Green Office Label application

In 2017, the University of Groningen's Green Office introduced the Green Office Label programme to acknowledge the urgent need for all university stakeholders to take action against the climate crisis. As student organisations affiliated with the university are a big part of students’ lives and play a significant role in setting an example for them, it is crucial that they also contribute to creating a more sustainable university and, consequently, a more sustainable society. 

The Green Office Labels programme aims to incentivise organisations to be more sustainable by rating them based on various sustainability criteria. We developed the programme not only as a scoring tool but also as a way to inspire change and guide organisations towards important sustainable behaviours, which are not always clear without a clear list of things to look for; in this sense, the Green Office Labels offer a great opportunity for the boards to reflect on the impacts of their organisations and their role and duty to be sustainable. We hope that an environment of friendly competition and the benefits of receiving an official sustainability score will lead organisations to strive to receive better scores year after year, thus reducing the environmental impacts on the University of Groningen and its students.

Who can participate?

All student organisations located in Groningen and focused on students of the University of Groningen can participate in the Green Office Labels. The term student organisations refers to study associations, student associations, sports associations, religious associations, cultural associations, and other similar associations affiliated with the University of Groningen.

*Note that this differs from the Green Office Subsidies, where only CUOS-recognised organisations receiving a board grant can participate.

Why participate?

Participating in the Green Office Label offers numerous benefits to student organisations, enabling them to become leaders in sustainability and contribute to a greener university community and society. By participating, organisations fulfil their ethical responsibility to address the urgent climate crisis, set an example for members, and inspire awareness and action. The programme provides valuable insights into sustainability performance, helps identify areas for improvement, and facilitates the development of targeted strategies and actionable plans for progress. It also allows organisations to benchmark against peers, foster friendly competition, and learn from best practices. The Green Office Label can also attract sponsors who prioritise sustainability and increase the chances of securing funding through sustainability subsidies and sponsorships.

How to participate

Please download and carefully read the guideline file. It contains all the instructions and resources needed to participate.

In short, the main steps are:

• Read the guideline file

• Fill in the submission form

• While filling in the form, also fill in the evidence files, as set out in the guidelines.

• Submit the form and evidence file

Q&A Session

We have organised a Q&A session for the board of all organisations to ask us questions. On the 28th of May, between 13:00 and 15:00, you can visit us physically at the Green Office or join the session online at this link to get answers to all your questions and doubts about the Green Office Labels programme. See you there!

2024 Timeline

• 13th May: Green Office Labels opens to all organisations

• 27th May: Reminder to submit

• 28th May: Q&A session at Green Office (online also available) 13:00 - 15:00

• 16th June: Submission deadline

• 25th June: Green Office Labels award ceremony 15:30 - 17.00 (Senaatskamer, borrel in Spiegelzaal) + results live on the website