User + Planet Story Cards

Use this tool

When writing or refining user stories
In backlog refinement or sprint planning
When a feature could be delivered in more than one way

You'll get

A simple story format that captures user needs and environmental benefits in one place
A shared reference for impact-friendly design and development decisions
Acceptance criteria that make sustainability testable

The format

How to use

As a [user type]
I want to [do something]
So that [I meet my goal]
In a way that [reduces harm or adds benefit for the planet]

Fill in each part using real context from your product and users.
Add relevant acceptance criteria (see below).
Tag the story with Impact Tags if needed.

What to consider

Who is the user, and what is their goal
What behaviours, choices, or constraints affect environmental impact
How this story will scale if adopted widely
Any trade-offs between convenience, cost, and sustainability

In practice

Examples

As a frequent commuter
I want to see colleagues who travel the same route as me on the same days
So that I can arrange to share travel
In a way that reduces the number of cars on the road

As an online shopper
I want the option to collect my order from a nearby pickup point
So that I can reduce delivery trips to my home
In a way that cuts transport emissions and makes deliveries more efficient

More examples

User + Planet Story Examples

As a customer, I want to browse your product catalogue so I can find what I need, in a way that shows lightweight previews before full product pages.
As a podcast listener, I want to download episodes so I can listen offline, in a way that offers quality options to manage file size.
As a conference attendee, I want to view the agenda so I can plan my day in a way that works without downloading the whole app.
As an office worker, I want to book a desk for tomorrow so I can plan my day and see colleagues coming in from my area for potential lift shares.
As a parent, I want to register my child for after-school activities so they can participate in a way that connects me with other parents for shared transport.

Eventually, some of your stories might consider sustainability as part of the overarching requirement, for example:

As a parent, I want a low-brightness mode for evening use so I can reduce eye strain and save battery life.
As a staff member, I want to see which colleagues live nearby so I can arrange a car share to the office.
As a traveller, I want my tickets available offline so I can access them without signal or roaming charges.
As a shopper, I want to bundle orders into one delivery so I don't have to wait around for multiple packages.
As a team lead, I want to view usage stats by feature so I can spot and remove rarely used or high-load elements.
As a site editor, I want to see an alert when I upload large images so I can choose lighter alternatives.
As a commuter, I want to book a desk near my car-share colleague so we can travel together more easily.
As a reader, I want articles to load in low-data mode by default so I can browse on patchy connections.
As a support agent, I want AI summaries of long threads so I can reduce screen time and resolve issues faster.
As a customer, I want to choose a low-impact delivery option so I can make a more climate-friendly choice.
As a field engineer, I want to access repair guides offline so I can troubleshoot without signal or extra downloads.
As a developer, I want to avoid duplicate dependencies so I can keep the build leaner and cleaner.
As a conference attendee, I want sustainable travel options shown during registration so I can choose low-impact routes.
As a new hire, I want onboarding materials to be available offline so I can access them on the go.
As a user, I want to opt out of background syncing to reduce unnecessary data and battery use.
As a school parent, I want to coordinate lifts with neighbours so I can avoid multiple car trips.
As a delivery driver, I want routes optimised for shared drop-offs so I can reduce backtracking and fuel use.
As a gym member, I want to be reminded when a location is walkable or bike-friendly so I can leave the car behind.
As a project manager, I want to tag reusable components to reduce build time and minimise future waste.
As a shift worker, I want to join a carpool group through the rota tool so I can save on travel costs and emissions.

Definition of done

Acceptance criteria ideas

Works with minimal steps for the user
Supports offline use where possible
Uses event-driven updates instead of constant polling
Re-uses established patterns and components
Reduces page weight on mobile
Enables low-impact defaults (e.g. opt-in for heavier features)
Designs encourage purposeful use over idle browsing

Guidance

Tips

Keep the user benefit clear and avoid making it feel like a compromise
Use this format alongside standard user stories if your team prefers, to make adoption easier
Revisit stories during refinement to check for missed opportunities
Check for trade-offs, ensure planet benefits do not compromise usability or introduce bias in the solution.

Output

User stories that build environmental impact into the core requirement, not as an afterthought.

Measurement & Validation

Count how many stories in a sprint include a planet benefit statement. Optional: For features delivered, assess uptake of the lower-impact option they enable.

← Previous Sprint Planning Prompts Next → Impact Tags