Banning Bottled Water on Campus: Beyond Excuses Chrissy Cooley Sustainbility Manager Pacific Lutheran University

3 Remembering our Connection The Cuyahoga caught on fire in 1868, 1883, 1887, 1912, 1922, 1936, 1941, 1948, and in The 1952 fire caused over 1.5 million dollars in damage. This is a picture from the 1969 fire, the fire most often remembered.

4 Remembering our Connection Aftermath of the 1969 fire Cleanup efforts continuing to this day

5 Remembering our Connection Bottled water is not safer, not tastier

6 Environmental Impact o Waste Stream – only about 30% of plastic bottles end up in the recycling o Virtual Waste - ie transportation, refrigeration, water use in the manufacturing of temporary bottles o Mining of the Water

6 Social Injustice o Privatization of drinking water o Communities right here in the US are giving up their free public water to be bottled at a cost o Bottled Water plants bring very few, low -wage jobs

The University Connection As Sustainability Professionals an average day at the office probably includes: o Waking up early to bus/bike/carpool o Entering utility bill data o Managing all of the recycling, irrigation, natural gas & electricity policies on campus o Being available to anyone at all that pops in o Saying the words “people, planet, prosperity” at least 500 times a day Generally being too busy to take on a campaign that no one is talking about anyways.

The Challenge o The challenge is not banning bottled water! o A Ban on Bottled Water meets a deeper need o in finding ways to apply our efforts to real sustainability goals o The challenge is to really change systems, not prevent the symptoms o We found a way to not just be “less bad” but we were able to do real good o The challenge is really to work on a cause that will simultaneously build bridges across your entire campus o Float an idea that will open minds to the full definition of sustainability

The Way to Do It There are currently over 90 higher education institution in the US that have limited bottled water on campus Bishop's University::Brandon University::College of Saint Benedict::Humboldt State University::Loyola University::Macalester College::Oberlin College ::Phillips Exeter Academy:: Seattle University ::Southern Oregon University::St. Mary's University ::State University of New York Upstate Medical University Vancouver Island University Washington University in St. Louis

The Way to Do It o Harvard Citing fiscal responsibility and environmental concerns, the Kennedy School Student Government voted this week to halt funding for bottled water at events funded by student activity fees. Instead of filling requests for bottled water, Sodexho will provide pitchers of ice water at student group events receiving funding from KSSG. The measure, which passed by a 21-4 vote, will stretch valuable student activity dollars and eliminate waste.

The Way to Do It University of Ottawa - David Rousseau University of Washington St. Louis - Deborah Singer Howard Pacific Lutheran University September 2010 Dining &Sustainability January 2009 Chancellor& Sustainability April 2011 Students &Sustainability Food sales went up instead of down Changing image to be more innovative Able to relate sustainability directly to social justice Defining bottled water apart from juice Hostility in working from a top-down model Vending machine contracts/image

Change Management Unfreezing 1.Introduce Urgency 2.Assemble your guiding team 3.Create a common vision 4.Communicate for buy-in 5.Empower Action Change 6. Create Short Term Wins 7. Do not let up! Refreezing 8. Build into existing structures - John Kotter

University Trends o The Basics o Getting reusable bottles in hands o Filtered Water Stations o Identify and empower your mavens

Empowering Student Leaders o Allow them to be inspired – and get out of their way o Provide resources where needed o Student Green Fees o Sample campaigns o Film showings o Town Hall Forums where all stakeholders can be heard o Food and Water Watch o TBTT National Forum Group o Facebook o Katy Kiefer, Activist Network Coordinator

When to Tap Out o When to Tap Out o Fringe users (vending machines, sports, etc) o This is not a zero-sum game o Don’t forget that even if a ban is not possible, work to reduce the existing demand now will make it possible in the future.

Inhibitors to Change FearHope ApathyAnger Self-Doubt You Can Make a Difference InertiaUrgency ~ Marshal Ganz

Your University What would stop you from removing bottled water from your campus? Chrissy Cooley #beyondexcuses