The USU is committed to a sustainable future for our campus community and has made commitments ensuring sustainability is embedded into everything we provide – from our events and cafés to our student programs and facilities.

Here is a list of what we are doing so far:

• •  All USU venues use #IAMNOTPAPER compostable and biodegradable single use cups and lids
• •  We use BioPak compostable tableware and packaging in all USU venues as well as working towards removing all single use plastic kitchens and bars
• •  We uitlise Bettercup resuable cup deposit at Manning and Hermanns bar for any live music event to eliminate single use plastic in our bars
• •  We utilise Green Caffeen reusable cup swap and go app system in all USU cafes & encourage all our customers to BYO cup at all times
• •  In partnership with USYD Grounds we have introduced an organics waste program in the Holme Building to recover our coffee grounds, food waste and organic waste. We hope to see this expand to other areas on campus
• •  All ticketed events we run on campus for USU events are sold via Humanitix
• •  In collaboration with the SRC, we manage and provide USYD Food Hub at Level 4 Wentworth Building (outside ISL) to support our student community
• •  We implement a Sustainable Events Policy that includes a full ban of balloons at Festivals & any USU event as well as ensuring reduced waste and better energy usage
• •  We have eliminated plastic straws in our bars and outlets and only offer compostable paper straws
• •  We have eliminated 80% of plastic bottle waste in our outlets where we now use The Juggler milk tap system in 6 venues
• •  We use BioPak compostable tableware exclusively via our USU eats Food Truck for every event
• •  We always provide a minimum 50% plant based options via our USU eats Food Truck and are looking to introduce Meat Free Monday’s in USU venues in 2023 
• •  We offer a discount of 50 cents when you BYO a bowl at Courtyard, Abercrombie, Carslaw and Laneway
• USU Rewards members get 35 cents when they BYO a cup or mug
• •  We have a mug wall at Courtyard where customers may borrow a reusable cup
• •  We provide a container deposit scheme in 4 key buildings to capture bottles and cans
• •  We have introduced a coffee ground reuse program at our outlets
• •  We regularly offer free food to USU members via USUeats social media to reduce retail food wastage in our outlets
• •  We offer USYD Frank Green reusable cups and UNTRASHY reusable straws at an affordable price
• •  We support and donate to Oz Harvest
• •  Regular volunteer days with Oz Harvest and Eat Up Australia
• •  We are working to phase out most single use plastics in our retail venues and are committed to the Plastic Free Campus initiative
• •  Our USYD Hoodies are 100% Ethical Australia sourced 
• •  Our bread is supplied by the Bread and Butter Project, Australia’s first social enterprise bakery
• •  Our major partner is ALL G Foods – Australia’s leading alternate protein company
• •  We have committed to City of Sydney’s Zero Waste Sydney Single Use Plastic Pledge
• •  We have committed to City of Sydney’s Love Food Sydney project
• •  We regularly partner with FoodLab Sydney to deliver mentorship, training and opportunity for participants and are recognised as Key Partner
• •  Introduced a community recycling collection hub within Level 2 Wentworth Building 
•  
•  

In our effort to become more sustainable we have partnered with companies who share similar social, environment and ecological goals:

• •  Sydney Environment Institute @sydneyenvironmentinstitute

• •  Food Lab Sydney @foodlabsydney

• •  Milk Lab @milklabco

• •  Vittoria Coffee @vittoria_coffee

• •  Humanitix @humanitix

• •  Plate It Forward @plateitforward_

• •  Colombo Social @colombosocial

• •  OzHarvest @ozharvest

• •  Food Bank @foodbankaus

• •  The Bread and Butter Project @thebreadandbutterproject

• •  I AM NOT PAPER @iamnot.paper

• •  Terracycle @terracycleaus

• •  Bio Pak @biopak.packaging

• •  Six Simple Machines @sixsimplemachines

• •  Bring Me Home @bringmehome.au

• •  Untrashy @untrashy_

• •  Farmwall @farm_wall

• •  Frank Green @frankgreen_official

• •  The Hidden Sea Wine @thehiddenseawine

• •  Ink Art Hunter @inkhunterartist

• •  Eat Up Australia @eatupaustralia