Deakin to remove plastic straws from campus food venues

Plastic drinking straws will no longer be available for general use at food venues on campus from Wednesday 1 August 2018.*

Deakin Organisational Sustainability Manager Emma Connan said the plastic straw ban initiative was part of the University's ongoing commitment to promoting sustainability and minimising environmental impact.

"Removing plastic straws from Deakin is another step towards our goal of sustainable campuses, driving improvements in our communities, and doing our bit to contribute to making the world a better place for those who come after us," Ms Connan said.

"Sustainability is one of Deakin's core values – we care about our shared future, and we recognise that universities have a responsibility to lead the way not only as employers, but as educators of students and members of the wider community."

Australians produce 107kg of plastic waste per person each year, with only about 14 per cent of that waste recovered through recycling efforts, according to the most recent National Waste Report prepared for the Australian Government.

Ms Connan said Deakin was proud to be a signatory of the university commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and its agenda for the achievement of sustainable development by 2030.

"Deakin recognises the challenges facing the world, and that's why we're integrating economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability in all that we do," she said.

"We're undertaking research to create solutions to sustainable development challenges, providing educational opportunities for our students to acquire the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development, and promoting the principles of sustainability within our communities by ensuring our campuses and programs are environmentally sustainable and inclusive."

The recently-released Deakin Sustainability Report and Outlook 2017 detailed how the University intends to reduce its emissions, water consumption and waste to landfill, and achieve its sustainability goals for 2020, 2025 and 2030.

Other initiatives include the approval of a 7.25 MW renewable smart energy microgrid for Waurn Ponds campus, an organic food waste recycling system, specially-developed Sustainable Built Environment Principles adopted for all new buildings, and a new smart irrigation system at the Waurn Ponds campus that will save approximately 43,000 kilolitres of water per year.

Head to deakin.edu.au/students/your-campus/organisational-sustainability to find out more about Deakin’s sustainability efforts.

*Deakin recognises some of our allies in the community require a straw to drink, and will ensure appropriate options continue to be made available. Recyclable/biodegradable straws will be used in place of plastic straws for select drinks such as smoothies.