Green:University

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Sustainable university operations

The aim is to anchor sustainability as a cross-sectional task in all operational processes. This includes, for example, optimization measures in the departments and the consideration of ecological criteria in order to identify any environmental impact on the protected goods.

Current measures

In March 2024, 3 deposit rings were installed on the waste bins near the canteen on the Holländischer Platz campus as part of a test run. This was used to test whether the deposit ring system is accepted as a recycling measure and results in fewer returnable bottles ending up in the bin, allowing recyclable materials to be returned for recycling. This is intended to make not only an ecological but also a social contribution.

The idea of installing drinking water dispensers at the University of Kassel has been around for some time. In February 2023, interested employees and students came together at the Green Office's Idea Challenge to drive the issue forward. The tap water in Kassel is of very good quality and is checked regularly. It also saves waste and CO2 when water comes directly from the tap and does not have to be transported far. Since then, 5 public drinking water dispensers have been installed at 3 different university locations.

The drinking water dispensers are listed as official refill stations. The Green Office has also been recognized by a tip:tap e.V. as a "tap water-friendly office" . Tap water is also served in meetings and at Green Office events.

The Green Office is planning to hold a workshop for relevant employees in the area of sustainable procurement at the University of Kassel. The workshop is intended to convey content on various sustainability criteria as well as fields of action and opportunities for sustainable procurement in a participatory manner. The aim is also to identify ways of integrating these into the organization and its processes.

Further measures are currently planned for the area of procurement:

Sustainable procurement guidelines

  • Similar to sustainable event management, the inclusion of the "Sustainable Procurement Guidelines" for low-cost decentralized procurement is also planned as an orientation aid.

Tender for sustainable small-scale catering

  • A tender for sustainable small-scale catering, which includes various sustainability criteria such as Fairtrade coffee, is being planned.

Preset double-sided printing for copying systems

  • A tender for the introduction of a new framework agreement, which also includes the criterion of preset double-sided printing of copying systems, has been published.

Tender for office furniture

  • A new invitation to tender for office furniture, which is to include various sustainability criteria, is currently being drawn up.

Sustainability criteria for cleaning tender

  • A tender for the use of sustainable cleaning agents has been issued.  In March 2024, a new cleaning team started work at the university, which only uses environmentally friendly cleaning products. A tender for glass and frame cleaning, which also includes sustainability criteria, has also been issued. The aim is to only use environmentally friendly cleaning products in future.

The UniShop goes green: We are pleased that the UniShop of the University of Kassel wants to gradually convert its range to sustainable products!