Getting a drink: An experiment for enabling a sustainable practice in Thai university settings

Thongplew, Natapol; Kotlakome, Ratchawut

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.006

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…We are aware that implementing ESD principles is not an easy task; however, a coherent strategy that involves targeted actions could lead to significant changes to students' perceptions and sustainable behavior. Moreover, a worldwide view on sustainable initiatives taken by a significant number of universities could provide valuable lessons such as: (1) applying an environmental management system [23]; (2) promoting environmental protection actions (e.g., planting trees [46], use of stainless steel water bottles to replace disposable bottles [91], reduce water consumption [44], etc.) or (3) funding sustainability projects [92].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior

et al. 2020

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Education for sustainable development (ESD) has presented long-lasting interest for researchers and policy makers. Despite a significant body of research, more in depth empirical studies are required for a better understanding of how sustainable development goals are applied in higher education and how sustainable behavior could be shaped via ESD. The need for this kind of research arises from, first, the scarceness of existing studies that explore economic and business higher education, and, second, the necessity to properly assess the connection between ESD principles and students’ behavior. Following this rationale, the present paper aims to provide an overview of how students’ sustainable behaviors are shaped via their perception of sustainable campus initiatives, teaching staff involvement and curricula. Statistical and econometric analysis applied on data collected via a survey on students from Bucharest University of Economic Studies (N = 1253) provides findings on the extent to which the awareness of sustainable development-specific issues acquired through education leads to sustainable behavior among students. According to the results, we argue that an increasing share of sustainable development topics combined with teaching staff involvement to raise awareness of sustainability issues are crucial to students’ sustainable behavior. However, on-campus actions are unlikely to change behavior unless they are optional rather than compulsory. Our findings ratify that, since education is one of the main drivers of sustainable development, there is an urgent need for coherence in shaping higher education according to sustainability issues.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior

et al. 2020

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“…The concept of systems of provision offers insights to reorganize current provision systems into more sustainable ones. Therefore, the concept has been widely applied to analyze changes and dynamics of the provision system (in relation to consumption practices of citizen-consumers) for promoting environmental sustainability, sustainable consumption and green university (Liu et al , 2013; Naus et al , 2014; Thongplew and Kotlakome, 2019).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework For Understanding Consumers and Their Plate Waste At University Canteensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To exert the power of citizen-consumers for pursuing sustainable initiatives, it is vital to activate and enroll citizen-consumers in sustainable practices (Micheletti, 2003; Micheletti et al , 2004; Thongplew and Kotlakome, 2019). Several studies reveal that not all consumers are in an active mode to engage in sustainable practices, but they are receptive to enroll in sustainable practices as long as their life-world rationalities are met (Spaargaren and Van Koppen, 2009; Thongplew and Kotlakome, 2019).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework For Understanding Consumers and Their Plate Waste At University Canteensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is regarded that hand-on engagements are considered as a way to achieve sustainability initiatives in universities (Yuan et al , 2013). However, the enrollment of students and staff members as citizen-consumers in promoting green university initiatives, including food waste still receives little attention (Thongplew and Kotlakome, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Addressing plate waste and consumption practice at university canteens: realizing green university through citizen-consumers

Thongplew

Duangput

Khodkham

2021

IJSHE

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Purpose This study aims to explore ways to minimize plate waste at university canteens by studying plate waste and consumers at three main canteens of a university, Thailand. Design/methodology/approach Using university canteens in Thailand as a case, plate waste was characterized and quantified and consumers’ insights concerning food consumption practices were examined through focus group discussion. Findings The results revealed that each consumer wasted edible food around 19 grams/meal. The generation of plate waste is affected by the food provision system, including canteen setting, food purchasing procedure and food quality. In addition, the presence of stray dogs in the canteens inhibited consumers from finishing up their food. Thus, improving the food provision system is crucial to engage consumers in achieving zero plate waste. Originality/value This research sheds some light on ways to engage consumers in sustainable consumption and contributes to the knowledge on plate waste and sustainable consumption in university settings. Improving food quality and canteen settings are of importance to better engage consumers. In addition, this research revealed that concepts of system of provision and citizen-consumers are practical to analyze sustainable transformations for green university initiatives.

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“…Another example is cited by Thongplew and Kotlakome (2019), where they argue that Thai people usually do not drink tap water, but only bottled water, causing the production of 4.4 billion plastic water bottles per year. Focused on this problem, the Ubon Ratchathani University, a Thai university with more than 16,000 people including students and academic personnel, made available insulated stainless steel water bottles (making it possible for people to consume water or any other kind of beverages), which replaced disposable bottles (Thongplew and Kotlakome, 2019).…”

Section: The Context Of Existing Efforts On Sustainable Universities Around the Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability at a Brazilian university: developing environmentally sustainable practices and a life cycle assessment case study

Barros

Puglieri

Tesser

et al. 2020

IJSHE

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Purpose Some universities have a commitment to both academic education and sustainable development, and the sustainable development goals can support several sustainable actions that universities may take as principles and attitudes. From this perspective, the purpose of this study is to present environmentally sustainable practices at a federal university in Brazil and to analyze and discuss the potential environmental impacts associated with an environmentally sustainable practice implemented using life cycle assessment (LCA) and its benefits for the university’s decision-makers. Design/methodology/approach To accomplish that, the study combines a description of environmentally sustainable practices at the 13 campuses of the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR) in terms of education, water and electricity consumption, waste management and emissions. As a result of this analysis, one campus identified that a high volume of disposable plastic cups were being disposed of, for which the use of reusable plastic cups was introduced. In addition, an LCA study (ISO 14040:2006 and 14044:2006) quantified the benefits of the introduction of said reusable plastic cups. Findings The results show that the university is working on environmentally sustainable initiatives and policies to become greener. At the same time, using a systematic LCA made it possible to measure that replacing disposable plastic cups for reusable ones reduced waste generation but increased water consumption on the campus. Faced with this, a sensitization was carried out to reduce water consumption. Finally, the current study provides lessons on the environmental performance to universities interested in sustainable practices, fostering perspectives for a better world. The findings of this study encourage organizations to accomplish environmental actions toward greener universities. The study shows that institutions need to be reflective and analytical about how even “greening” measures have impacts, which can be mitigated if necessary. Practical implications The sustainable practical implications were reported, and an LCA was conducted to assess potential environmental impacts of reusable plastic cups. It was identified that raw material production is the phase that generates most environmental impacts during the life cycle of the product, along with the consumer use phase, due to the quantity of water used to wash the reusable cups. In addition, the practical contributions of this study are to provide insights to institutions that aim to use environmental actions, i.e. suggestions of sustainable paths toward a greener university. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to investigate and discuss sustainable practices at UTFPR/Brazil. The study assessed one of the practices using a scientific technique (LCA) to assess the impacts of reusable plastic cups distributed to the students of one of the 13 campuses. Although there are other studies on LCA in the literature, the value of this study lies in expanding what has already been experienced/found on the use of LCA to assess environmental practices in university campuses.

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Getting a drink: An experiment for enabling a sustainable practice in Thai university settings

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior

The Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Romanian Economics and Business Students’ Behavior

Addressing plate waste and consumption practice at university canteens: realizing green university through citizen-consumers

Sustainability at a Brazilian university: developing environmentally sustainable practices and a life cycle assessment case study

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