UniPadova Plastic-Free Project

Since 2019, the University of Padua has eliminated single-use plastic in the food and beverage distribution service. The project contributes to the #StopSingleUsePlastic campaign which arose from the 2019 agreement signed by the CRUI (Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities) with the Marevivo Association and CoNISMa - National Interuniversity Consortium for Science.

Project phases

1. Installation of 50 water dispensers, connected to the urban water network supply. Simultaneously, there was the removal of plastic bottles from food and beverage vending machines, which has had an estimated reduction of 350,000 pieces per year.
2. Distribution of 18,000 stainless steel water bottles to students in the 2019-2020 academic year.
3. Replacement of plastic materials (cups, coffee stirrers, bottles) in favor of ecological alternatives in vending machines, which has an estimated saving of 2 million pieces per year. 

Other actions

During university events and meetings, plastic bottles and cups were replaced with glass, paper or compostable cups and bottles.

In the 2021-2022 period, more water dispensers were installed in the Athenaeum facilities, increasing the total count to 69 devices.

For more information, please consult the following link - Plastic Free - UniPadova Sostenibile (unipd.it)