Sustainability

Wageningen University is known because of its sustainability. The AID is also sustainable in many ways and we want you to get familiar with this! Every year, two board members take care of the sustainability of the AID and they think along with every committee and programme part to see if we can make even more sustainable improvements. 

We make the AID sustainable through:

• The use of the AIDapp during the AID, where you can find all information you need.This saves paper by not printing program booklets and maps.  
• The power used before and during the AID is 100% green. The power we use comes from the university buildings, which is generated by windmills of one of the three wind mill parks of Wageningen UR. For big events like the AID Festival we make use of a green aggregate.
• The garbage of more than 3,000 AID participants is professionally separated and collected. There are 19 different waste flows, so start separating! 
• The AID bag that every participant receives, is made of sustainable material: jute. This is produced without pesticides and child labour. Please use your bag again! Once it is completely worn out, you can use it for your plants for example, because the bag (except the handles) is completely biodegradable. This year, the number of flyers in the bag is also reduced! 
• The amount of packaging is reduced by making lunch crates for the whole group instead of plastic bags for each individual. The use of big drink cartons instead of individual drink bottles also reduced waste and leftovers. .
• The amount of food per person is adjusted so left overs are reduced as much as possible. All left over go to the Food Bank: to others who can still use this (sustainable and social). 
• You can choose to eat vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian during the AID. Since 2020, we do not offer a full-meat option anymore. The production of meat has a huge impact on the environment, so less meat = more sustainable! As a flexitarian, you will eat vegetarian on three of the six days. This means the Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday in the AID are completely vegetarian!
• The AID cooperates with local suppliers and companies. Many of these companies are situated in Wageningen or in its nearby surroundings. This saves transport kilometres and stimulates the local economy. The fruit that is used in the AID is always seasonal.
• During a lot of the activities in the AID you can fill your bottle with water at our waterboard. Re-using a bottle is sustainable since it reduces waste from plastic bottles.
  
• At the Cantus and the Festival, we make use of hard cups. You pay one extra coin for your cup, which you get back when you return it.
• The second day of the AID is renamed Sustainable Saturday! This day is all about sustainability and creating awareness amongst the AID participants, mentors and locals.
• During the AID you will find several Green Mans around the campus and the city centre of Wageningen. They tell you all about sustainablilty at WUR and a sustainable student life.

The Studenten Voor Morgen organisations organises a competition for the Most Sustainable Introduction week each year. We have won this price in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Click here to find more information about this competition.

 What can you do to be sustainable during the AID?

• Refill your water bottle instead of buying a new one very time 
• Reuse the AID bag, not only during the AID but also after!
• Separate your waste at the waste stations.
• Try and produce as little waste as possible:
  • Take left over food home
  • Only open a new package when the old one is empty
  • Share plates or knives. Bring your own at the Brunch and the Festival!
  • Bring your own cup

• Buy a second hand bike during the AID: low price and fine to use for the student life in Wageningen.
• Download the AIDapp, to be updated on the programme and always have a map with the most important locations in Wageningen with you!