Organizational Culture:

Planning & Policy

START Metric #19:

Sustainability Planning

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Ideas & Resources

Sustainability planning is essential for schools to define their sustainability vision, set clear goals, and outline actionable steps toward creating a more sustainable campus. This START metric focuses on developing a comprehensive plan that reflects the school’s definition of sustainability, includes measurable targets, and prioritizes achievable outcomes. Examples of specific goals might include eliminating plastic cutlery in the cafeteria, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a specific percentage, or increasing the use of renewable energy within a given timeframe.

Effective sustainability planning not only helps schools address pressing environmental challenges but also ensures accountability and progress. By embedding sustainability into their operations, schools can lead by example, inspire the community, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

Strategies for Developing a Sustainability Plan

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.

  • Define Sustainability for Your School

    • Collaborate with stakeholders, including students, staff, and families, to create a shared definition of sustainability.

    • Align your definition with the school’s mission, values, and community priorities.

  • Set Specific and Measurable Goals

    • Identify key sustainability areas, such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, or water conservation.

    • Create SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to guide your efforts.

  • Establish a Sustainability Committee

    • Form a team of students, staff, and parents to oversee sustainability initiatives and ensure diverse input.

    • Assign clear roles and responsibilities for plan development and implementation.

  • Conduct a Baseline Assessment through START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool

    • Use this data to identify priorities and track progress over time.

  • Incorporate Targets into the Plan

    • Include clear targets, such as reducing single-use plastics by 80% within two years or achieving 50% renewable energy use by 2030.

    • Break long-term goals into short-term milestones for manageable progress.

  • Prioritize Actions

    • Identify quick wins, such as switching to compostable utensils, as well as long-term projects like retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency.

    • Rank actions based on feasibility, cost, and potential impact.

  • Integrate Sustainability Into Policies

    • Update school policies to support sustainability, such as adopting a green procurement policy or implementing waste diversion rules.

    • Ensure sustainability considerations are included in budgeting and decision-making processes.

  • Engage the School Community

    • Host workshops or town halls to gather input and feedback from students, staff, and families.

    • Use newsletters, social media, or school-wide events to raise awareness and encourage participation.

  • Use the Plan as an Educational Tool

    • Integrate the sustainability plan into lessons and projects to teach students about goal setting and environmental stewardship.

    • Encourage students to participate in developing and implementing initiatives.

  • Monitor and Evaluate Progress

    • Establish metrics to track progress toward each goal, such as reductions in waste or energy use.

    • Use regular check-ins to review progress, make adjustments, and celebrate achievements.

  • Share and Celebrate Achievements

    • Publish annual sustainability reports or progress updates for the school community.

    • Recognize contributions from students, staff, and partners through events or awards.

  • Plan for Long-Term Sustainability

    • Include strategies to maintain momentum, such as updating goals every five years or creating a rotating leadership structure for the sustainability committee.

    • Secure funding or partnerships to ensure the longevity of initiatives.

  • Collaborate with External Experts

    • Partner with local environmental organizations, sustainability consultants, or government agencies for guidance and resources.

    • Use these partnerships to enhance the plan’s impact and credibility.

  • Incorporate Flexibility into the Plan

    • Design the plan to adapt to changing circumstances, such as new technologies, funding opportunities, or community priorities.

    • Regularly revisit and revise goals to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness.

‘How To’ Guides

  • School Board Advocacy Toolkit

    From the US Center for Green Schools, this toolkit helps green schools allies address sustainability issues and impact greener policies at the school district level.

  • A Guide to Building Sustainable Programs

    From the US Dept. of Population Affairs, a comprehensive guide to developing sustainable (durable & successful) programs, including check-lists and worksheets.

  • Financing Sustainable Change: Green Revolving Funds

    You may be wondering how you can fund sustainability initiatives at your school. One effective mechanism is a 'Green Revolving Fund', which can help you to continuously reinvest in sustainability projects thanks to cost savings generated by efficiency measures! 

Additional Resources

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.