Strategies to reduce plastics and non-recyclable products

Strategies to reduce plastics and non-recyclable products

Many campuses in Europe are installing water coolers where students and employees can fill their reusable water bottles. This helps a lot with their sustainability because it means that fewer single-use plastic bottles can be discarded. Accordingly, the National Technical University of Athens intends to install such refilling stations, which will also have a meter that will show how many plastic bottles have been saved through their use.

Reducing single-use plastics is a priority in sustainable material management. As mentioned, many universities have adopted “plastic-free” policies by setting specific targets for eliminating single-use plastics. A typical example is the commitment of European institutions to eliminate all non-essential single-use plastics within a few years, by carrying out annual audits of the plastics used and replacing them with alternatives.

Therefore, the abolition of bottled water and other beverages in plastic packaging, installing free freshwater coolers and taps to refill reusable bottles, can reduce plastic waste by up to 400,000 plastic bottles in a year through these stations, while also raising awareness among students that tap water is adequate and preferable. Emphasis will be placed on reducing plastic in canteens and restaurants by offering a discount in restaurants to those who bring their own glass.

The NTUA intends to adopt “zero waste” practices in events and conferences, while a good practice measure it considers will be the reformulation of contracts for the supply of stationery and other items to include terms for sustainable packaging. Accordingly, the NTUA will try to establish programs where electronic equipment suppliers will take back their old devices or packaging, so that they can be properly recycled.

At the same time, NTUA will proceed with information campaigns through workshops and other actions (e.g. “Plastic-Free Challenge” student competitions, voluntary cleanings, workshops for the creation of reusable objects such as cloth bags) to actively involve students and transform behaviors.