Plastic-Free July Week 2: Reducing plastic waste on campus
Plan ahead to support your plastic-free day on campus! Preparing with more sustainable practices at home and taking advantage of resources at TMU sets the stage for a successful day on the go. Simple actions like making sure you have easy access to a reusable water bottle and bags and choosing products with minimal packaging can make a big difference towards plastic-free, zero-waste goals.
Beginner challenge: Add a reusable mug or bottle to your leave-the-house routine
If reusable cups replaced single-use cups consistently, it could have a major impact on carbon emissions. Bring a reusable coffee mug or water bottle for all your beverage needs this week and invite your coworkers to join in. Take a group photo with your reusable bottles and mugs and share it to show your plastic-free spirit by tagging the Sustainability Office's Iinstagram: @tmusustainability (external link) or email us at sustainability@torontomu.ca.
Expert challenge: Build a zero-waste kit
Zero-waste kits are portable sets of reusable and sustainable items that prevent the need for single-use or disposable items and promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Create a zero-waste kit with reusable versions of the essentials items you reach for every day:
- Reusable cutlery (fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks)
- Insulated coffee mug mug or bottle for hot or cold beverages
- Cloth napkin
- Reusable grocery bag or mesh produce bag
- Take advantage of dishes and cutlery already available in office kitchens to reduce what you carry
Many of these items may already be in your homes, just package them in a compact to-go bag that fits in your backpack, briefcase or shoulder bag so you always have what you need at hand and can reduce your reliance on single-use plastics.
Highlighting initiatives that support waste reduction on campus
Discounts for bringing your own reusable mug
In Canada, around 1.6 billion coffee cups and lids are discarded annually because they are lined with lightweight plastic making them unsuitable for recycling. By using a reusable coffee mug, you can significantly reduce this waste. Plus, TMU Eats offer a 10-cent discount and some coffee shops around campus also offer discounts for bringing your own mug!
TMU Eats reusable Friendlier container program
During the Fall and Winter terms, TMU Eats provides a sustainable alternative to single-use takeout containers with the Friendlier Reusable Container Solution (external link) , a Canadian, woman-owned company. These containers are reusable up to 100 times and this program has diverted 105,655 kg of plastic waste to date in Canada.
Here’s how it works:
- Pay a 50-cent refundable deposit when you order your meal at TMU's Hub Café.
- Enjoy your meal.
- Use the Friendlier app to scan the container.
- Place the container in a Friendlier collection bin — no need to wash or rinse!
- Request a refund payout on the Friendlier app to get your deposit back within a few weeks.
Encourage and Inspire: reflect and share your insights
Share your findings with the TMU community. Highlight any unexpected discoveries, actions taken or lessons learned by sharing your experiences through conversations, social media posts and tagging us (@TMUsustainability (external link) ), or by emailing us directly at sustainability@torontomu.ca. It could be shared in a roundup email at the end of the challenge.
Your contributions can inspire others across campus to embark on their Plastic-Free July journey!
#PlasticFreeJuly