Join us | Awareness and commitment | Sustainability on campus

What can you do?

The University is looking to create ways to encourage sustainable behaviour. We have drawn up tips on all these themes: Energy, Waste, Food and Drink, Water, and Procurement! For a list of all tips, click here:

Food and drink

Use your own cup for your coffee or tea. The sensor will identify your cup and won’t dispense a plastic cup.
If you're using a glass, make sure you cover the sensor for a second. The sensor cannot recognise glass and will not dispense your beverage of choice.
Choose vegetarian or vegan options from the canteens/restaurants
Eat less meat. You can substitute red meat by eating more chickpeas, lentils and beans, unsalted nuts and/or eggs.
Eat fish from sustainable sources (note the MSC or ASC label)
Try topping your sandwich with vegetables, peanut butter or hummus instead of dairy
Drink more tap water instead of bottled water
Waste as little food as possible. Smart shopping. Don't throw away products with an expired use before date straight away.
Buy seasonal, local fruits & vegetables.
You can visit the Nutrition Centre to determine your food footprint. What is the environmental impact of your diet?

Mobility

Come to the UT by foot or by bike.
Take the stairs instead of the lift. Too many floors? Then walk on your way down.
Carpool to work
For medium-distance commutes, consider switching from the car to an e-bike
Business travel: see if there is an alternative to air travel (video conferencing or the train)

Procurement

Discuss possibilities to take environmental requirements into account when purchasing products
When purchasing products, pay attention to the energy consumption or energy label of the product in question
Prioritize companies with sustainable business processes

Water

Cut a minute off your showers.
Use a water-saving tap and shower head.
Close the tap as quickly as possible.
Do not use the toilet as a bin: contact lenses, tampons and deep-frying fat don't belong there.
Drink tap water instead of bottled water
Use rainwater, connect a rain barrel. Lime-free water is also better for your plants.

Energy

Turn off devices and turn off the light when you leave a room, or when you don't need them / aren’t using them
When purchasing new equipment, pay attention to energy performance.
Unplug chargers from the wall socket when they are not in use.
See whether you could turn down the heating a little?
See what you can do to prevent it from getting too hot or too cold inside. Consider closing doors when the heating is on, for instance, and using blinds to keep out the heat on hot days.

Waste

Prevent waste. Drink tap water instead of bottled water
Buy products with minimal packaging. Buy your fruit and vegetables unpackaged at the market.
Reuse products or look for reusable alternatives
Compost biodegradable waste (kitchen waste)
If you’re still left with waste, dispose of it in the correct waste bin. If the waste is separated properly, it’s easier to recycle.

Tips and suggestions?

Do you want to contribute to making the campus more sustainable? Do you have any ideas, tips or suggestions? Contact us by sending an e-mail to: sustainability@utwente.nl

Sustain

The 2018/2019 academic year saw the inception of the university’s first sustainable student association: Sustain. Sustain’s objective is to improve sustainability at the UT and in the surrounding area. You can find out more about Sustain on Facebook or Instagram.

Sustainability week

Sustainability Week 2020 was organised by ROC van Twente, Saxion and the UT, in collaboration with the municipalty of Enschede, several organisations, students and staff. Next year again? To contribute your ideas or help, send an e-mail to sustainability@utwente.nl.