The Efficacy of Bring- Your- Own- Cup

Transcription

1 The Efficacy of Bring- Your- Own- Cup Campaign on the CSUS campus By Jewel Martha Mauricio Envs: 190 Environmental Studies Department December 15,

2 Abstract Recycling solid waste products can protect the environment and its natural resources. One of the most effective ways to reduce waste is to not create the product in the first place. Therefore, bringing your own cup to the eateries on campus including, Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice can help reduce consumption and emissions and the need to harvest raw material, which protect air, water, and land. The study conducted 3 days survey of students to test the efficacy of a bring- your- own- cup campaign on the CSUS campus. Survey was taken at 3 different eateries on campus, Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice. The results show that not very many students are aware of the discounted cup program on campus. To let Sacstate students know about the discounted cups being implemented on campus. It is recommended to provide education, awareness, and effective marketing of the discounted cup program on campus. 1

3 Table of Contents Abstract 1 Table of Contents..2 Introduction..3 Purpose 6 Methods...6 Results..8 Discussion..9 References 12 Appendix

4 Introduction Climate change, population growth, loss of biodiversity, ocean acidification, pollution, and ozone layer depletion are all examples of environmental issues that our communities and ecosystems are dealing with ( sustainable- home- and- land/). Due to these environmental issues, protecting the environment is now being recognized as one of the top priorities of most countries (Largo- Wight, 2013). People all over the worlds consume and use natural resources available to support the need of the human population. Today we live in a global consumer society where people across the world acquire, buy, use, and dispose a massive amount of products that makes human lives easier and convenient. The materials that are being used to produce these products comes from the earth s natural resources, and when people are finished with these products typically thrown away. Most of these products end up in the landfill and causes a huge negative environmental impact on the environment (U.S. EPA, 2014). Americans generated about 251 million trash and recycled materials in 2012 (U.S. EPA, 2014). The trash also known as municipal solid waste (MSW), incorporates various materials Americans commonly throw away after being used. These items include, food packaging, food waste, Steel cans, yard trimmings, tires, glass containers, jars, and selected consumer electronics (see figure 1) (U.S. EPA, 2014). These municipal solid waste are coming from residential waste, commercial, institutional locations, including businesses, hospitals, and schools. To decrease the amount of trash that goes to our landfill. It is necessary to have environmental promotions such as, recycling, reuse and reduce program to help minimize environmental impact associated with the stuff that people use (Largo- 3

5 - Wight, 2013). Fig. 1 (U.S. EPA, 2014) Bring Your- Own- Cup Campaign on the CSUS Campus Recycling behavior still need a lot of public attention (Castro Et. Al, 2009). Approximately 90% of the waste produced in the U.S. than can be recycled; however, Americans only recycles about 30% of their trash (Largo- Wight, 2013). Schools and college campuses/universities like Sac State should represent a recycling intervention priority because of its huge potential contribution to a community s waste flow and its potential to impact the environment (Largo- Wight, 2013). While the potential environmental impact of the university is being recognized, universities should provide recycling opportunities through recycling infrastructure on campus (Mason, Brooking, Obrender, Harford, & Horsley, 2003). The Sacramento State 4

6 University recycling rate can improve since the campus has a recycling and Sustainability Department. The campus- recycling rate can also increase by the help of effective campaigns. Previous studies have shown that recycling campaigns that involve increasing recycling convenience, awareness, education, and communication strategies can increase recycling on campus (Tabernero C. and Hernandez B., 2011). By promoting recycling behavior in a high- impact waste setting, college campuses, recycling increased by 65% to 250% and this is a 130% increased in volume. The study suggest that environmental health promoters should focus and make effort to make recycling easy and convenient, and also provide education, health communication, and promotion campaigns (Largo- Wight, 2013). California State University of Sacramento Sustainability Department conducted an audit of receptacles in % recyclable materials found in the trash, and 43.8% of those materials were in the plastics category (Martinez, 2012). Most of these plastics came from ice coffee cups from campus coffee vendors used by students on campus (Martinez, 2012). In 2013, California State University of Sacramento served about 25,539 students (CSUS, 2014) and most of these students were not aware of the discounted reusable coffee and drink cup program that is being implemented on campus. Data provided by Nicole Johnson Manager of University Enterprises, Inc., Dining Services. Data was gathered from September 29, 2014 to November 14, Only 4% of the customers brought their own cup in both Java City and Starbucks. Java City in the library had 26, 904 customers, and only 1,097 brought their own cup. Starbucks had 37, 467 customers and only 1,084 brought their own cup (See Figure on Appendix) (Johnson, 2014). This data shows 5

7 that not a lot of students are aware of the discounted cup that is currently being implemented on campus. Starbucks and Java City offer 50 cents discount and Jamba Juice offers 10 cents discount if the buyers reuse and bring your own cup. The goal of this project is to assess the efficacy of a bring- your- own cup campaign on the CSUS campus. The study will assess and evaluate the discounted cup program that is currently being implemented by conducting a survey of students at campus eateries including Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and Java City. Purpose This project focuses on a discounted coffee and drink cup program that is being implemented in many eateries on campus including Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and Java City. By conducting a survey of students, the result of this project should provide data on how many students are aware of the program, how often students bring their own cup, how many do not participate and why they do not participate in the program. The result of this project will also help CSUS campus eateries to develop a better way to implement the discounted cup program on campus. Methods The project was designed to test the efficacy of The Bring- Your- Own- Cup program on the CSUS campus. The data used to assess the program were collected via survey of students outside of the entrance of Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice (See figure 2). First, a script was written to introduce the project to the students before taking the survey, (see figure 3) for the script. Second, a three separate tally sheet was 6

8 made for each eatery, which is Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice with 4 questions to answer. And finally, the survey was conducted in 3 days (November 17, November 18, November 20) with a total of 132 students, 50 at Starbucks, 50 at Java City and 32 at Jamba Juice site. The survey was taken at the 3 different locations on campus mentioned above and survey was taken at different times of the day (8 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm). Only students who are purchasing drinks were surveyed during the survey. Conducting a survey is one of the easiest ways to get information and feedback from a group of people. Survey is a systematic process of gathering information on a specific topic by asking questions of individuals. It is important to know what kind of questions to ask the potential respondents and it is also important to inform individuals being asked that they will not be identified from this activity (Thayer- Hart, 2010). Fig. 2 7

9 Script: Hello I m Jewel, I am an Environmental Studies Major. I m doing a survey for my senior project, would you be willing to answer 4 very quick questions for me, you will remain anonymous? Yes: ask questions Are you going to purchase a beverage today? Y N Did you bring your own cup Y today? a. Starbucks: do you know that s SB offers a 50 N cent discount if you bring your own cup? b. Jamba Juice: do you know that JJ offers a 10 cent discount if you bring your own cup? c. Java City: Do you know that JC offers a 50 cent discount if you bring 4. Will your you own bring cup? your own cup in the future? No: leave them alone Thank You, Enjoy your beverage Fig. 3 Results Starbucks: 16% of students who knew about the discounted cups, yet only 4% of students brought their own cup out of 3 days of sampling. Only 16% students said that they were going to bring their own cup in the future. Java City: 4% students who knew about the discounted cups, 2% of students had their own cup, and 2% of students responded that they are willing to bring their own cup in the future. Jamba Juice: 8% of students who knew about the discounted cups, 0% of students brought their own cup, and 22% of students said they are willing to bring their own cup in the future. 8

10 Discussion The data collections involved surveys, asking student questions like, did they bring their own cup, did they know about the discounted drinks, and would they bring their own cup in the future. The data shows that not very many students are aware of the discounted cup program on campus. Many students were enlightened to find out that Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice offer 50 cents off if they bring their own cup. Many students also said that they did not know about the discounted cups because there were no signs, no commercials, no type of advertisement, and employees of these eateries on campus do not let students know about the discounted cups. It shows that the discounted cup program on campus is not designed to encourage students to bring their own cup. The number one reason students said on why they would not bring their own cup is it is not convenient to bring your own cup and carry the cup around campus. Some students also said that, they would bring their own cup if they remember. The survey data shows that many of the Sacramento State students do not know how they can help the environment by bringing their own cup. The survey also matches the data provided by Nicole Johnson, Manager of University Enterprises who oversee Starbucks and Java City. From the data that was provided, there were 124, 000 students who purchased drinks from the month of November alone, and only 5% of these students brought their own cup (Johnson, 2014). There was no sign of awareness from students on how they can help the environment by simply bringing their own cup, or reusing their own cup for their beverages. The Bring- Your- Own- Cup campaign on campus needs a lot of work. 9

11 Students need more information on how they can make a difference to the environment if they bring their own cup. Future study would need to analyze recycling behavior of students, provide education, awareness, and a good publicizing of the discounted cup program on campus. To better introduce and publicize the discounted cup on campus, Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice should provide signs outside, at the door, entrance, and inside the eatery to let students know about the discounted cups. And hopefully other eateries on campus other than Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice can join the program. Also, Environmental students and Environmental Students Organization should get involved and help educate students on how they can help the environment, climate change, and reduce C02 emission by using reusable cups and bringing their own cup. Reduce and Reusing On Sac State Campus Recycling is a procedure of gathering and processing materials that would be thrown away as trash and converting this trash into a new product. Recycling solid waste products can protect the environment and its natural resources (Bronja, 201$). It can conserve natural resources including water, trees and minerals. It can prevent pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials, saves energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change and help sustain the environment for future generations. It can also help create new well- - paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States (U.S. EPA, 2014). 10

12 One of the most effective ways to reduce waste is to not create the product in the first place (U.S. EPA, 2014). Bringing your own cup and reusing them to the eateries on campus such as, Starbucks, Java City, and Jamba Juice can help prevent the need to create brand new cups from scratch. When factories make a new product it would need a lot of raw materials and energy to produce these cups. All of the materials that are being used to produce such products are made from materials found on earth such as trees, fossil fuels, and energy (U.S. EPA, 2014). After the products are produced they will need to be transported and processed. Therefore, reduction, and reusing of products already made are the most effective ways to save natural resources, protect the environment, and save money at the same time. 11

13 Reference Bronja Harun, Bronja Haris. A Multi- - - Criteria Approach to Selecting a Landfill Site with the Aim of Protecting the Environment.Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 23 (2014): Castro Garrido, M., Reis, E., & Menezes, J. (2009). Ambivalence and conservation Behaviour: An exploratory study o the recycling of metal cans. Journal of Environmental Psycology, 29(1), Johnson Nicole. Bring- - - Your- - - Own- - - Cup Reports California State University of Sacramento. Nov Largo- - - Wight, Erin, Dedee DeLongpre Johnston, and Jeff Wight. "The Efficacy Of A Theory- Based, Participatory Recycling Intervention On A College Campus." Journal Of Environmental Health 76.4 (2013): GreenFILE. Web. 20 Nov Mason, I.G., Brooking, A.K., Orberender, A., Harford, J.M., & Horsely, P.G. (2003). Implementation of a zero waste program at a university campus. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 38(4), Martinez II, Jose. Sustainability Event Report: Campus Receptacle Recycling Audit CSUS Sustainability department. Dec Tabernero Carment, Hernandez Bernardo. Self- Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation Guiding Environmental Behavior. Environment and Behavior 43 (2011): Nov Thayer- Hart Nancy, Dykema Jennifer, Elver Kelly et. Al Survey Fundamentals University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, pp. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for Nov EPA.gov United States Environmental Protection Agency. Climate and life cycle of stuff. 19 Nov EPA.gov United States Environmental Protection Agency. Reducing and Reusing Basics. 20 Nov.2014.EPA.gov 12

14 Appendix: Survey Raw Data TABLE 1 Date: 11/17/14 Time: 5 pm Date: 11/18/14 Time: 7 am Date: 11/19/14 Time: 1pm Location: Starbucks Yes No Yes No Yes No Are you going to purchase a beverage today? =15 =20 = 15 Did you bring your own cup today? Do you know that SB offers a 50 cents discount if you bring your own cup? =15 =2 =18 =15 =2 = 13 =3 = 17 =3 =12 Will you bring your own cup in the future? =4 =9 =1 =19 =3 =12 13

15 TABLE: 2 Date: 11/17/14 Time: 6 pm Date: 11/18/14 Time:10: 30 Date: 11/19/14 Time:1:30 pm Location: Java City/library/union/the buzz Yes No Yes No Yes No Are you going to purchase a beverage today? =10 =20 = 20 Did you bring your own cup today? = 10 = 1 = 19 Do you know that JC offers a 50 cents discount if you bring your own cup? = 10 =2 = 18 =20 =20 Will you bring your own cup in the future? = 5 = 5 =5 = 19 = 5 = 15 14

16 TABLE 3: Date: 11/17/14 Time: 7 pm Date: 11/18/14 Time: 8 am Date: 11/19/14 Time: 2 pm Location: Jamba Juice Yes No Yes No Yes No Are you going to purchase a beverage today? =10 = 7 =15 Did you bring your own cup today? = 10 =7 =15 Do you know that Jamba offers a 10 cents discount if you bring your own cup? =2 =8 =7 = 2 = 13 Will you bring your own cup in the future? =7 = 3 =1 = 6 = 3 =12 15