developing world. Co-ordinated by one of our Champion, Rhiannon Matthews this project has made a significant difference, sending thousands of books to those who may not otherwise be able to obtain them.

If you are interested:

University of Greenwich Sustainability Blog