Sign up to Green Rewards
WELCOME TO ALL NEW STUDENTS AND STAFF. Why not sign up to Green Rewards as the first step on your sustainabilty journey?
Green Rewards is the University’s way of rewarding you for taking actions that improve sustainability and wellbeing – both on and off campus. It is also a fun way of getting involved with the chance to win prizes.
Log sustainable actions through the web platform or app and earn ‘Green Points’. Each month, the four individuals that earn the most Green Points will win a £20 voucher!
There are over 30 different actions you can earn Green Points for, including staying active, avoiding single use plastics, reducing your meat consumption, preventing food waste, sustainable food choices, and learning more about the University’s Sustainability Agenda, with new activities and opportunities to earn points and prizes throughout the year.
You can also submit ideas for activities and make suggestions - both of which earn you points.
SEPTEMBER 2023
(WRITING AND PHOTO COMP OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS. Details coming soon on our Events Page.)
LITTER-PICK-TURES
How to Take Part:
Click the 'Submit' button to tell us about your litter picking session and upload your image.
Why It's Important:
Litter-pick-tures aren't just for show – they motivate others and highlight the fundamental difference one person can make. By sharing your photo, you're not just cleaning up but inspiring a community.
Moreover, World Cleanup Day notes that nearly 100 million people across 169 countries have joined the effort to combat waste, proving the vastness and importance of this movement.
LITTER PICK HERO
- We’ll ask you: "How much litter did you pick up this week?"
- Select the bag size that aligns most accurately with the volume of litter you picked (higher volumes mean you earn more points).
Why It's Important:
Up to 20% of the world's terrestrial litter ends up in our oceans. Improper waste disposal harms our environment, wildlife, and human health.
Each piece of litter removed reduces potential hazards and brings us closer to a cleaner world. World Cleanup Day activates 100 countries yearly to engage in cleanup actions, demonstrating how pressing this issue is!
AUGUST 2023
GET WALKING
Get walking each week to earn 100 Green Points.
How to take part:
Opt-in to this activity to the weekly reporting form. Each week you will be prompted to add a walk into the day using one of the following methods.
More Information
Walking in the morning is a great way to energise your day. Likewise, an evening walk can help your de-compress and signal to your mind that it’s time to switch off.
TRY A PLANT MIIK
Share your plant milk brand and earn 200 Green Points.
How to take part:
Click ‘Submit’ to upload a photograph of the plant milk you are using, and you’ll be rewarded 200 Green Points.
More information
Have a tasty and sustainable plant milk brand you want to share with the other Green Rewards members?
We'd love to hear about the reasons this brand is the best for people and planet!
By submitting a photo to this activity, you are providing consent for this to be shared on Green Rewards and used by the University of Exeter or Jump for promotional purposes.
JULY 2023
PLASTIC FREE JULY
Make a simple swap this Plastic Free July to cut down on single use plastics.
How to take part:
Opt-in to this activity and let us know how many times you've used your cup or bottle each week to earn 100 Green Points!
SURVEY
Have your say:
Have your say! Your feedback is important to us and is part of what makes Exeter Green Rewards great. That's why we want you to participate in our user feedback survey.
It takes less than 5 minutes to complete, and we'll award you with 500 Green Points for your efforts.
How to take part:
Click ‘survey’ and fill out the form. To earn your points please enter the email address associated with your account.
JUNE 2023
ECO SPRING CLEAN
How to Take Part
Go to the activity, Click ‘Submit’ and say how you’ve reduced waste in your spring clean-out.
Why It Is Important
Clearing out your home in spring has many benefits – whether your room needs a re-fresh during the busy university year, or you want some brighter clothes in your wardrobe for the warmer weather.
Below are the key features of an eco-conscious spring clean:
- Recycling waste. Stop waste from reaching landfill! You will most likely come across various materials in your clear-out, so if you are unsure, click this link for a detailed guide to what can and cannot be recycled.
- Sell or donate unwanted items. Do not head straight to the bin with your clothes; take them to a local donation point (search on google maps) or sell them easily online – click here to know the best and worst marketplaces to sell and buy second-hand.
- Reusing cleaning products. Swap your single-use cleaning products for refillable brands with refill stations in your area - brands like Neat and Faith in Nature. Click here for some of the best.
- Line drying furniture covers. Save energy, money, and time by deep cleaning sheets and covers on a sunny day and hanging them to dry outside.
Disclaimer
You can only submit for this activity once a week until the end of June.
CAR SHARE COMMUTE
How to Take Part
go to the activity, Click 'Opt In' and input the length of your average commute (return journey) in miles. You’ll get a notification each week to say how many times you car shared that week – as a passenger or driver.
Green Points
Earn 3 points per mile .
Why take part?
Sharing your car journey with others is an effective way to cut your carbon emissions, reduce traffic on the road and therefore associated air pollution, share the cost of fuel and meet someone new. Did you know The University of Exeter has its own car share scheme for staff?
Stay safe:
Car share safely with our recommendations below:
• Arrange to meet in public places for the journey.
• Arrange to meet before you start car sharing so you both can get to know each other. Avoid sharing your home address before the meeting.
• Notify a friend of your travel details: who you are travelling with, where you are travelling to and when you expect to arrive.
• You’re under no obligation to make a journey if you don’t feel comfortable.
• Show each other some ID so that you know you’re travelling with the right person.
PEOPLE POWER CAMPAIGN: SPREAD THE WORD
How to take part
Why It’s Important
You can make a big difference with just a click of your mouse or a chat in a coffee shop.
Raising awareness of an issue, especially online, can reach the minds of decision-makers who can make the necessary changes. There are lots of strategies and platforms you can use to get your message out. Here are some examples:
- Send a social media post: millions of ears at your fingertips.
- Email your MP: raises the profile of issues directly to those in power.
- Sign a petition: gets public support and takes the problem to the next level.
- Attend a protest: publicise a cause and connect with others.
- Start a conversation: learn more about possible blind spots or new information.
Anything you do makes a difference – we want to hear about it!
Disclaimer
You can only submit for this activity twice a week.
PEOPLE POWER CAMPAIGN: GIVE BACK
Why It’s Important
Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and allows you to support environmental causes.
Volunteering can also have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Here are some key benefits:
Connecting to others
- Bringing fun and fulfilment to life
- Learning new skills
- Improved personal growth and self-esteem.
We know it can be hard to find time to volunteer, but even finding an hour will add to an impactful movement!
Disclaimer
You can only submit for this activity once a week on the weekly reporting form.
MAY 2023
NO MOW MAY
How to take part:
Click ‘opt-in’ and let us know what you are going to do to support no mow may. If you have a garden let us know what size of land you will
What is No Mow May?
It’s an annual campaign that encourages people to stop mowing their gardens for the month in order to help promote natural biodiversity.
Why is it important?
Having an area in your garden that is not immaculately groomed is ok; in fact, it’s important! Butterflies, bugs, bees and other insects all thrive in patches of overgrown grass and among wildflowers.
Over the last decade, over 40% of all insect species have declined and a third of them are now endangered. Insects play a vital role in our ecosystem, and without them many plants would not survive, which would not only have a negative effect on wildlife but on humans that rely on these plants as well.
OUTSIDE BREAKS
How to take part:
Click Opt-in to add this activity to your weekly reporting form. Every Friday we’ll send you a reminder to report your progress.
Why it’s important:
This month we’re encouraging you to get out and take a break outside this May to commemorate ‘National Walking Month’.
Work breaks help boost productivity and focus, and getting outside and active can reduce stress, and boost our health. Even if for just 15 minutes, incorporate a nature break into your lunchtime, morning walk or after your day.
APRIL 2023
UPCYCLING
Upcycling is the process of taking an item and repairing it or giving it a new purpose. It could be an old piece of furniture or an item of clothing that you’ve given a new lease of life. Earn points by submitting a photo of an item that you have upcycled or repaired.
FOOD QUIZ
Food waste is a big issue, globally and in the UK. It’s something that we can all play our part in by developing good habits to reduce our household food waste. Cutting down on our food waste is not only good for the planet but can help to save us money too! Take our quiz to test your knowledge of key food waste issues. If you want to do more to help reduce your food waste, why not earn points by going to the “reduce your food waste” activity.
MARCH 2023
SAVE WATER
Two water saving activites this month.
Read the Water Saving Facts and Tips sheet with this link. Once read through, press ‘Submit’ next to this activity to tell us what fact or tip stood out to you the most. Have you applied any changes? Earn 200 Green Points for each weekly submission.
It is easy to overlook your water-wasting habits when you’re unaware of them. Saving water comes hand in hand with saving energy and money – so you may be missing a trick. Use this water footprint calculatorto better understand where you may be wasting water the most - the average UK citizen uses 150 litres of water a day!
GO GREEN WEEK (13 - 17 March)
Take part in Go Green Week (13th-17th March) Find out more about the events on offer using the link here. If you attend 3 Go Green Week events/activitiesyou will also be entered into a raffleto get a chance of winning one of two £50 vouchers to spend in café/retail outlets at the University.
FEBRUARY 2023
SDG TEACH-IN
Calling all educators - let us know how you are going to include SDGs in your teaching.
WASH AT 30
Washing your clothes at 30 degrees instead of the usual 40 or 60 could use around 40% less energy. If everybody in the UK washed at 30 it would save the equivalent of 858,000 tonnes C02 being emitted.
JANUARY 2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We hope you had a great break. This January why not include living more sustainably as one of your New Year's Resolutions? Green Rewards helps you monitor your actions and earn points and prizes at the same time. Even small actions can make a difference in helping us tackle the climate crisis. It can be really simple – like remembering to turn off your appliances at night, or not forgetting your reusable cup when buying your favourite take out coffee. Here are five suggestions – but feel free to come up with your own. Whatever changes you make to live more sustainably it will be a step in the right direction.
- Eat more veg and cut back on meat and dairy
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Take public transport
- Don’t forget your reusable cup!
- Turn off appliances at night
DECEMBER 2022
NEWS: In November staff and students signed up to Green Rewards reached a major milestone. Since the app was launched in June 2020 they have recorded 100,000 sustainable actions. Congrats to all involved! If you haven’t signed up yet, why not start this month? See below for December activities.
Sustainable Gift Ideas
Tell us what sustainable gifts you will be giving this year and earn 300 green points.
Sustainable Christmas Trees
Earn 200 points and learn how to reduce your Christmas trees' carbon footprint.
NOVEMBER 2022
Cop 27 Your Ideas
Tell us what you want to see discussed at COP27 this year and we will award you 350 Green Points!
Take A Tree Walk
Take a walk to Celebrate National Tree Week and submit a photo.
Energy Saving Pledge and Quiz
Pledge to save energy and learn how to reduce your bills.
OCTOBER 2022
Cups For Your Thoughts
How has your experience with the Green Rewards platform been? The University of Exeter's Green Consultants team would like to know how the Green Rewards programme has succeeded and ways it can improve through your eyes.
Be one of the first five people to fill out the questionnaire and win a reusable coffee cup.
Also this month's point earning activites include building a hedgehog feeder and an Eco Quiz.
SEPTEMBER 2022
What is Net Zero?
Did you know that Exeter University has pledged to reach it’s Net Zero targets by 2030? This is 20 years earlier than the UK governments own targets. To read more about how Exeter is working towards these targets go to the Environment and Climate Emergency Policy and Climate Emergency Agenda activities.
Read this quick and informative factsheet all about Net Zero and why it’s so important.
Sustainable Champion
We want to hear what you have done this past year to be more sustainable? We are looking for Exeter's sustainable champion!
Here’s some inspiration for your submission:
- Made a sustainable lifestyle change
- Supported a campaign or protest
- Upcycled an old item
- Volunteered for a sustainability focused charity.
Send us a photo via the Green Rewards website and a caption of why you are a sustainable champion.Earn 500 points for your efforts!
August 2022
Water Saving Summer
Given the lack of rain we've had lately we are after your water saving tips. Let us know what you’ve been doing to save water and earn 300 Green Points!
Sustainable Food
Take our sustainable food quiz and learn more about the impacts of food production on the environment.
Low-carbon Cooking
Earn points by reading our low-carbon cookbook (the banana pancakes sound delicious) get creative and share a photo of your favourite dish on the Green Rewards website.
Climate Change Workshops
Emma's climate change workshops are running through August. Please see above.
JULY 2022
Plastic Free July
This month take part in Plastic Free July, a global initiative to ecourgage everyone to think about their use of plastic.
Try visiting zero-waste shops, opt for zero waste deliveries, visit a local greengrocer that doesn’t use packaging or choose items with recyclable packing. Earn up to 300 points for taking part.
Gender Equality and Climate Change
We’ve put together some resources on the effects of climate change on gender equality. Take a look and earn 250 Green Points!
Climate Change Workshops
During July and August Emma de Saram will be leading 8 climate change workshops for staff and students as part of Green Futures. These will run weekly for about an hour and a half and topics will involve everything from IPCC reports, to eco anxiety and finding your place in the climate movment. Earn points for taking part as well as a voucher from inExeter. Emma is a passionate activist and speaker and this is a great opportunity to find out more and how you can get involved.
All staff and students can take part by registering at Green Rewards or alternatively via Android or iOS app.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 GREEN REWARDS PARTICIPANTS:
Members - you avoided almost 50 tonnes of CO2 through over 42,000 positive actions taken
Top Team - Compliance, Governance and Risk, Committee Secretariat - £100 donation to Devon Wildlife Trust
Top Department - Office of the Vice Chancellor and the Senior Executive - £100 donation to the Samaritans
