Genuine commitment to sustainability
 Environment
The 成人大片 has become the first university in South Australia to be awarded a Sustainability Licence from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The licence recognises the University's genuine commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. It combines the standard EPA licence with a voluntary sustainability agreement outlining the University's public commitment to reducing its environmental impact. EPA Deputy Presiding Member Stephen Hains said the EPA's Sustainability Licence was only presented to businesses that went above and beyond standard EPA licence conditions and demonstrated a genuine commitment to reducing their environmental footprint. The licence is only the fourth to be granted to an organisation by the South Australian EPA. "The launch of Innova21 - Australia's first 6 Star Green Star Design in the education sector - is a practical demonstration that the University is a truly deserving recipient of the Sustainability Licence," Mr Hains said. "The University has a proactive culture of complying with environmental protection requirements as well as demonstrated leadership in sustainability. The EPA is pleased to recognise this leadership and the model that it offers to all EPA licensees to take a proactive role in meeting their environmental standards." The University's Vice-President (Services & Resources), Mr Paul Duldig, said: "The 成人大片 is already a widely recognised leader in environmental research and education, and we believe it's important to demonstrate leadership in sustainability issues at an operational level. "With 25,000 students, more than 3000 staff, four campuses and wide-ranging research and education activities, the University is a major organisation in this State with a significant environmental footprint. Understanding and managing that footprint, and finding more sustainable ways of doing so, are extremely important to us," he said. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the University has:
- established an 'Ecoversity' initiative to tackle environmental sustainability right across the University
- worked with SA Water to reduce water consumption
- accomplished waste reduction and improved recycling with the assistance of Zero Waste SA
- established an 'Ecoleader' program and student internships programs, addressing water, waste and energy management
- produced comprehensive carbon inventories since 2007
- developed a web-based sustainability management and reporting tool to manage energy, carbon and environmental performance.
Minister for Environment and Conservation the Hon. Paul Caica congratulated the 成人大片 on its ongoing efforts to improve environmental performance. "I'm pleased to see the 成人大片 has become the first educational institution in the State to take this step, leading by example and helping to show what can be achieved towards environmental sustainability," said Mr Caica. The Sustainability Licence applies to the University's campuses at North Terrace, Waite, Roseworthy and Thebarton. For more information on the University's sustainability practices, go to Story by David Ellis
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