Chloe Zhang
Reducing plastic waste in colleges is an important initiative to protect the environment. Many colleges are taking steps to reduce single-use plastic consumption, such as Eckerd College, which received a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop an app that tracks single-use plastic use. Students are also taking matters into their own hands by adopting plastic-free practices and urging elected officials to implement policies that discourage plastic bag use. Some practical tips for college students to reduce plastic consumption include switching to glass or paper packaging, using reusable cups and bottles, and buying second-hand items. These small changes can have a significant positive impact on the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of smartphone apps | Apps can be used to track plastic consumption and encourage reduction challenges. |
| Student-led initiatives | Students can lead the way in reducing plastic waste through pledges and behaviour changes. |
| Education and awareness | Educating the campus community is key to reducing plastic consumption. |
| Alternative products | Using wooden, glass, or paper packaging instead of plastic. |
| Reusable items | Encouraging the use of reusable water bottles, cups, and straws |
| Refusal of single-use plastic | Refusing single-use plastic items, such as plastic lids and straws. |
| Thrift shopping | Buying second-hand items reduces plastic consumption and saves money. |
| Unbound textbooks | Opting for unbound textbooks instead of traditional plastic-bound books saves money and plastic. |
| SMART goals | Setting specific and measurable goals helps track progress and gain momentum. |
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What You'll Learn
Encourage the use of smartphone apps to track plastic use
Reducing plastic waste in college can be achieved through various methods, one of which is encouraging the use of smartphone apps to track plastic consumption and promote behavioural changes.
My Little Plastic Footprint (MLPF) is a free app that helps users reduce their plastic consumption by identifying plastic waste in their homes and suggesting non-plastic alternatives. It calculates a user's plastic footprint and compares it with others in their country. The app encourages small, incremental changes to reduce plastic waste, such as choosing sustainable alternatives to common plastic items.
My Plastic Diary is another free app available on iOS and Android that helps users track their plastic consumption. It sets an annual plastic consumption goal and converts it into a daily plastic limit, encouraging users to stay under that limit. Users can mark the plastic items they use daily, helping them realize their plastic consumption and working towards reducing their plastic footprint.
PRAwMATTapp is a free plastic identification app that uses AI technology to identify all types of plastics. It can automatically scan product packaging and display information about the plastic content in an entertaining way through Augmented Reality. The app also provides a list of locally sourced package-free alternatives and alerts users when their favourite products are available in reusable packaging.
Encouraging the use of these apps can help college students track their plastic consumption, raise awareness, and promote behavioural changes to reduce their plastic waste. The apps provide a simple and actionable plan for individuals to reduce their environmental impact, making small changes in their daily lives.
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Start a sustainability committee or environmental club
One of the most effective ways to reduce plastic waste in college is to start a sustainability committee or environmental club. This will help to ensure that initiatives to reduce plastic consumption are impactful and long-lasting.
Firstly, you will need to gather a group of interested people to form the core membership of the committee or club. It is important to have a diverse range of representatives from different departments, including non-executives, as this will lead to more productive discussions and better decision-making. For a college environmental club, this might include students from different years and courses, as well as teachers and other staff members. Once you have your core group, you can hold an initial meeting to decide on the club's vision and brainstorm possible activities and projects.
It is also important to find an adult sponsor, such as a teacher or community leader, who can provide advice and help ensure the stability of the group. They can also help with advertising meetings and events to a wider audience, which will increase participation and engagement.
When it comes to meetings, it is important to be consistent and hold them regularly. Monthly meetings tend to work well, with a structured agenda to ensure progress is being made. Notes should be taken, and it is helpful to have a few actionable items that can be implemented following the meeting. The first few meetings will likely involve brainstorming and sharing ideas and experiences.
To keep members engaged, it is a good idea to focus on some shorter-term, achievable projects first, which will give members a sense of accomplishment and motivate them to work towards longer-term goals. It is also beneficial to have one major project that has measurable benefits to the college or community, and to create a timeline with clear goals, dates, and responsibilities.
Finally, don't forget to celebrate your wins and make your progress known to the wider college community. This will help to illustrate your commitment to sustainability and encourage others to get involved.
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Suggest plastic-free alternatives for stationery and events
When it comes to stationery, there are numerous eco-friendly brands that offer sustainable alternatives to plastic-laden products. Onyx and Green, for instance, offers a diverse range of stationery items, including notebooks, pens, rulers, and more, made from bamboo, cornstarch, sugar cane, and recycled materials. Similarly, Earth Greetings provides an Australian-based option for greeting cards, planners, journals, notebooks, and calendars, all crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and packaged in zero-waste, plastic-free materials. They also use vegetable-based inks and non-toxic printing processes.
For writing instruments, metal pens are a great plastic-free alternative. While they may be less common, they are built to last and can be an elegant, eco-friendly option. Fountain pens are another good choice, offering a more environmentally friendly and smoother writing experience than plastic disposable ballpoint pens. Refillable options, such as Sheaffer's Reminder Ballpoint Pen, are also available and significantly reduce waste.
For events, the key is to minimise single-use plastic waste. This can be achieved by opting for reusable and refillable items instead of single-use plastics. For instance, provide stainless steel or glass water bottles, metal straws, and insulated mugs. Ensure that compost, recycling, and waste bins are grouped together with clear signage to encourage proper waste disposal. If possible, include photos or examples of items that belong in each bin to prevent confusion.
It is important to note that compostable foodware is not always a good option, as it may not actually be composted. If using compostable items, ensure the event venue has a contract with a local composting facility. By implementing these changes, you can significantly reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable practices.
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Set goals, e.g. encouraging the use of reusable water bottles
Reducing plastic waste in colleges can start with setting clear goals and encouraging the use of reusable water bottles. Here are some strategies to achieve this:
Provide Free Reusable Water Bottles:
Colleges can provide students with free, high-quality, and aesthetically pleasing reusable water bottles. This was implemented at Princeton University, where it decreased the likelihood of students purchasing single-use water bottles and increased support for a campus-wide ban on single-use options.
Install Water Refill Stations:
Making water easily accessible is key to encouraging the use of reusable bottles. Allegheny College installed water refill stations across campus, and the majority of students reported drinking water from these stations. Duke University installed 50 refill stations, reducing the number of single-use bottles in waste and recycling by 400,000 in 2014.
Educate Students on the Benefits:
Allegheny College provided educational pamphlets and posters to highlight the benefits of reusable bottles and the negative impact of single-use plastic. This can help students make informed choices and encourage a shift towards more sustainable behaviours.
Track Plastic Consumption:
Smartphone apps can be used to track plastic consumption and encourage reduction. The Reduce Single-Use team at Eckerd College introduced an app to track single-use plastic use, with the goal of increasing awareness and accountability. Over 33,000 single-use plastic items were refused by students during the challenge.
Make a Pledge:
Students can be encouraged to make a pledge to reduce plastic consumption for a set period. The pledge intervention group in a study showed a significant decrease in plastic consumption over the week, indicating that commitment and accountability can lead to behaviour change.
By implementing these strategies, colleges can effectively encourage the use of reusable water bottles and reduce plastic waste on campuses.
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Choose foods packaged in glass or paper boxes
Glass and paper boxes are great alternatives to plastic packaging. Glass is a highly inert material, which means there is no migration between the glass and the food inside. This makes it a very attractive food safety material. Glass is also heat resistant, which is important for foods packaged hot, like ready meals. It can be recycled over and over again, and it retains its aesthetic and mechanical properties. Glass packaging can be reused by consumers or professionals. Glass is widely used for packaging delicatessen and sweet goods, such as jam, honey, and spreads, as well as local products and catering dishes.
Paper and paperboard are commonly used as primary and secondary packaging materials by food manufacturers, especially for dry foods. Paper packaging is thin and composed of a single layer, while paperboard is thicker but still consists of a single layer. Corrugated paperboard, or cardboard, is made up of multiple layers of paperboard and is often used for tertiary packaging. Cardboard boxes are versatile and can come in various sizes and shapes. They are also recyclable, although they are not as durable as some other packaging options and can be damaged by moisture.
When choosing between glass and paper packaging, it's important to consider the type of product and the packaging process. For example, if you need to pasteurize or sterilize the product, you'll need an accessory that supports this process. Glass is a good option for this, as it can be sterilized or pasteurized, which gives it a long shelf life. Glass is also ideal for packaging products that are sensitive to light, such as vegetable oil, as coloured glass can filter out UV rays.
Overall, choosing foods packaged in glass or paper boxes can be a more sustainable alternative to plastic packaging. Glass, in particular, has many benefits, including reusability, recyclability, and inertness. Paper and paperboard are also good options, especially for dry foods, but they may not be as durable as other materials and can be susceptible to moisture.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some tips to reduce your plastic consumption at college:
- Shop the bulk bins at your local store, or choose foods packaged in glass or paper boxes.
- Bring your own cup when grabbing a drink on-the-go.
- Buy second-hand textbooks or ask your school bookstore to order unbound textbooks.
- Use a wooden cutting board instead of a plastic one.
You can start by joining or creating a sustainability committee or environmental club at your college. You can also advocate for changes such as:
- Implementing a plastic-free day on campus.
- Reviewing the college's procurement policy and adding in plastic-free requirements.
- Setting specific and measurable goals, such as encouraging the use of reusable water bottles.
Yes, there are apps that can help you track your plastic consumption and refuse single-use plastic. For example, the Reduce Single-Use team introduced a smartphone app to track single-use plastic use and refusal among first-year students.
Before buying any new items, ask yourself if you will use the item for at least three years. Consider borrowing or buying second-hand items whenever possible.
