Sustainability
USU is committed to a sustainable future, ensuring best practices are embedded into everything we provide, from our events and cafes to our student programs and facilities.
Here is a list of what we're doing so far:
We provide and manage the USYD Food Hub at Level 3 Wentworth Building to support our student community. This service as provided food support to over 6000 students already in 2023. Food is sourced for several key partners including Foodbank, Coco and Lucas and Second Bite
Introduced Refilled to USYD campus - a sustainable beverage ecosystem that eliminates single-use plastics bottles
Developed a sustainable USYD apparel range with each garment made from 30 plastic bottles available in USYD Store online and on campus
Our coffee is Rainforest Alliance Fairtrade supplied by Vittoria Coffee with $1 from every bag sold going directly to Oz Harvest
All USU venues use #IAMNOTPAPER compostable biodegradable single-use cups and lids
BioPak compostable tableware and packaging is used in all USU venues
We have introduced the Green Caffeen reusable cup swap and go system to all USU cafes
We offer a 50-cent discount when you BYO a bowl at Courtyard, Abercrombie, Carslaw and Laneway
We have a mug wall at Courtyard where customers may borrow a reusable cup
Our bars operate with zero plastic and provide a reusable cup deposit system using bettercup
We provide a container deposit scheme in four key buildings to capture bottles and cans for recycling
We have introduced a coffee ground reuse program at our outlets
In partnership with USYD Grounds, we have introduced an organic waste recovery program in the Holme Building
We have eliminated plastic straws in our bars and outlets and offer #iamnotplastic straws on request
We have eliminated 80% of plastic bottle waste in our outlets where we now use The Juggler milk tap system
We use BioPak compostable tableware and packaging in our outlets and Food Truck
Our USU Food Truck always provides a minimum of 50% plant-based food options and will always seek to provide options for Halal and Gluten Free dietary requirements
We support and donate to Oz Harvest
We run regular volunteer days to support Oz Harvest and Eat Up Australia
We are committed to the Plastic Free Campus initiative and are working to phase out single-use plastics in our retail venues
Our USYD Hoodies are 100% Ethical Australia sourced
All ticketed events we run on campus through our C&S program are sold via Humanitix
We have a full ban on balloons at Festivals
We have committed to City of Sydney’s Zero Waste Single Use Plastic Pledge and Love Food Sydney project
Frequently support & partner with FoodLab Sydney – a non profit kitchen incubator
We have Introduced a community recycling collection hub within Level 2 Wentworth Building