Opportunities and Challenges for Transitioning Out of Single-Use Plastic Items for Advancing towards a Zero-Waste Campus

The Federal Government in Canada announced to ban harmful single-use plastics in 2019. University of Calgary has undertaken responsible stewardship towards sustainable development through the creation of a “zero-waste” campus vision. Eliminating the use of single-use plastics on the campus would directly contribute towards the goal. Dr. Irene Herremans and Kruti Mukesh working with Nature’s Ride (partner organization) have been working on a project for the last 18 months with the Office of Sustainability, a group of student volunteers, and the Facilities Department at UCalgary. The aim of the project is to conduct research to inform and develop policy for transitioning out of single-use plastics and advance towards creation of a zero-waste campus. The research project has the potential to advance into a real-time initiative on campus in collaboration with all the food and beverage vendors who are the primary stakeholders. The proposed internship will help to build on the previous work to prepare an article for publication in the International Journal of Sustainability for Higher Education or another appropriate journal.

Faculty Supervisor:

Irene Herremans

Student:

Partner:

Nature's Ride through Art Society

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Calgary

Program: