SI 2.2.5 Evidence Program to Reduce the Use of Paper and Plastic in Campus

University Rating System (HURS)

University : Siam University

Country : Thailand

Web Address : https://sustainability.siam.edu

SI 2.2 Implementation of Waste Management Systems

[2.2.5] Program to reduce the use of paper and plastic on campus

Program 1) Reuse Paper Program with Double Side-Printing Program

Program 2) Reduce the Use of Paper with “LessPaper Program” and Research Database

Program 3) Campaign for Waste Separation and Recycling

Program 4) No Single-Used Plastic, Ecolife Application Campaign

Program 5) “Strong Siam” Application and Line Application

Program 6) Digical ID Card and e-Library

Program 7) Eco-Friendly items – cloth bags, mug, and personal drinking bottles

Program 8) Refill campaign at coffee shops and Happy Station campaign

Programs to Reduce the Use of Paper and Plastic in Campus (Siam University, Thailand)

Description:

Our university aims to reduce paper and single-use plastic in the campus under the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). At present, we promote 8 programs as follows:

1. Reuse Paper Program with Double Side-Printing Program. After the Office of the President starts the reuse paper policy and a double sided-printing paper few years ago, all departments and offices in the campus have followed the practice. In addition, all offices encourage their staff to print papers only when necessary.

2. LessPaper Application and “Google form”. We have adopted the “LessPaper Application” since 2019 and encourage all staff to use google form in order to reduce the use of paper in daily workplace. We also use online registration instead of face-to-face paper course/admission registration. Since March 2019, these programs have been used in the campus resulting in the use of paper was reduced to 75% of total usage. This means Siam University can also reduce CO₂ emissions and save the world.

3. Campaign for Waste Separation and Recycling. Siam University aims to reduce paper and plastic usage under the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) policy. It is estimated that our efforts on all these programs have led to the reduction of more than 80% of waste in the university. We have the Research Center for Community Development, Siam University supporting “Waste Separation and Recycling”, which is a program for the waste separation and recycling, aims to encourage our staff and students to separate the waste types, and to recycle inorganic waste, i.e., recycling plastic bottles and rubber tires used for new invention within the university and surroundings.

4. Ecolife Application for No Single Use Plastic Campaign. Siam University has signed a MOU with CP All Public Company Limited since July 5, 2018 to reduce single-used plastic via “Ecolife” Application within the campus. “Ecolife” Application is one of platforms that invites people to enjoy taking care of our planet through a nationwide network of green merchants, products and services (ECOMAP). It consists of 3 programs: 1) Refuse single-use plastics at various locations, 2) Returning waste at participating dumping points and 3) Jointly scanning trees for further planting in real areas. One can get ECOPOINT which can redeem benefits with Ecopets and ECOLAND collections from Ecolife application.

5. Strong Siam Application. This is the latest initiative of Siam University under the intention to promote paperless campus. We encourage all staff and students to receive many information through this application which can be downloaded from play store in mobile phone.

6. Online Library Service and e-Library. Siam University provides the online library service and e-library for teaching and learning to all students and staff. This service can reduce many papers for printing and copying.

7. Eco-Friendly Personal Cutlery Sets Campaign. Since our “SU Save the World Day” in 2017, Siam University continues to encourage “No Plastic” campaign in the campus. For instance, Osoth Siam Pharmacy runs by the Faculty of Pharmacy, still campaign that all people who come in the drug store will use cloth bags. Many “eco-friendly” products are now available in the University stores.

8. Refill Campaign. Coffee shops in the campus encourage all staff and students bring their own mug in order to get a discount 2 baht per mug for hot drink and 3 Baht per mug for cold drink. In addition, a Happy Station campaign was organized to encourage refill activity.

It is estimated that our efforts on all these programs have led to the reduction of more than 80% of waste in the university.