We’re continuing to roll out changes across the University to make our catering outlets more sustainable and to reduce single-use plastics.
Pictured: At the National Oceanography Centre (NOCS), and other campuses, wooden spoons have been replaced by re-useable metal spoons
Plastic cups and stirrers
The vast majority of plastic cups, cutlery and stirrers have now been replaced with more sustainable alternatives, and we are encouraging our suppliers to improve the packaging that they use.
Palm oil
NOCS cafe and the Arlott Bar are now palm oil free, and it’s our aim to remove palm oil from all of our catering outlets by 2022.
Vegan options
Colleagues at NOCS are introducing a whole host of other changes, including launching more vegan options, creating meals that do not use plastic between source to plate, reducing the use of beef, removing single-use sachets and introducing a new ‘free cup station’ for anyone that doesn’t have their own.
Free cup station at NOCS
On Highfield Campus (pictured above), we’ve started using our waste coffee grounds as a soil improver around our estate.
Catering, jointly with SUSU, have also started a number of food waste reduction initiatives. Students on a support fund can get a voucher from Student Services to get a free hot meal in the Staff Terrace, Piazza or Avenue Café. This means fresh food, cooked that day but unsold, is not wasted.
The Plant Pot
In September, SUSU opened The Plant Pot, their vegan and vegetarian sustainable café. This is the first place to offer solely vegetarian and vegan food on Highfield Campus and is open 08:00 to 17:00. There is also a small zero waste shop which sells products such as pasta, rice, lentils and dried fruit in dispensers – all plastic-free.
Would you like to help develop The Plant Pot? SUSU are looking for up to 10 students who are interested in the Zero Waste Shop to give their thoughts on what they should sell. They’ll be holding a focus group on Tuesday 3 December at 15:00 (so you’ll need to be available then). If you’d like to be involved please email [email protected].
Remember, you’ll get an extra stamp on your hot drink loyalty card whenever you use your own cup in our catering outlets.
We’re monitoring the impact of all of these initiatives and will replicate the best examples across the rest of the University.
Our Environment & Sustainability team are always keen to hear you ideas and suggestions – especially if there’s a corner of the University where these changes haven’t reached yet.
Email them at [email protected] and follow their progress on Twitter.
You can read about our sustainability strategy here.
