Embracing Sustainability: BYO Campaigns
Are you ready to take on a challenge this academic year? Consider minimizing disposable waste by adopting BYO (Bring Your Own). By bringing your own water bottle, coffee cup, and food container, you can help conserve the environment by reducing the campus waste sent to landfills.
The HKUST Sustainability/Net-Zero Office has launched a series of campaigns to support students and staff in taking BYO actions. The Green Gift Giveaway campaign for students aims to distribute reusable items, including colorful water bottles featuring themes of campus biodiversity that highlight commonly found animals and insects. Additionally, thermal mugs made from coffee grounds keep your drinks warm while adding a personal touch, and cutlery sets remind you to consume resources sustainably while savoring your meals mindfully.
Did you know that our university has banned the sale and discourage the use of single-use bottled water under one liter since 2018? This initiative aims to create a plastic bottle-free campus environment. By bringing your own cup, you can also save as much as $120 in a month if you buy coffee daily, thanks to discounts offered by campus outlets.
For the first time, newly designed reusable glass food containers are available for free to all HKUST staff members. The message on the containers, “HKUST Lunch Club,” emphasizes our community's commitment to reducing disposable lunchboxes and keeping meals or leftovers fresh, all while enjoying discounts for BYO.
If you forget your food container, you can take advantage of the lunchbox lending program. Three sets of vending machines on campus allow you to borrow reusable lunchboxes, bowls, and cutlery for a refundable deposit of $20. This saves you the hassle of washing and carrying containers around. The lending machines are located outside the LG1 canteen, outside the LG7 canteen, and outside Passione /LT-D, with return machines in the atrium (near lift 2), outside Passione/LT-D, and LG5 near the bridge link.
Every day, we make choices, and we can be mindful of every action we take together.
