{"id":106943,"date":"2019-12-06T17:16:50","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T16:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=106943"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:29:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T09:29:35","slug":"these-students-would-like-less-plastic-at-spar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/12\/06\/these-students-would-like-less-plastic-at-spar\/","title":{"rendered":"These students would like less plastic at Spar"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the student action group Post Plastic Generation (PPG), Spar University isn\u2019t making enough of an effort to cut back on plastic packaging. To protest this \u2013 and raise awareness of the volume of packaging waste generated by Spar\u2019s campus outlet \u2013 PPG has organised Plastic Attack 2.0<\/em>. Immediately after purchasing an item from the mini market, the participating students unpack it and carefully add the packaging to a heap next to the shop\u2019s entrance.<\/p>\n

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Participants of the 'Plastic Attack' unpack their newly purchased products.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMilena Chopova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The result of this \u2018plastic attack\u2019, which was launched Thursday afternoon by some dozen students, is two shopping baskets full of plastic and cardboard. A number of students pause for a moment to check out the curious tableau. Another young gentleman seems less amused, gingerly stepping over the heap with a frown on his face.<\/p>\n

Change of policy<\/h2>

PPG board member Johanna Melsheimer (23, Management of International Social Challenges) finds it frustrating that most packaging material is only used once, after which it\u2019s discarded: \u201cPlastic itself isn\u2019t the problem \u2013 it\u2019s how we use it. This needs to change: our current pattern of consumption is damaging to both humans and the climate. With this action, we hope to encourage Spar to change their policy and simultaneously show people that they can\u2019t keep consuming the way they do right now.\u201d The first plastic attack was in May, at Albert Heijn. According to Johanna, it was a resounding success: \u201cWe received a lot of positive responses and the radio station Open Rotterdam made a\u00a0report<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

She understands that students don\u2019t have much time to reflect on their pattern of consumption. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in full study mode or live in the Hatta Building, you\u2019re stuck with whatever\u2019s offered at the campus shop \u2013 and a lot of these products have plastic packaging. So we want Spar to offer alternatives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johanna: \u201cIt makes quite an impression to see all the plastic heaped up like this. We take a picture of the result and post it on Facebook and Instagram, tagging Spar. And Spar in turn responds to this. This way we\u2019re able to initiate a dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B5lK5e-nDjb\/<\/a><\/p>

De eerste editie van "Plastic Attack" bij de Albert Heijn in Kralingen.<\/span><\/p>

Crumbs<\/h2>

Chlo\u00e9 Schwizgebel (21, Media & Business master) has bought some nuts and a seaweed snack. \u201cI believe in supply and demand: if we buy fewer of these products, Spar will adapt its supply. And some packaging really isn\u2019t necessary: sandwich baggies, for instance. If you don\u2019t put it in a bag, the worst that can happen is a few crumbs on your hand. Getting a paper napkin rather than a baggie would be an improvement right there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Convenience<\/h2>

Kyra van Elswijk is Spar University\u2019s Chief Digital Officer and understands the action group\u2019s point: \u201cWe\u2019re already doing quite a lot<\/a>\u00a0when it comes to sustainability policies. For example, you get a discount on coffee if you bring your own mug. And next year, we\u2019ll be pitching the option of offering vegetables without packaging to our head office. But students usually opt for convenience \u2013 that\u2019s what our \u2018Grab & Go\u2019 policy is based on. So students have a responsibility in this matter too. I hope this action makes them a bit more aware of the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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