10 October 2024
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Medan, Indonesia – In line with its vision to become a sustainable and environmentally responsible institution, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) provides free and easily accessible drinking water facilities across its campus while leading a university wide effort to phase out single use plastics. This initiative brings together clear institutional policy and practical infrastructure, supporting both environmental protection and the well being of the campus community.
According to the Green Campus sustainability report, USU’s policy framework is guided by Rector’s Regulation No. 3 of 2019 on the Implementation of the Green Campus Movement, which forms the basis of the university’s sustainability practices. Article 7, Point 6 of this regulation explicitly prohibits the use of single use plastic bottles for drinking water on campus. Instead, the policy encourages the use of refillable tumblers and water dispensers that are placed in strategic locations throughout university facilities.
To put this policy into practice, USU has installed free drinking water refill stations in multiple faculties, administrative offices, and academic centres. One prominent example is the Integrated Research Laboratory, where students and staff can conveniently refill their tumblers with clean drinking water during their daily activities.
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This system ensures that all members of the campus community, including students, lecturers, administrative staff, and visitors, can obtain safe drinking water at no cost. In doing so, USU reduces economic barriers to basic needs while at the same time cutting down on plastic waste generated by bottled water consumption.
By actively promoting refillable bottles and banning disposable plastic containers, the university significantly limits the volume of plastic waste and builds a culture of environmental awareness and shared responsibility.
USU’s drinking water policy goes beyond infrastructure and has become part of everyday campus life. Students are encouraged to carry their own tumblers and refill them during lectures, meetings, and events. This behaviour is reinforced through environmental campaigns, information signs in buildings, and student led sustainability initiatives, all of which promote waste reduction and sustainable living practices.
Student organisations with a focus on the environment also play an active role. They regularly organise eco awareness programmes and plastic free campus events, aligning their activities with USU’s Green Campus policy. This close collaboration between university leadership, faculties, and the student body shows how policy and participation can work together to create lasting behavioural change.
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USU’s initiative delivers benefits on two key fronts:
Economic relief: Providing free access to clean drinking water lessens the financial burden on students and staff, who no longer need to rely on purchasing bottled water.
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These outcomes strengthen USU’s broader contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Through a combination of clear policy, supportive infrastructure, and active community engagement, Universitas Sumatera Utara offers a strong example of how universities can integrate sustainability into daily routines. The availability of free drinking water and the ban on single use plastics have not only reduced waste and environmental impact, but have also fostered a campus culture that values environmental consciousness and social equity.
By ensuring that sustainability measures are accessible, practical, and inclusive, USU shows that small daily choices, such as refilling a tumbler instead of buying a plastic bottle, can lead to meaningful, long term change for both the university community and the wider environment.
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