Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
Faculty of Business Administration , Bang Khen Campus
Details
This project engineered a campus-wide transition away from single-use plastics by first establishing a material flow baseline across canteens, convenience outlets, and large student events. High-volume items, origin points, and disposal behaviors were mapped, informing procurement rules that fit local operations: no free lids or cutlery at dispensing points, a refundable deposit scheme for reusables via a mobile app, and return stations linked to a centralized washing facility. Communication and incentives were co-developed with the student cooperative and environmental clubs so that economic and social cues reinforce each other in daily routines.
Operationally, three standardized, durable container sizes replaced foam boxes, each labeled with spec and a QR code for life-cycle tracking. Five major canteens piloted the system; the central wash employed high-efficiency machines and pooled logistics to minimize water and energy per container. Courses and clubs ran “Zero-Waste Events” enforcing the full protocol at scale, with pre/post measurements to provide rigorous evidence to stakeholders on feasibility, hygiene performance, and user acceptance.
By year's end, participating outlets cut single-use plastic by an average of 68% without raising total plate cost once deposits and refunds were accounted for. Return rates exceeded 92% within 48 hours, while contamination at sorting points fell below 5%. The project produced a procurement guide, SOPs for new vendors, and teaching materials embedded in classes and staff trainings, advancing SDG 12 and positioning the university as a regional low-waste innovation hub.
Project Evidence & Documentation
Field activity: Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
Workshop & outreach: Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
ลิงก์ที่เกี่ยวข้อง
- Project page: Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
- Summary article: Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
Activity Videos
- Presentation video: Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
- Short documentary: Single-Use Plastic-Free Campus: Systems for Reduction, Reuse, and Substitution
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure