Hi Hazel, 

 

Please find below responses to your questions from our Services team:

 

Introduce more plastic-free products in the main shop.

We constantly do this already and will continue to do our very best to carry on reducing the amount of products that use plastic packaging. We are currently investigating more eco-friendly products with manufacturers but have yet to find one that satisfies all our needs. We have however switched where possible to plant based plastics and compostable disposables whilst encouraging people to use reusable containers wherever possible.

Stock items such as canned water instead of plastic bottles.

We will look into this further, but agree any reduction in plastic bottles is a step in the right direction.

Replace all plastic cutlery with wooden equivalents.

We have committed to this already, we are just running down on current stocks and once they have gone they will be replaced with wooden equivalents.

Ask the farmers' market to replace plastic carrier bags and punnets with paper and cardboard.

We have already, I will ask the Facilities manager  to re-ask the stall holders.

Offer paper bags for bakery items.

We do already, they have a clear vision panel in to assist the servers to charge the correct amounts at the tills. We are looking for a clearer plant based plastic vision panel but have yet to find one on the market.

Replace sauce sachets with refillable pumps.

We are in the process of doing this and just running down current stock levels.

Swap regular bin liners around the university for biodegradable ones.

This is something the university should be lobbied for, all SUSU ones are already, I would be surprised if the university ones are not?

 

 

 

If you would like to be involved in sustainability projects/ student voice advocacy about these topics please do come to the next Sustainability Zone meeting, taking place 26th November 1pm-3pm. 

 

Best wishes, 

 

Isabella Camilleri

VP Welfare

University of Southampton Students' Union

 

Hi Hazel, 

 

Thank you for your submission, full of great suggestions. I can answer a few, but have forwarded on the majority to our services team. Once I receive a response I will update you. 

 

1) Make a bottle bank where you can get 5p for recycling a bottle or stamps on a card to get free drinks on campus.

I have looked into this, following Leeds University being the first to do it in the UK! But in order to do this the local council must be involved- so we are looking to work with them on trying to get bottle banks here!

 

2) Add water fountain markers to the campus maps in the MySouthampton app.

We are looking to get gender neutral toilet locations on this, so as we have discussions about that I will ensure to lobby for your idea. 

 

Once I have received a response from the services team, I can answer your other questions/ suggestions.

 

Many thanks, 

 

Isabella Camilleri

VP Welfare

University of Southampton Students' Union