Sustainable September
- copenhageninterns
- Sep 13, 2018
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 17, 2018
Welcome Sustainable September in UN City!
Sustainable September is a month-long campaign organised by the United Interns of Copenhagen to reach the SDGs within our community at UN City through small and easy changes in our everyday life. During her visit in Copenhagen, Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, highlighted how climate action and sustainability is essential to meeting SDGs. We already have a highly efficient building - but with small steps we can go further to make sure that we lead the most sustainable working lives as possible with minimal impact on the environment.
Each week will focus on one key challenge. Look out for insight, activities and tips to tackle the challenges we face every week. Throughout the whole month will we celebrate our successes and share further tips about how you can extend sustainability outside of UN city. We all stand for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: let’s close the gap between reality and aspirations within UN city!
Week 1: Ditch the disposable cup
Did you know that every disposable cup used in the cafe and at the coffee machines ends up in landfill? The plastic lining which keeps the cup waterproof means they often end up in landfill even when you try to recycle them. Cost, lack of facilities and contamination from your coffee result in the cups being sent to landfill where the plastic will take years to break down.
The issues are explained well in two articles from the UK by Friends of the Earth and The Independent newspaper.
Thankfully, the solution is simple. Switch to a reusable cup, or simply take a mug from the kitchen in your finger when heading to the cafe or coffee machines for your morning coffee. Reusable cups are available in the UN shop - or dig out the one lurking in the back of your kitchen cupboard!
Grab a sticker from the cafe every time you ditch the disposable cup, and place it in the poster so we can see how many cups we’ve avoided sending to landfill in one week -we’ll let you know how we did at the end of the week!
Week 2: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Confused about recycling? Share the problems you face with waste management and innovate new ideas as a collective to solve them.
Week 3: Energy
This week will will focus on the resources we use within the building - how can we reduce our printing and energy use?
Week 4: Eat Responsible
Changing the way we eat is one of the most effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Look out for information on the most sustainable food choices you can make in the canteen, and how you can minimise food waste in your finger.
At the beginning of every week we will post an article on the intranet with activites and tips. Get in touch with the United Interns of Copenhagen through facebook or email to get involved or find out more.
copenhageninterns@gmail.com
And don’t forget your reusable mug!
Comments