Organizational Culture:

Communications & Outreach

START Metric #11:

Communications

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Ideas & Resources

Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful sustainability efforts in schools. This START metric emphasizes providing ongoing, formal updates about the school’s sustainability programs, progress, and achievements to the school community. Whether through social media posts, websites, annual reports, newsletters, or in-person presentations, clear and consistent communication ensures transparency, builds support, and inspires engagement.

Sharing updates on sustainability initiatives highlights the school’s commitment to environmental stewardship, celebrates milestones, and educates the community about the importance of these efforts. Robust communication strategies also help to foster collaboration and motivate students, staff, and families to actively participate in achieving sustainability goals.

Strategies for Communicating Sustainability Efforts

NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.

  • Identify and Collaborate with Communication Managers

    • Determine who oversees various communication channels, such as social media, newsletters, or the school website.

    • Work with these individuals or teams to integrate sustainability updates and ensure consistent messaging across all platforms.

  • Develop a Communication Plan

    • Create a detailed plan outlining key messages, target audiences, and communication channels.

    • Ensure the plan includes regular updates to maintain momentum and engagement.

  • Use Social Media Platforms

    • Share updates, photos, and videos of sustainability initiatives on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

    • Use hashtags, tagging, and geotags to increase visibility and reach.

  • Maintain a Sustainability Section on the School Website

    • Dedicate a webpage to showcasing the school’s sustainability goals, programs, and progress.

    • Include resources, event calendars, and opportunities for involvement.

  • Publish Regular Newsletters

    • Use email newsletters or printed updates to provide detailed reports on sustainability activities and milestones.

    • Highlight student projects, staff contributions, and upcoming events to keep the community informed.

  • Create an Annual Sustainability Report

    • Publish a yearly report that summarizes progress on sustainability metrics, challenges, and achievements.

    • Use infographics and charts to make the report visually engaging and easy to understand.

  • Host In-Person Presentations or Events

    • Organize assemblies, open houses, or community meetings to share updates and celebrate successes.

    • Use these events to gather feedback and ideas for future sustainability efforts.

  • Use Digital Displays and Bulletin Boards

    • Install screens or boards in high-traffic areas to display real-time updates on metrics like energy savings or waste reduction.

    • Use visuals and graphs to make the information accessible and engaging.

  • Highlight Student and Staff Contributions

    • Share stories and testimonials from individuals involved in sustainability projects.

    • Recognize contributions publicly to encourage continued participation and inspire others.

  • Involve Students in Communications

    • Create student-led communication teams to develop content for newsletters, social media, or blogs.

    • Use student projects, such as videos or infographics, to showcase sustainability initiatives.

  • Leverage Community Partnerships

    • Collaborate with local organizations to share updates through their networks.

    • Use partnerships to amplify the school’s message and reach a broader audience.

  • Use Storytelling to Build Engagement

    • Share compelling narratives about the impact of sustainability efforts, such as how initiatives have benefited students or the environment.

    • Use a mix of formats, including videos, written stories, and photo essays.

  • Provide Opportunities for Feedback

    • Create channels for the school community to ask questions, offer suggestions, or provide feedback.

    • Use surveys, suggestion boxes, or online forms to gather input.

  • Celebrate Successes Publicly

    • Highlight achievements, such as meeting sustainability targets or launching new initiatives, in press releases or community publications.

    • Host events or award ceremonies to recognize milestones.

  • Use Visual Communication Tools

    • Create infographics, posters, or short videos to explain sustainability initiatives and progress.

    • Use visuals to make complex data more accessible and appealing.

  • Tailor Messages for Different Audiences

    • Customize content for various groups, such as parents, students, staff, or external partners.

    • Use language and examples that resonate with each audience’s interests and priorities.

  • Track and Share Impact

    • Use START data to show measurable progress, such as reductions in energy use or waste generation.

    • Share these metrics regularly to maintain transparency and accountability.

  • Incorporate Communications into the Curriculum

    • Use sustainability communications as a teaching tool, such as having students create reports or presentations about ongoing initiatives.

    • Link these efforts to subjects like environmental science, media studies, or graphic design.

Resources

  • Communicating for Carbon Neutral Schools

    From the New Buildings Institute, a resource addressing key questions around your communication effort and engage stakeholders, including facts, figures and advantages.

  • Communication Planning for Sustainability Guide

    From the US Department of Education's Safe Schools Health Students grant program, is the Communication Planning for Sustainability and The 8-Step Communication Planning Model Guide. This guide highlights how strategic communication can engage stakeholders, secure resources, and ensure the longevity of school-based sustainability efforts.

  • Report: Climate Change & Children's Health & Wellbeing

    Communicating about climate and sustainability through the lens of children's health and well-being can be an effective way to connect with parents and gain their support for sustainability initiatives. 

Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.

They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.

Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.

But how do we get there?

START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.

START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:

It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.

However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.

Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.

How sustainable is our school now?

Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success? 

What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric?  Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.

START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.

It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.

Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.

Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.

Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.

Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.