The University of Exeter has introduced a green reward programme to engage its 5,000 employees with environmental sustainability and wellbeing across its Exeter and Falmouth campuses.
The digital engagement programme, provided by sustainability and wellbeing engagement provider Jump, is aimed at motivating staff to make behavioural changes to help the university achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. The programme is initially being piloted among a targeted group, with the university planning to roll it out to all employees during the new academic year.
Through the scheme, employees can earn points by taking part in activities that boost sustainability and wellbeing. They can compete as both individuals and teams in order to win monthly prizes. The activities that enable staff to win points include growing their own plants, staying active, taking care of their mental health and maintaining positive behaviours while working from home.
The programme is structured to help instil positive behaviours in employees in order to support the organisation in achieving its commitment set in 2019, when it declared a climate emergency and set goals to cut air travel by 50%, increase recycling to 70% and halve plastic and paper use by 2025.
Emma Page, head of environment and climate emergency at the University of Exeter, said: “The university declared a climate emergency last year and we see green rewards as a key step in engaging with our people and helping them understand how their actions help us meet our carbon-neutral targets.
“We want our people to feel a part of sustainability strategy, whether that is across campuses, through remote working, or as we welcome new students for the next academic year.”