IT STARTED with the ‘bring your own baunan’ policy and zero disposables goal for the cafeteria. Now, orgs are encouraged to use eco-friendly food containers for their activities, as part of a movement for a more environmentally-friendly Loyola Schools.
In a forum on July 29, the Ateneo Environmental Management Coalition (AEMC), along with Vice President Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, gave an overview of the modified AEMC food packaging guidelines and how this will help in improving Ateneo’s ecological footprint.
Disposable food packaging and individual packaging should also be avoided, unless they can be degraded and renewed naturally.
Some acceptable food packaging materials include the following:
Natural forms of packaging (banana leaves, coconut shells)
Naturally degradable and renewable packaging – partly processed but degraded naturally (chopsticks)
Engineered forms of packaging designed to be reusable (ceramic ware, melamine ware, metal ware, food baskets)
Disposable packaging materials that can be applied to waste management in the LS community
Together with representatives of the AEMC, Cuyegkeng made the guidelines of the said rule official. She said that the food packaging guidelines had already been implemented since last year, “but we have been modifying them along the way, trying to see how we can address concerns of the different sectors.”
Clarifications
Cuyegkeng, along with Office of Administrative Services (OAS) Director Joy Salita, Abigail Favis of AEMC, Office of Special Projects Head Ditsy Sumpaico, and Office of Student Activities Director Christopher Castillo, clarified some of the students’ questions about the new rule.
For org activities that involve a large number of participants, such as Blue Christmas, Castillo said more reusable wares will be bought so orgs can rent and use these for free.
Meanwhile, Salita said that the OAS still has to settle the guidelines of deliveries in the school. They have, however, spoken to the Ateneo Resident Students Association about concessionaires in the dorm, which will open until midnight to minimize food deliveries.
Sumpaico added that students should approach her for any more project-specific concerns.
Feasibility
April Roque, Ateneo College Ministry Group Internal Relations Head, found the forum very informative. “What AEMC is trying to say in terms of food packaging became clear on the forum, and I understood the rationale behind these guidelines.”
Roque said that her org will avoid having deliveries during activities. “Although it’s not prohibited, nakaka-konsiyensiya pa rin kung magpapa-deliver ka (there’s a guilty feeling if you have [food] delivered) after you heard everything in the forum.”
Ateneo Management Association President Ystacey Ty said that the food packaging guidelines will be difficult to implement in her org.
“It will definitely add to our expenses, but we’re ready to take on the challenge. Our teams are currently trying to come up with more innovative ways to present food and being an entrepreneurial organization, I know we have creative juices just waiting to come out.”
Ecological footprint for the future
Cuyegkeng said that these guidelines were made on the realization that “all the materials in this world [are] just being recycled and renewed through the natural cycles of the Earth. There is no outside source.”
She also said that the current rate of depletion of resources is faster than the rate of renewal of resources. “What will be left [of the resources] seven generations hence?”
Through these guidelines, the Ateneo community can learn to “live simply so that others will live in the future,” Cuyegkeng added.
Cuyegkeng also hoped that the students will follow the guidelines even outside the Ateneo. “It’s a lifestyle change. It’s not so much only here in Ateneo, but what we do in our homes, what we do in our own personal spaces.”
