Green Gown Awards 2019 - Cardiff Metropolitan University - Finalist

During Go Green Week in Feb 2018, Cardiff Metropolitan University invited staff and students to put forward their Sustainability ideas for Campus change via a ‘Campus Pledge Tree’. The top suggestion was to reduce single-use plastic on Campus. The Catering outlets were identified as the highest use areas of single use plastic; bottled water / soft drinks and single-use takeaway food containers.  

Market research led to a collaboration with Chilly’s Bottles - with discounted rrp. re-usable bottles available for purchase on site and the increase of free water vending machines on Campus with Hydrachill. The 500ml fit perfectly under the free chilled water vending machines, with the Chilly’s keeping the water chilled for up to 24 hours. 

Since April 2018, 3,531 Chilly’s have been sold with the demand for an additional 3 free water vending machines (to 18) and a reduction in recycling of 82,028 kgs from April 17 – March 18 and April 18 – March 19. Industry figures promote that the switch / change to a re-usable water bottle equates to a saving of 167 water bottles per person in a year, so Cardiff Met has facilitated the saving of 3,531 x 167 = 589,677 water bottles. 

Top 3 learnings: 

• Great plastic free progress, not plastic perfection but changing perception of single-use plastic on Campus. 
• A small nudge towards change can make a difference to behaviour. Loving the alternative helps!  
• We all know what is right, but plastic can prove difficult in already established routines. 

Videos

• Green Gown Awards 2019 - Cardiff Metropolitan University - Campus, Health, Food & Drink (click to hide)