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Refuse single-use, choose to reuse to win prizes this July

Join UNSW's Plastic Free July campaign and ditch single-use packaging on campus.

Published on the 04 July 2024

Every year, the global Plastic Free July campaign mobilises millions of people to reject plastic and single-use packaging worldwide.

In 2024, this initiative remains critically important. It’s estimated that an average person could ingest the equivalent of a credit card’s worth of plastic (5g) every week. Despite the convenience plastic offers, half of it is used just once before being discarded. As a result, approximately 80 per cent of all plastics produced remain in the environment, contaminating waterways, soils, the Arctic ice, and even the placentas of newborn babies.

While Australia has set targets to phase down problematic single-use packaging and UNSW leads with initiatives like the Plastic Free Dining plan, the rise of single-use bio-based alternatives presents new environmental and health challenges that demand attention.

That’s why this year, we want to encourage our UNSW community to address the issue of plastic and single use packaging on and beyond campus by joining our "Refuse single-use, choose to reuse" campaign and series of events.
People at a table with reusable coffee cups, lunch containers and wooden cutlery.

Get involved this Plastic Free July

Here's how you can get involved and be rewarded for your commitment this July:

  • Action 1: Take the pledge and win delicious prizes. Commit to doing at least one sustainable action, such as bringing your reusable cup for your coffee order on campus, and you’ll enter the draw to win food and coffee vouchers.
  • Action 2: Visit our Plastic Free July stall on 10 July, 11am – 2pm in front of the Library. Find out more about plastic free and reuse best practices and you could win a Huskee cup or Café Brioso voucher.
  • Action 3: Join the Film Society to watch “ALON” on 11 July, 6pm at K-E12-220 UNSW Business School. Watch the award-winning documentary and enjoy free pizza by signing up.
  • Action 4: Make your commitment visible. Tag #BYOunsw on social media and Yammer to inspire others to join the plastic free and reuse movement.

Visit Plastic Free July 2024 to take action.

Explore the UNSW Sustainability website to learn more about Environmental Sustainability at the University.

Have questions or suggestions about this campaign or UNSW's sustainability journey? We'd love to hear from you! Get in touch at: sustainability@unsw.edu.au.