University of Cambridge & Vegware – finalists in the Green Gown Awards!

Vegware and the University of Cambridge are Green Gown Awards finalists! We’ve been shortlisted in recognition of our collaborative work in helping the University catering go zero waste.

The University of Cambridge Catering Service switched to Vegware’s compostable packaging in November 2015 – a major shift for their 6,500 sales transactions a day. They now compost 1.5 tonnes of used Vegware with their food waste every month, upping their recycling rate and drastically reducing the amount of waste going to landfill or incineration.

Vegware’s environmental team helped the University identify the right collector and processing facility for their used compostable packaging and food waste, and hosted a number of Green Days in the University to engage staff and students with sustainability issues. Vegware also provided bespoke bin signage to help direct customers to the correct bin when disposing of their used packaging.

The judges have commented on how successful the scheme has been in engaging students and staff with the University’s environmental aspirations. Following on from Vegware’s Green Days, the University’s Environment and Energy Section ran a ‘spotlight on waste’ month, as well as featuring the Vegware scheme in monthly newsletters and across the environment and energy coordinators network. The University have found it an ideal talking point and ‘good news story’ around the issue of campus waste and recycling.

The awards ceremony is in November. We’ll have our fingers crossed until then!