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Shall we be sustainable?

Sustainability is in the order of the day. The avoidance of the depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance, seems to be the great challenge of human kind, right now.

With this scenario, I firmly believe that each of us, as individuals or entities, should develop actions to keep out our activities sustainable.

Is true that the modernity has brought us a lot of improvements in our way of life, however, we have the other side of the coin. Several studies show that in the developed world, factors as burning of fossil fuels, factories, industrial emissions, construction, or open burning of garbage waste, are among the most polluting activities.



Regarding Social Action Services of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon - SAS/IPL’s activity, the academic canteens are the most sensitive area when we talk about sustainability. The energy consumption during the production process; the origin of the products; or the way they are produced and distributed; or even the waste, are all vital aspects we can control, in order to contribute to a more sustainable activity.

Composter
For this reason, SAS/IPL has created PASS-IPL, a program for healthy and sustainable eating in the Polytechnic University of Lisbon, which approach these ideas through the implementation of very strict specifications during the hiring process of the meals' supplier.

In conclusion, SAS/IPL has reduced the energy consumption; has increased the use of proximity products; and has also started to use composting as a way to forward the waste produced in the canteen’s production process.

As a result, Polytechnic University of Lisbon was awarded with the Green Stamp of Healthy feeding granted by Direção-geral da Saúde - DGS, the Health Authority from the Portuguese Government.



Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 22, 2024 at 6:02 AM

    This text highlights the importance of sustainability in our contemporary world, telling us the need for individuals and organizations to take proactive steps to safeguard natural resources. The focus on the Social Action Services of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon (SAS/IPL) is a perfect example of how academic institutions can lead by example in promoting sustainability. The initiative, PASS-IPL, shows a practical approach to sustainable eating by implementing standards for meal suppliers. The recognition of SAS/IPL with the Green Stamp of Healthy Feeding serves as a testament to the effectiveness of their sustainability efforts. This reinforces the idea that educational institutions can play a role in promoting sustainable practices, inspiring students to adopt similar values.

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