Projects ‘23-’24

 CAMPUS

Our Campus portfolio aims to support the implementation of the sustainable development goals working with internal and external stakeholders on the VU campus. We achieve this through projects wherein we give volunteers a chance to be involved in a project and create a sustainable impact in their own university. We have done more projects than what is stated below, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about what we have done in the past! For more information reach out to campus@greenofficevu.nl and check the vast array of projects!

  • The objective is to continue and expand our composting efforts using Worm Hotels on campus. We want to place a second worm hotel and two additional compost bins. Every week, we aim to collect 30 kilograms of food waste from departments or food vendors and 10 kilograms of garden waste from the University groundskeeper and the Botanical Garden. Furthermore, we will organise a workshop to educate students about composting and its importance.

  • The objective is a visible reduction in food waste at the university. To this end, we want to set up a fridge for food sharing at the Green Office. In addition, we aim to distribute the leftovers from three events on the VU campus to students/employees or store them in the fridge at the Green Office. To have a lasting impact, we will discuss solutions to avoid food waste with student organisations at least three times.

  • This project aims to increase the return rates of bottles and cans with a deposit on campus. We want to ensure that at least one permanent reverse vending machine for bottles and cans with a deposit (Statiegeld) is installed on campus. In addition, we would like to attach a ring for bottles and cans with a deposit to at least one bin in the Campus Square.

  • We gradually aim to replace all milk products at the VU with plant-based alternatives. As another step toward that goal, we want to replace cow’s milk with a plant-based alternative in at least three additional coffee machines. Beyond that, we want to organise an awareness campaign on campus about the environmental impact of the dairy industry.

  • In this project, we want to identify and implement opportunities for energy savings at the VU and advocate for sustainable on-site energy production. We strive to identify and implement at least three opportunities for substantial energy savings at the VU and monitor their impact. In addition, we want to identify at least three suitable roof areas for solar panels at the VU and make FCO commit to installing solar panels there.

  • In collaboration with VBU, we collect items from the international students moving out in Uilenstede and distribute them to the arriving students. We aim to organise two move-out/clean-out projects at Uilenstede - one in winter and one in August. During each of these events, we will strive to collect 200 donated items from students moving out and give 95% of the donated items to future students. Furthermore, we will collect donations for an environmental organisation.

  • We aim to establish a permanent clothing swap at the Green Office and organise at least two pop-up clothing swaps, at which we, in total, collect >= 150 clothes from students and distribute over 80% of the collected clothes back to students. We will donate or recycle the remaining clothes. In addition, we want to organise three sewing workshops to teach students how to alter or repair their clothes. Also, we ensure that the clothing swaps have an educational element about the fast fashion industry.

  • This project is intended to strengthen the biodiversity on campus, especially in the Campus Square. We aim to set up an insect hotel and at least two nest boxes on campus. Additionally, we plan to convert at least ten m^2 of grass into a wildflower meadow with pollinator-friendly plants. We want to have at least three local endangered species among the plants. (see Rode lijst). Within this project, we also plan to draft the description of the Gardening@VU coordinator position and find a suitable candidate.

  • We aim to organise a workshop every semester to educate students about circular economy and waste management in collaboration with PreZero and the Education Officer.

EDUCATION

Access to a comprehensive curriculum on sustainability is integral to the future success of the students of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The Education Portfolio of the Green Office is focused on working with professors and academic staff to lobby for an increased presence of sustainability in the academic offering. Reach out to the education officer at education@greenofficevu.nl.

  • As of 2021, the Green Office VU presents a renewed version of the “Sustainability Course Inventory”. The inventory lists all the courses that are taught at VU which are either fully focused on sustainability, or are related to sustainability by including some sustainable aspect in their curriculum. The inventory serves as a further step towards the VU becoming a more sustainable university, and making education on sustainability more visible and accessible for students. We are currently working to improve our dashboard of the courses but until then you can check out the 2021 beta version

  • The ‘Sustainability Map of Amsterdam’ is an interactive map that allows students to explore numerous sustainable spots all around Amsterdam. The map features plant-based restaurants, sustainable fashion shops, organic grocery stores, and much more. Our goal is to ensure that students spend their money in a more sustainable manner. Right now the map is still under construction, but you will find it soon on the website!

  • You want to cook vegan, but you don’t want to stick with your one go-to meal. No worries, we got you! This project will publish bi-weekly plant-based recipes onto the Green Office webpage to promote a plant-based diet and healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, the goal includes hosting several interactive cooking classes and inviting guest speakers to dispel the negative stigma often tied to a plant-based diet and highlight its benefits instead. No need for meat!

  • Black Friday? Nay. Green Friday? Yay! this is a departure from the “traditional” Black Friday. It encourages students to embrace ethical and mindful purchasing habits. The project will feature multiple workshops that emphasise the importance of adopting sustainable shopping habits. Also think of your Christmas or Sinterklaas gifting!

  • This is a tricky one: Greenwashing is the act of using sustainability as a marketing tool, whithout actually engaging in sustainable practices. Therefore, this project aims to develop a guidebook that assits students in recognizing whether certain companies are engaging in greenwashing practices. Our goals is to ensure that students opt for a truly sustainable path, wether this is your future career, your financial organisation or your travel plans.

RESEARCH

Sustainability is an emergent theme and priority in the research realm. Thus, our work in the Research portfolio has become more valuable than ever. Our aim is to increase and support access to the field of research in sustainability. The approach is multi-faceted, dynamic, and always open to exploring new ideas. Know more about our projects through emailing us at research@greenofficevu.nl.

  • Engage with the world of sustainability research through our open-access peer-reviewed journal featuring student-produced research! Published annually at https://s4s.greenofficevu.nl/, our journal offers a unique opportunity for students to get familiar with the peer review process and the publication of journal articles.

  • We believe that there is no singular answer to sustainable issues. Every little bit helps when it comes to making an impact.

    The Green Action Lab is a tailor-made “match-making” service of the Green Office Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (GO.VU). Our mission is to connect students, researchers, and partners through impactful sustainability research. We do this by sourcing research questions from within and outside the VU and then match them with students and research experts to create opportunities for thesis and coursework based on real world problems. Check out our website!

  • Do you have a sustainability-related research idea you have been thinking about, but lack the toolkit and network needed? With "Students for Sustainability," you can turn your vision into impactful research. We offer dedicated support and resources for students to create and conduct their sustainability research projects right here on campus. Let's work together to advance knowledge and build a more sustainable university community!

    Dates and duration: Starting October onwards, any new projects should be submitted by the end of period 3 (January) to ensure availability of evaluation, follow-up and completion.

COMMUNITY & OUTREACH

In order to ensure the success of the sustainability transition at the VU,  it is important to create a community of stakeholders. The goal of the Community and Outreach portfolios is to create a dynamic platform to inform and involve students, faculty and staff who are interested in sustainability. Besides the stakeholders at the VU Amsterdam, we also aim to increase engagement with the external communities, and corporations in order to encourage a culture of sustainability and pro-environmental behaviour in society. Want to know more about the community and outreach portfolio? Send us an email at community@greenofficevu.nl or outreach@greenofficevu.nl.

  • It’s no secret that we’ve all been spending a lot of time online. Wouldn’t it be great if this had a positive impact? The Green Office has partnered with Ecosia to create a VU-specific link via which you can download the Ecosia browser extension and make it your default search engine. By downloading and using Ecosia this way, your searches will count towards the VUs total, helping us to make a bigger impact as a community (stay tuned for monthly tree planting reports, events and, hopefully, our own campus tree!). If you’d like to know more about the other benefits of using Ecosia, either for yourself or communities and ecosystems around the world, visit their blog.

    What better time to connect and positively influence your immediate community, as well as others all over the world, literally at the click of a button?

    To download Ecosia using the VU-specific link, click here: https://ecosia.co/VU

  • Collaborations and partnerships toward sustainability is one of the most important actions we can make as a green office. Thus, we are constantly reaching out to different partners each year and building robust relationships with them. Here are some of our ongoing partnerships:

    Green Offices Metropolitan Region Amsterdam

    CollAction

    Climate Fresk

    Gemeente Amsterdam

    Green Business Club

    Aureus VU Amsterdam

    KallioPPE

    Green Ambassadors with Faculteit Studenten Raad

    VU Amsterdam Universiteit Studenten Raad

  • The Green Office VU in collaboration with Opinium is researching a level of menstruation poverty across universities in the Netherlands. Menstrual poverty refers to experiencing difficulties affording menstrual products. Contribute to the research to determine the actual need of period products being freely distributed across Dutch higher educational institutions. To participate, click here.

  • This is an event organised with the UvA, ROC and HvA, for students to orientate on jobs that focus on sustainability. The event will be hosted in combination with the different Green Offices and companies that have an interest in working on, or becomming more sustainable. Opportunities for you and for them to continue making the world more sustainable!

  • This project aims to establish certain goals and agreements for the university that can be implied throughout the entire university, including all faculties. We need help from the volunteers to help think of topics that we could include in the agreement and on which aspects certain faculties could improve. So if you have an idea, leave it with us! (email or contact form on this website)

  • This project is a collaboration between all the Green Offices of Amsterdam. (HvA, Uva, ROC). We will organise a Christmas dinner for students (and staff) to get together, and collect gifts that can after be donated to people who are less fortunate, and don’t always have the financial means to buy Christmas presents. This way we can reuse gifts and help others while we get together and enjoy a Christmas together.

  • This project is a workshop with, speaker. The idea is to come together and work on some struggles that students might have considering mental health / climate anxiety. This will be done by creating instect hotels for the campus, while opening up an easy space to chat. This will be done in collaboration with the Student Wellbeing Point, to ensure good guidance and the creation of a safe space. Date T.B.A.

  • A cosy borrel, with some drinks and bites. This event returns every other month, to get together with the community of the Green Office and everyone who is interested. The idea is to combine the borrel each time with a small activity. Think of a game, small workshop of whatever you come up with! Check upcomming events for when the next borrel is!