UPS (NYSE:UPS), the world’s largest package delivery company, and American University of Sharjah (AUS) have partnered to promote more strategic waste paper management in the Emirates. The Green Program campaign includes more than 100 AUS students who have volunteered to educate fellow students on the importance of reducing and recycling waste.
The Green Program, initiated by the University’s community service department, aims to increase awareness among the students, the faculty and the wider community about how their small but consequential actions impact the environment. Studies reveal that it takes 17 full-grown trees, 7000 gallons of water and 4000 watts of electricity to produce one ton of paper.
As part of the paper recycling program, more than 1000 UPS recycling bins were placed in the library, classrooms, staff rooms, cafeteria and other heavily-trafficked areas around the university campus. Slide shows, lectures and kiosks were used by the Green Program team to highlight the need to reduce-recycle-reuse paper. With the campaign slogan, ‘Less White, More Green’ the University has been successful in reducing paper wastage and recycling used paper at the central recycling point every week.
“The Green Program campaign was initiated by our students who felt the need to educate their peers about using paper judiciously and minimising wastage. When industry leaders like UPS support such causes, it not only helps on a logistics level but encourages more volunteers and further galvanises the University population”, said Munketh Taha, Assistant to the Dean of Students Affairs at AUS.
Launched in April 2006, the campaign has been an instant success among the students and the teaching staff. The Green Program team now plans to extend the campaign to local parks, beaches and shopping malls to build awareness on waste paper management among the general public. UPS has extended its support to provide the required number of paper collection points for the wider recycling campaign.
“Though we live in and operate in an increasingly electronic era, there is still limited commitment to recycling on a regional level. UPS fully supports the AUS Green Program as part of our overall commitment to the environment in the UAE and around the world”, said John Tansey, General manager, UPS UAE LLC.
Recognized for its management, product, and service quality, UPS is also a pioneer in terms of corporate social responsibility initiatives, leveraging global resources to positively participate in local environmental and humanitarian causes.
About UPS
UPS is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, USA, UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS’s stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS) and the company can be found on the Web at www.ups.com.
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