Assessoria para inclusão de práticas sustentáveis em eventos da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro

Abstract

Due to the significant amount of events held in universities, such as academic weeks, symposiums and conferences, combined with high levels of waste generation and impacts, efforts to promote sustainable practices in this sector are justified. A project was developed with this goal at the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), campus Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the years 2014 to 2016. In the first year, the UFTM Guide for Sustainable Events was elaborated. It describes practices to insert sustainability criteria on events linked to the University. In the two subsequent years, the so-called Sustainable Events Advisory Team (ASES) was formed with the function of advising these events. In total, 37 events were advised: 5% being classified as “Non-sustainable”, 68% as “Partially sustainable” and 27% as “Sustainable”. The events advisory yielded positive results as it influenced the commissions concerning the use of sustainable practices, such as embracing document folders made from reused banner canvas, replacing disposable cups with durable mugs, realization of events in places with suitable accessibility conditions and insertion of vegan foods. However, there was resistance from the academic community to accept the advisory, motivated by the lack of social and environmental awareness and concerns about increased spending.