Plastic reduction loves the earth Sun Yat-sen University joins hands with 71 restaurants to promote non-marking eating
Reduce plastic, reduce carbon, reduce air pollution! On June 5th is "World Environment Day", Aerosol Science Research Center of National Sun Yat-sen University launched the "Environmental Dining Store" project to promote the concept of "no trace eating" through the power of consumption. Teachers and students in Sun Yat-sen visited catering shops inside and outside the school. The materials of tableware, utensils and straws for internal use and take-out were rated from one to five stars according to the total score. Four and five-star eco-friendly store certification stickers were issued and made into an "Eco-friendly Store Map" "For the public's reference; at present, we are also cooperating with 71 catering companies inside and outside the school to launch gathering activities to encourage plastic reduction and love for the earth.
In the “Environmental Food and Beverage Store Plan”, the Sun Yat-sen team of teachers and students set customized environmental indicators based on six major projects, including “tableware for internal use, utensils for internal use, beverage cups for internal use, packaging for external use, lunch boxes and straws for external use”. This appraisal of 71 stores and restaurants around the campus; each item is scored from 0 to 3, and the restaurants are rated from one to five stars according to the six environmental protection indicators, and the most friendly rating is five stars. After rigorous scoring, 37 stores were rated as four or five stars. After obtaining the store’s consent, the five-star and four-star stores will be displayed on the map, and the certification paper will be posted on the door of the store.
Associate Professor Chia C. Wang, the Director of the Aerosol Science Research Center at National Sun Yat-sen University, pointed out that how to reduce dependence on plastic products has become an important issue today. In recent years, PM2.5 detection stations in Taiwan and even many foreign coastal cities have detected the presence of air pollution plastic aerosols and plasticizers. Many experts speculate that it is related to plastic products commonly used by the public, including those commonly used by humans. A container to hold food. Research predicts that by 2050, plastic waste can reach as much as 13 billion tons. All kinds of marine debris are scattered along the coast of Taiwan, some of which come from disposable tableware used by the people. When these plastics are exposed to the sun and washed by sea water, they will decompose into plastic particles and enter the food chain. In recent years, small plastic particles have been found in many marine organisms, including fish, shrimp, crabs, etc. These plastic components eventually accumulate back into the human body through biological accumulation. Recent studies have found plastic particles in the human body. The toxic substances in plastic not only cause serious environmental and ecological catastrophes, but also cause serious impacts on human health and increase the risk of cancer.
In order to improve the harm of disposable tableware to the marine environment, Paichi-Pat Shein, the leader of the Environmental Education Promotion Team of the Aerosol Science Research Center and the professor of the Institute of Education, is committed to promoting non-marking diet. She emphasized that everyone has the power to change the environment, "and consumption is a powerful force." In the wave of consumer activism, customers are no longer a passive role. For convenience, modern people have greatly increased the proportion of eating out. However, in the take-out process, merchants use plastic bags and disposable tableware to provide customers with convenience. These non-reusable consumables not only burden the environment, but consumers also unknowingly dissolve plasticizers and other toxins. Eat it all. If it is used internally, the use of disposable tableware can be greatly reduced, so having a meal in a restaurant is a better choice than taking it out. The map of eco-friendly restaurants not only allows teachers and students on campus to quickly understand the eco-friendly shops in the Hama Star business district, but also environmentally friendly and loving the earth in addition to eating out. It is hoped that more catering businesses will respond to the trend of "no trace eating".
Related reports:
中山新聞https://news.nsysu.edu.tw/p/406-1120-235436,r2910.php?Lang=zh-tw
自由時報
港都新聞
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taa3EDg4WKs&list=ULgGErl2BEvHs&index=1794
鋒面新聞https://www.cover.media/news/20200604/4935
台灣好報