02-02-2009, 11:44 PM
Vote to phase out plastic bottles aims to help the environment, but campus bars and shops will suffer financially
Martin Wainwright guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 December 2008 12.53
Students at one of Britain's biggest universities have become the first in the country to ban bottled still water from all their bars, cafes and shops, sacrificing annual profits of ã32,000.
A referendum at Leeds University has voted overwhelmingly to phase out the product by the end of next year, to allow campus stores to absorb the loss of their biggest-selling line.
More than 200,000 bottles of still water were sold by the university union's outlets last year to students, whose bags and backpacks habitually have the plastic containers peeping from pockets. National sales of bottled water have risen rapidly in the last decade and now account for 5% of all drinks purchased.
"It's a measure of concern about the environment, putting sustainability before profit," says Tom Salmon of Leeds University Union, which saw 4,000 students vote on the issue ââ¬â an exceptional turnout. "We've got to pull bottled water off the shelves by 2010 and bring in new lines of affordable, reusable water bottles instead."
The union, whose main bar is one of Britain's largest single drink outlets, will install free drinking fountains on the main campus as part of the initiative, and at residences and blocks of student flats. A campaign will be launched to promote tap water along the lines of the region's successful promotion three years ago, with the slogan: "Yorkshire water ââ¬â ask for it by name".
Plastic ban
The move, which the National Hydration Council called "a shame, removing the right to choose", follows a similar ban on plastic bags at union outlets last year. Students now get paper bags or reusable cotton carriers instead.
Salmon says that the ban, the first of its kind at a British university, had been acknowledged by Leeds University authorities and would be discussed at the next joint meeting.
He says: "There are no plans at the moment to press for the ban to apply to other university outlets apart from ours, but the union executive will be meeting the vice-chancellor shortly and they are certain to discuss it."
A spokesman for the university, which has a range of bottled water supply contracts, says: "It's pleasing that our students are taking practical steps to address issues of environmental sustainability. The university will give consideration to this issue in due course."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008...aste/print
Martin Wainwright guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 December 2008 12.53
Students at one of Britain's biggest universities have become the first in the country to ban bottled still water from all their bars, cafes and shops, sacrificing annual profits of ã32,000.
A referendum at Leeds University has voted overwhelmingly to phase out the product by the end of next year, to allow campus stores to absorb the loss of their biggest-selling line.
More than 200,000 bottles of still water were sold by the university union's outlets last year to students, whose bags and backpacks habitually have the plastic containers peeping from pockets. National sales of bottled water have risen rapidly in the last decade and now account for 5% of all drinks purchased.
"It's a measure of concern about the environment, putting sustainability before profit," says Tom Salmon of Leeds University Union, which saw 4,000 students vote on the issue ââ¬â an exceptional turnout. "We've got to pull bottled water off the shelves by 2010 and bring in new lines of affordable, reusable water bottles instead."
The union, whose main bar is one of Britain's largest single drink outlets, will install free drinking fountains on the main campus as part of the initiative, and at residences and blocks of student flats. A campaign will be launched to promote tap water along the lines of the region's successful promotion three years ago, with the slogan: "Yorkshire water ââ¬â ask for it by name".
Plastic ban
The move, which the National Hydration Council called "a shame, removing the right to choose", follows a similar ban on plastic bags at union outlets last year. Students now get paper bags or reusable cotton carriers instead.
Salmon says that the ban, the first of its kind at a British university, had been acknowledged by Leeds University authorities and would be discussed at the next joint meeting.
He says: "There are no plans at the moment to press for the ban to apply to other university outlets apart from ours, but the union executive will be meeting the vice-chancellor shortly and they are certain to discuss it."
A spokesman for the university, which has a range of bottled water supply contracts, says: "It's pleasing that our students are taking practical steps to address issues of environmental sustainability. The university will give consideration to this issue in due course."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008...aste/print