Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
1. The current domestic food culture, the post-epidemic stage, and the rise of delivery platforms. Today, with the high proportion of takeaway delivery, many disposable products are produced. In the campus environment, teachers, staff and students should provide their own tableware (containers, tableware, packaging, etc.) Or the act of using recycled tableware can effectively reduce the generation of disposable products and waste, and promote environmental friendliness. 2. Based on the principles of caring for the Earth and sustainable development, we aim to reduce the use of single-use utensils and have implemented a policy prohibiting the provision of single-use plastic straws for both dine-in and take-out. 3. This is how we start caring for the Earth → The cafeteria promotes environmental protection on campus by starting with "waste reduction." 4. We begin with waste sorting and resource recycling, focusing on reduction, reuse, and recycling as the main methods to establish a recycling mindset and cultivate good habits for practicing environmental protection in daily life.
Results/Contributions

1. Implementation of NTHU restrictions on the use of shopping plastic bags:

(1) To reduce the use of single-use products on campus, we do not provide or offer shopping plastic bags for free. We promote the use of reusable shopping bags and encourage faculty and students to reduce plastic usage by starting with "reusable items instead of single-use ones."

(2) In accordance with the Environmental Protection Administration's announcement on "the target, implementation method, and implementation date for the restriction on the use of shopping plastic bags," campus stores and restaurants are required not to actively ask consumers whether they would like to purchase shopping plastic bags. Instead, we promote bringing personal shopping bags or purchasing one for 1-2 NT dollars when needed.

(3) These regulations are incorporated into the contracts and guidelines with campus stores and food vendors.

2. Implementation of NTHU restrictions on the use of disposable utensils:

(1) NTHU is committed to sustainable environmental development and has established green environmental protection measures to reduce the use of single-use disposable utensils. We continuously promote and encourage all faculty and students to bring their own eco-friendly utensils for takeout, aiming to enhance environmental protection and awareness of caring for the Earth.

(2) In accordance with the guidelines on "the targets and implementation methods for restricting the use of disposable utensils," we encourage faculty and students to bring their own containers for takeout and offer discounts as an incentive.

3. Implementation of NTHU restrictions on the use of single-use plastic straws:

(1) In accordance with the Environmental Protection Administration's announcement on "the targets and implementation methods for restricting the use of single-use plastic straws," campus restaurants have implemented a policy of not providing single-use plastic straws for dine-in consumption, and this policy is included in contracts with vendors.

(2) Based on the principles of caring for the Earth and sustainable development, our school has not only stopped providing single-use plastic straws for dine-in since January 1, 2020, but has also gone beyond the Environmental Protection Administration's requirements by implementing a policy of "prohibiting the provision of single-use plastic straws for both dine-in and takeout." This initiative was promoted starting in November 2019 and officially implemented on January 1, 2020.

4. Implementation of restrictions on the use of single-use products within NTHU:

(1) In order to promote campus resource recycling, in conjunction with the "Hsinchu Environmental event” held by the Hsinchu City Government, as well as the delivery of reusable lunch boxes/cups activity, encouraging students and faculty to bring their own utensils to reduce the use of disposable products.

(2) Continuously consulting with the Hsinchu City Environmental Protection Bureau to obtain information on food vendors providing reusable tableware, to meet the needs of various units. Following the measures of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment, monthly statistics on implementation and reporting to the Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan were conducted. Results for 2024: a total of 352 meetings, training sessions, and activities were reported, with a total of 1,446 environmentally friendly lunch boxes used and a total of 12,822 instances of not using packaged water or paper cups.

(3) NTHU prepared a special gift for each new student: an eco-friendly utensils set that includes stainless steel chopsticks, a spoon, a fork, and a glass food container. The campus snack bar, Shui Mu Restaurant, and Feng Yun Building Restaurant all offer various discounts for students who bring their own utensils, ranging from 2 to 5 NT dollars off. At the same time, each student dining hall has set up handwashing stations for students to clean their utensils.

(4) Promote the use of sustainable products and replace disposable plastic products with lunch boxes, drink cups, and straws made of biodegradable materials such as plant fiber, sugar cane, corn, and cassava flour.

5. Resource Recycling and Reuse:

(1) Waste Sorting: Waste is sorted into "recyclable" and "non-recyclable" categories for processing.

(2) Resource Recycling: Various recycling bins are set up for items such as paper, tin cans, aluminum foil, plastic bottles, paper takeout boxes, and paper cups, which are collected by a waste management company to reduce resource waste.

Keywords
single-use disposablesCycle tablewarereducing plastic waste
References
1. https://nesh.site.nthu.edu.tw/p/405-1009-217810,c18963.php?Lang=en

National Tsing Hua University Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety and Health Management Policy

Contact Information
吳瑞祥
jhwu@mx.nthu.edu.tw