Environmental factors in Operations

Waste

Sorting system at UI

University of Iceland is a community of students and staff and one of the largest workplace in the country. The UI's society is therefore a significant part of the country's consumers, and like therefore generate waste.

Earth's resources are limited, so it is important to use them wisely, think about ones consumption, and recycle and reuse what we have.

Here you can find more information about the waste sorting sytsem at the University of Iceland.

Magnitute of waste at UI

Recycling rate at UI

The recycling rate at the University of Iceland for 2022 was 54%.

Hazardous Waste

Proper handling of hazardous waste is a matter of safety and environmental concern. It is the policy of the University of Iceland to adhere to international regulatons regarding environmental issues and the pollution of ecosystems and hazardous substances. Many of the chemicals used within UI are harmful to the environment, humans, and animals. Therefore, it is necessary to classify all waste and hazardous substances correctly and send them for proper disposal to recognized facilities.

On the website for Health and Safety of University of Iceland, you can find information about the classification and disposal of hazardous waste.

Energy

Electricity usage at UI

The electricity usage at the University of Iceland for 2022 was 8.612.158 kWh.

Hot and cold water usage at UI

The hot water usage at the University of Iceland for 2022 was 409.265 m3.

How to reduce your electricity consumption

Few tips to reduce your electricity consumption:

Adjust the power setting on your computer so it goes into standby or sleep mode. Devices can use up to 40% of the energy when they are turned on but not in use. It's also helpful to use power strips with an on/off switch, as many devices can be turned off with a single button.
Set your photocopiers and printers to standby mode when they haven't been used for a short or longer period of time.
Choose energy-efficient appliances and devices - they can save both energy and money.
Avoid using screensavers.
Turn off computers and monitors at the end of the workday.
Turn off lights in unused rooms and all lights at the end of the day. Lights in unoccupied rooms are waste of energy and money.
Take advantage of natural lights and turn off lights when you have the chance - natural light is always the most beautiful!
Choose to take the stairs instead of the elevator if you have the chance.
Before vacation, turn off all lights and unplug your devices.
Unplug chargers for devices like laptops, mobile phones, or tablets when they are not charging - devices can still use electricity even when they are fully charged.
Disconnect your mobile phone from the charger after it has finished charging. This sves both energy usage and extends the battery's lifespan. Charging the phone between 40-80% can also extend the battery life!

University of Iceland is participating in the projcet Green Steps, which aims to reduce the negative environmental impacts in operatios, including reducing electricity consumption.

Chemicals and the Laboratory

A research laboratory is not an ordinary workplace. People working in a research laboratory are surrounded by various hazards. Chemicals stored there may be solvents, corrosive or flammable, even explosive, and sloppy working practices can lead to all kinds of accidents: poisonous gases may be foremd, fires started or viruses escape.

Research and experiments can be very exciting, but they demand careful, organised working practices. Carlessness or a moment's lapse could have serious consequences and cause significant harm, both to you and the environment.

On the website of Health and Safety of University of Iceland, you can find useful educational materials that are relevant to the research laboratories and the handling of hazardous chemicals. The use and handling of cheicals can have an impact on the healthy and safety of individuals and the environment.

Paper usage

Paper has various environmental impacts from production to usage. University of Iceland strives to minimize its paper usage. Paper consumption at UI has decreased from 2012-2022.

Below are some tips on how to reduce paper usage:

Do you need to print this out?
Print on both sides of the paper and use black-and-white printing settings when possible.
Reuse paper that has been printed out, for scrap or notepaper.
When possible, offer digital versions for publishing materials/presentations that readers can choose instead of paper copies.
Minimize the distribution of leaflets and brochures at events.
Purchase only environmentally certified paper and collaborate with environmentally certified printing companies. The Environment Agency of Iceland has a list of reliable environmental certifications on their webpage.

Procurement

Procurement is an important factor regarding environmental factors in operations. Sustainable procurement can bring various benefits for buyers, selers, and the entire society. Sustainable procurement refers to goods or services that are less harful to the environment or human health and have the same or lower negative environmental impacts during the life cycle compared to other goods are services that meet the same needs. A simple way to integrate environmental considerations into procurement is to purchase environmentally certified services or products.

Our consumption has an impact on our planet; production, transportation, storage and waste. All consumptions entails greenhouse gas emission and other pollutants, so it is crucial that each time we purchase something, we consider and question whether we really need it. One of the most significant actions we, as individuals, can do to reduce our environmental impact is to be mindful of our consumption. It can be helpful to ask ourselves the following before purchasing new item:

Do I need this?
Is it necessary for me to have this? Why?
Is there something else I want or need more?
Can I manage without buying this?

Events and meetings

When events, conferences, or meetings are organized within the University of Iceland, sustainability should be taken as a guiding principle. It is not difficult to make events environmentally friendly. According to the University of Iceland main policy, UI26, sustainability is one of the main priorities and sustainable operation one of its objectives.

Green events

The University of Iceland is implementing the Green Steps in its operations across various units within the university, with an emphasis on minimizing the environmental impact of meetings and events. By going through the checlist below, the event fulfills the critera of the Green Steps!

1. Communication and Media

It is important to ensure the success of the event in sustainability matters and make guests aware of environmental considerations at the follow event:

Digital communication, invitations, and advertisements are the most environmentally friendly option.
Consider whether it is possible to design printing materials in a way that allows for reuse for future events, such as using "Welcome to this event" intead of "Welcome to this event in January 2023".
If printing is necessary, choose an eco-certified printing service.
If printed advertisements are used, consider whether they can be reused or recycled afterwards.

2. Transportation

Environmentally friendly transportation contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is good to keep the following aspects in mind to promote sustainable transportation:

If the event takes place on-site, consider offering remote participation options or live streaming.
Encourage guests to bike, walk, or use public transportation to and from the event, or even carpool.
Provide information about nearby bus stops or public transportation options. If using a bus or rental car, inquire about the availability of vehicles powered by environmentally friendly energy sources.

3. Catering

Negative environmental impacts of catering services can be mitigated by considering several factors. It is estimated that approximately a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions are rooted in the food supply chain.

Offer vegetarian or vegan options. The carbon footprint of such meals is much smaller than of animal products, and an increasing number of people choose not to consume animal products.
Request reusable tableware and utensils to minimize unnecessary waste from the event.
For large-scale events, consider implementing a registration system for catering to estimate the quantity of food needed and reduce food waste.
If there are leftovers from the catering, consider donating them to charity or offering guests the option to take them home.
Request that the catering avoids unnecessary packaging to limit waste.

4. Waste and recycling

A significant amount of waste can be generated from events where single-use tableware, large amounts of distribution materials et cetera are used. It is crucial to offer waste sorting at the event to make it convenient for guests to recycle.

Encourage guests to recycle and provide visible and accessible recycling stations to facilitate sorting.
Avoid single-use items altogether to minimize waste.
If you give gifts, don't do it just for the sake of giving gifts.

Carbon Footprint

Check your carbon footprint, learn how to reduce it, and contribute to climate change research!

A carbon footprint is a calculation of the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission caused by an individual. Check your carbon footprint and be part of the project 1,5 degree compatible living in the Nordic conditions: attitudes, lifestyles and carbn footprints, funded by the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS). The collected informaton will only be utilized in non-profit academic research.

How does the study work?

Fill in the survey and find out your personal carbon footprint. Compare your results to other's and share your carbon footprint on social media if you wish!
Learn about your carbon footprint and find out suggestions to decrease your personal carbon footprint!
Later the second phase of the study will take place - if you wish, you can also participate in that and take part in a more detailed second phase survey, and contribute to scientific research and learn even more about your carbon footprint!