Schools and colleges are not spared the impacts of plastic. Just think of the everyday items used there: backpacks, bags, plastic bottles, writing utensils, folders, pens. Then there’s all that food packaging – bags, cups, containers, and disposable bottles are all made of plastic and all end up in the trash.
At the same time, schools and colleges are really good places to find like-minded people and together do something to combat the plastic crisis. How can we reduce or avoid our use of plastic? What can be replaced by plastic-free items? Glass or stainless steel bottles are a good alternative to plastic bottles. Envelopes can be easily folded together from paper. Food can be packed in beeswax cloth wraps, screw-top jars, or plastic-free cans. Vending machines, which produce plastic waste with every purchase, can be avoided. There are many different things that we can change, as shown by Plastic Free Campus, an initiative that supports schools and colleges around the world in the fight against single-use plastic. Everything you need to know is taught in online course modules: general information about plastic, how to organize collections at school or college, choosing the right strategy for separating waste, and other organizations that support the campaign.
If a school or college does something to become plastic-free and more sustainable, everyone ultimately benefits. Inspire others – in your class, on your course, through the student council or representative – and get going!
Any school or college can register. Once a teacher has confirmed the project, the Plastic Free Campus team will begin mentoring the group on the modules. A course can be incorporated into a class or run outside of school hours. At the end, the school or college receives a Plastic Free Campus certificate. It’s a big step towards making the daily environment more sustainable and also healthier, but above all plastic-free.
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GlossaryDisposable Campus