Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Responsible consumption and production introduces accountability towards both the producer and consumer by promoting more environmental and social methods to achieve sustainability.
Taking Action
Initiatives at Brock University
Brock U Sources Local Food for Market
The main cafeteria on campus uses local food to serve its students, staff, and faculty at Brock. They recognize the importance for using local foods and provide a list.
Installation of Refillable Water Stations
Installation of Refillable Water Stations at Brock was a way to promote the use of reusable water bottles and discourage use of plastic ones. There are stations located across campus to make it accessible for all to refill and reuse instead of produce more plastic.
ORGANIC WASTE DISPOSAL, COMPOSTING and WASTE DIVERSION
To help reduce waste to landfills, Brock University diligently sorts waste after students put items on the conveyor belt in their main cafeteria. They also provide compost bins throughout main food locations in the school.
Recycling at Brock university comes in a variety of forms, along with more common forms of recycling Brock also has areas to recycle more concerning items like ink cartridges and batteries. They additionally identify common items that were wrongly thrown in the garbage and used this to promote proper waste management. Brock is proud to have a pulper which separates biodegradable and compostable items, that can be pulped and placed in organic bins. The success accounts for an equivalent of 10 garbage bags reduced to 1. Click here to learn more about Brock’s waste diversion initiatives.
Support Local and Shop in Season
Supporting local farmers and shopping for seasonal produce also proves to have many benefits, as well can be easy to do with so many fruits largely produced in the Niagara Peninsula. This allows people to support food systems that will better the community and contributes to lower environmental impact.
Initiatives in the Niagara Region
Niagara’s agriculture is exploding with initiatives to become sustainable.
Niagara Canada
Niagara Canada recognizes the well adapt land in the region for agriculture and works to promotes agri-businesses. They look to create innovative ideas to improve the industry and have partnered with Brock University and Niagara College to gain research in the area.
Shop at Local Farmers Markets
Niagara Region has several Farmers Markets where community members can support their local farmers and receive the freshest products. Locations and times are available through the Niagara Region’s Farmers Markets page.
Niagara Local Food Action Plan
Niagara Local Food Action Plan accounts for the huge importance agricultural has on the economy. They focus on making ways to improve sustainable measure in the industry and promote responsible production.
Individual Actions
Current projections of global population growth indicate we will require almost three Earths to provide natural resources to sustain current lifestyles.
Did you know agriculture is the largest polluting industry followed by the textile industry according to the UN sustainable consumption and production page?
Over 1/3 of the food produced globally is thrown away and is a large contributor to climate change.
Fast fashion is the consumers demand for quick and inexpensive fashion that is typically of low quality. This trend creates an average of 81 pounds of textile to landfills in North America. Avoid fast fashion by donating, upcycling, repairing, and selling your clothing.
- Help reduce and eliminate food waste in your home. Plan meals ahead to reduce your waste and stay diligent to use oldest products first to prevent foods from expiring.
- Know your food. Some foods release gases while ripening that can lead to spoilage. By storing these away properly away from other foods, you can prevent early spoilage.
- Be creative to use all your food before expiring! Make smoothies out of overripe fruit.
- Use Brock’s Green 2 Go program to divert waste produced by take out containers.
- Drink tap water when possible.
- Use cold water when doing laundry.
- Take shorter showers and limit use of baths.
- Reduce your meat consumption.
- Buy recyclable items.
- Recycle! Know where to put your waste whether it is a green, grey, or blue bin and try to stop throwing items in the garbage.
- Shop from sustainable and local companies. Not only do you help the local businesses, but it also discourages companies to exploit workers in developing countries seen in many fashion enterprises and push them to adopt sustainable practices.
- Be creative and repurpose items you would normally throw away!
- For example, a tin can could be decorated and transformed into a flowerpot.
- Advocate for restaurants and hotels to partner with community centres so food is not going to waste.
