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Our Approach to Managing Single-Use Plastics on Our Exeter Campuses

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Our Approach to Managing Single-Use Plastics on Our Exeter Campuses Single-use plastics strategy Supporting the ‘Plastic Free Exeter’ campaign Our approach to managing single-use plastics on our Exeter campuses Foreward “I am delighted to support the “To address the challenge of Plastic Free Exeter campaign Plastics in Society we need a and the flagship Single-Use fundamental shift in the way Plastics Strategy that has been we design, use and recover developed by the University plastics. This requires a of Exeter. I am Professor of profound shift in the material Ecotoxicology in the College choices we make and of Life and Environmental Sciences and my deeper understanding at the outset of where research team has been at the forefront in plastics end up. We need to design out waste. studying the impact of marine plastic debris. The Exeter University campaign is an excellent We have yet to find a seawater sample from example of a building block for a new plastics anywhere in the world that doesn’t contain circular economy where nothing leaks into the microscopic pieces of plastic. Our research has oceans, air or land. I am delighted to support highlighted the harm that these tiny particles this initiative and helping to promote and cause to marine life and the potential for them amplify its impact. Congratulations to the to be taken up into the food chain. The best team and the University for taking leadership way to tackle this pollution problem is to on this topic.” stop litter reaching the sea in the first place, Professor Peter Hopkinson, Director, and this ground breaking campaign from the Exeter Centre for Circular Economy University’s Plastic Free Exeter campaign is a fantastic step in the right direction.” Professor Tamara Galloway, Chair in Ecotoxicology Introduction In May 2018, the University of Exeter became the Flagship Employer for the ‘Plastic Free Exeter’ campaign. As an organisation we are renowned for world leading research in the fields of plastics additives and marine plastic pollution and micro- plastics. This research has influenced and contributed directly to the filming of the Blue Planet 2 series. This presents a tremendous opportunity to showcase our achievements to date in addressing single-use plastics and to outline our plans for delivering our commitment to reduce single-use plastics on our Exeter campuses by 2020. The range of single-use plastics on our campuses is diverse and the issue of addressing them is a complex one. As an organisation, we recognise that we won’t be able to eliminate all single-use plastics however we will adopt a whole institution approach, apply circular economy principles, develop pragmatic solutions with impact and work in partnership with third parties who provide retail, catering and residential services on our campuses. This will ensure we use less single-use plastics, utilise alternative materials and adopt sustainable disposal solutions wherever possible. This is a joint plan which is supported by the University of Exeter and the Students’ Guild. A separate plan will be developed by FXPlus for the Penryn Campus. 01 Our commitments We will ensure that the best environmental outcome is achieved by adopting a hierarchical approach to managing single-use plastics. We will seek to reduce the amount of single-use plastics we use on our campuses by eliminating their use, reducing the Avoid amount we use or promoting reuse solutions. We will use sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics where practicable. Substitute We will ensure we have a sustainable waste management solution for those Recycle/ single-use plastics we use and seek to close the loop by purchasing products compost made from recycled materials. We will monitor national/regional markets for innovation and plastic free solutions and Innovation implement where feasible. 02 Working together • Seeking opportunities for knowledge exchange with our partners, suppliers and the wider sector. Initiatives will be established and monitored by project leads however the success of the strategy will be dependent on the • Sharing information and/or host workshops at key events such active participation of all staff and students. We will also work with as the staff festival, freshers’ fair, sustainable roadshows, etc. all relevant partners to encourage them to address single-use • Hosting seminars showcasing world class research. plastics on our campuses including: • Providing guidance and information on the Sustainability website. • Camper • Working with the Students’ Guild to develop single-use plastic • Costa behaviour change initiatives. • FXPlus • Integrating into relevant existing guidance and communications • INTO eg, Sustainable Event Guide, terms and conditions, Eco Conference Package. • Northcott Theatre • Pret a Manger Measuring success • UPP We will monitor the implementation of the plan internally • Other third party vendors via the Campus Environment Management Group and report annually to the Environmental Sustainability Dual Assurance Team and University Council. Education for sustainability We will develop clear key performance indicators and targets The University will provide opportunities to learn from the for the strategy. implementation of this strategy as well as provide opportunities for students to inform the direction of the strategy in the future. This will be achieved via the Grand Challenges Programme and Green Consultants initiative. Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals This plan supports the following UN Sustainable Our research Development Goals: We will seek new opportunities and continue our research into the impact of single-use plastics on marine and terrestrial life, the development of alternative materials and new ways to design, use and recover plastics. Our communication The University will provide opportunities for staff, students and visitors to learn more about single-use plastics, identify practical action that individuals can take to learn and to share best practice. This will include: • Cascading learning and highlighting achievements via the Plastic Free Exeter initiatives and relevant sector bodies such EAUC, TUCO, BACHE, etc. 03 Our commodity groups We will take action to address single-use plastics in the following commodity groups. Beverages Food Marketing materials, event consumables and printing Toiletries Cleaning Laboratory and hygiene products consumables products Other 04 These actions will be delivered by University of Exeter: Students’ Guild E&S Environment and Sustainability Adviser DCS Director of Commercial Services MO Assistant Director – Marketing Operations W&D Vice-President Welfare and Diversity P&C Print and Copy Services Manager D Head of Multimedia Design Studio EO Head of Event Operations FO Head of Facilities Operations C&R Director of Catering and Retail Services CS Assistant Director Commercial Services O Operations Manager (Hospitality) RS Retail Shops Manager TO Technical Operations Manager E Director of Engineering and Direct Works S Assistant Director of Sport 05 Avoid Substitute Recycle/compost Innovation Beverages Beverage bottles DONE? Actively promote DEC 2018 BY Introduce a range of the Refill Devon E C&R campaign refillable water bottles BY SEPT 2018 BY for sale in retail outlets and sports facilities DCS Review options for meal C&R MARCH 2019 BY deal switch outs and work with the National Union of DCS Promote reuse of Students to seek opportunities water bottles following O to enhance offerings in conferences and events BY MARCH 2019 BY Students’ Guild outlets BY MARCH 2019 BY Trial soft drinks Review options to encourage C&R staff to use local water O “self-refill” dispenser fountains for meetings BY MARCH 2019 BY BY DEC 2019 BY Introduce incentive Increase the scheme for booking number of water E pitches to reduce S fountains on campus water bottle usage BY JULY 2020 JULY BY BY DEC 2020 BY DONE? Offer cans of C&R Trial reverse vending for water for sale plastic bottles in sports S facilities BY JULY 2018 JULY BY Introduce a range of refillable water bottles for sale in retail S outlets and sports facilities BY JULY 2019 JULY BY Straws Replace plastic straws with C&R plant based alternatives (FSC approved if paper) DCS BY DEC 2018 BY 06 Avoid Substitute Recycle/compost Innovation Coffee cups Stirrers (disposable) BY OCT 2018 BY C&R C&R Ensure reusable tea Expand our range of spoons are available in DONE? reusable coffee cups in all restaurants and cafés DCS University of Exeter and DCS ACHIEVED Students’ Guild outlets P&C BY DEC 2018 BY Replace plastic stirrers C&R with FSC wooden Maintain the disposable C&R stirrers coffee cup charge of 25p in all University of DCS ACHIEVED Exeter and Students’ Guild outlets Investigate the feasibility of plant based and recyclable C&R coffee cup solutions and determine University of Exeter E&S Wine/beer BY FEB 2019 BY and Students’ Guild policy for retail, catering and vending glasses Trial a coffee cup recycling scheme on F DEC 2020 BY C&R our St Luke’s Campus Trial cup deposit BY MARCH 2019 BY scheme at large events DCS BY DEC 2019 BY Review recycling F facilities at large events Water cooler cups Replace with plant based or paper alternatives and C&R provide glass options in BY JAN 2019 BY hubs and restaurants 07 Avoid Substitute Recycle/compost Innovation Food Condiment Cutlery sachets Introduce a system of Replace all plastic cutlery DEC 2020 BY C&R DONE? providing sachets ‘on with either plant based C&R request’ to reduce number or wooden materials. DCS of items taken but not used Provide reusable cutlery DCS BY SEPT 2018 BY in restaurants Introduce
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