-KELVIN TANG
“More environmentally friendly APU COOP” Project was initiated by Kelvin Tang (APS 4) in March 2018. The idea was conceived during his part-time job as a cashier in APU COOP. He witnessed a lot of customers taking plastic bags that were self-served and free even though they did not seem like need them. As an environmental student who is keen on revolution and sustainability, he came up with an idea to discontinue the plastic bag self-service system in APU COOP. The suggested idea could not convince COOP to do some changes regarding that matter. Being rejected did not deter him to continue his journey towards sustainability. He decided to survey the awareness of APU students on the usage of plastic bags. The result showed that almost 80% of the respondents support the discontinuation of plastic bag self-service. Then, he reported the result to COOP and presented the idea to more than 300 people during Ritsumeikan COOP annual general meeting in May 2018 at Ritsumeikan University – Kinugasa Campus. Since then, other campuses also started to conduct some events regarding sustainability.
APU COOP still could not 100% realize the idea completely until March 2019. They were finally willing to discontinue the self-service and enacted a new system in which a customer needs to ask the cashier for plastic bags. After the enactment, Kelvin once again conducted a survey regarding costumers’ opinion on the new system and the newly promoted “No Plastic Bag Movement” at the time. More than 90% of the respondents supported the new system and the movement. Almost at the same time, the promotion of reusable bags was started in APU COOP by the support of Environmental Community for Sustainability (ECOS). Ecobo-kun, a box where reusable bags or used plastic bags can be put and can be used freely by customers.
Good news! Plastic bags in APU COOP will be charged starting from November 27, 2019. In addition, discussion about plastic spoon, chopsticks and straws will be conducted in the near future. The journey of Kelvin Tang in realizing a more sustainable society in Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University will again go a step further. “One person’s behavior will result in an extraordinarily massive difference if everyone does the same”
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