Sustainable success

Sustainability Month is in full swing with many activities and initiatives already proving successful. While UWS aims to have sustainability at the heart of all it does, for the whole month of August the Office of Sustainability and uwsconnect are bringing the topic to the foreground.

On 1 August, Sustainability Month was launched along with a new range of "green" products, which are available for purchase from uwsconnect stores. The range includes notebooks, bamboo coasters, pens, erasers, lecture pads — even photo frames.

Each product underwent a stringent selection process to ensure minimal impact on the environment — from its raw materials to manufacture and end-of-life management. Each product had to be made from at least 20 per cent recycled materials and, once they are to ready to be disposed of, needed to be at least 70 per cent recyclable.

"The sales uptake has been positive," says Jo Quinn, uwsconnect Events and Student Clubs Coordinator. "Staff have expressed particular interest in the Recycled Art competition, product launch and the UWS Community Cookbook."

Students are also taking Sustainability Month onboard with their studies. "The promotion and running of this initiative brings the issues to the fore and encourages students to interact with the events held throughout the month and to possibly take this further, as they realise the importance of acting on sustainability issues sooner rather than later," says Luke Lau, President of the Student Representative Council.

Assistant Treasurer and Federal Member for Lindsay, David Bradbury attended the launch at Connect Central on the Kingswood campus. "Universities right across Australia will be looking to UWS as a leader in campus sustainability and green innovation," he said. "UWS is making a strong contribution to Australia's cleaner environmental future by increasing its energy efficiency, investing in sustainable products and promoting environmental awareness."

Many more activities occurred throughout Sustainability Month, including trivia competitions, Minute 2 Win It competitions, Recycle Craft workshop (a workshop where recycled materials are available for staff and students to create their own artwork — a different project will be on offer each week), free seed giveaways, Public Space Recycling Launch, a bushwalk, the UWS Community Cookbook launch and a clothing swap-and-sell market and free fruit days.

The future of the environment depends on every individual taking control and making change. What are you waiting for? Get involved!

During Sustainability Month, activities will be happening across all campuses.