Action plan to reducing plastic waste
14.4.2
SDG14
NCKU's action plan to reducing plastic waste
In response to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in alignment with the government's plastic reduction policies, NCKU's on-campus food vendors are required to comply with plastic reduction regulations in their commercial contracts to achieve environmental sustainability goals.
"Sustainability is a way of life." Research conducted by Assistant Professor Hsin-Tien Lin's team from NCKU's Department of Environmental Engineering found that reducing plastic packaging for supermarket fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce waste. Hsin-Tien Lin stated that by making environmentally conscious choices in our daily lives, such as reducing plastic packaging, each individual can contribute to a more environmentally friendly direction.
- NCKU strengthens advocacy for source reduction and recycling efforts.
NCKU promotes a sustainable campus by reinforcing “waste reduction at the source” and proper recycling. Recently, improper disposal of food waste and household trash in recycling bins has created difficulties in processing. The university urges everyone to adopt eco-friendly habits, such as bringing reusable cups and utensils, rinsing food containers before recycling, and ensuring laboratory or construction waste is handled properly by contractors. Clear labeling and categorized bins are emphasized, alongside cooperation with campus garbage and recycling collection. Recyclables include paper, plastics, PET bottles, aluminum and tin cans, glass containers, as well as hazardous items like batteries and fluorescent tubes. These measures aim to improve recycling efficiency and foster a greener campus environment.- Ming-Shan Chung and Hsin-Ying Chou from the Department of Industrial Design at National Cheng Kung University received the Golden Pin Concept Design Award – Special Award, creating an outer box made from recycled pulp and surplus fruit peels.
Associate Professor Chiu Tseng-Ping from the Department of Industrial Design at National Cheng Kung University, together with students Ming-Shan Chung and Hsin-Ying Chou, received a Golden Pin Concept Design Award – Special Award. They pointed out that conventional fruit gift boxes often contain plastic foam and other waste just to maintain the fruits’ appearance. Must gift-giving always come with waste? In response, they created an outer box made from recycled pulp and surplus fruit peels. With a fully paper-based suspended cushioning design, their work offers a brand-new vision for sustainable gifting.
- Starting from Campus: NCKU Architecture Department Pioneers the Ban of Styrofoam for Models in a Move Toward Eco-Friendliness.
To promote waste reduction, starting from the first semester of the 2019 academic year, the Department of Architecture at NCKU prohibited students from using polystyrene materials to make models. This action aligns with environmental protection initiatives and the concept of a circular economy, demonstrating that environmental friendliness begins in the classroom.
- The announcement of reducing plastic waste, following the government’s standard.
To reduce the use of plastic products and work towards a sustainable environment, NCKU has been actively promoting waste reduction at the source and waste separation and recycling.