Celebrating VU SA's 33rd birthday: special attention to sustainability

On the 19th of November 2022, members of the Vilnius University Student Representation (VU SR) signed the Organization's Sustainability Declaration. During VU SR's 33rd birthday celebration, the first to sign it were VU SR Council members. Later, by putting their signature, each VU SR member took responsibility to contribute to the Green University through their activities and integration of green principles in their daily lives.

The declaration was signed in response to the climate crisis caused by human activity and in the implementation of the 2022-2025 strategic plan, the strategic project “Green University”, which covers the development and use of renewable energy, the efficient use of resources, the use of climate-neutral and less environmentally harmful transport, the reduction and recycling of waste (food and plastic packaging), the development of healthy and low-climate food and the integration of these principles into research and studies. In the near future, the declaration will be approved in the VU SA Parliament.

"We think about ecology, sustainability and preserving the Earth, only when we see oceans overflowing with plastic or animal species that are suffering and being on the verge of extinction on our social media. It often shocks us, but we unfortunately we often forget, that it is our responsibility to act and to change our daily routine or small habits to reduce those effects. I really hope that the points signed by the members of the Organization will not remain on paper, but will become not only a reminder to follow the principles of sustainability in your activities, but to spread them in your personal and University environment", says Dominyka Goldbergaitė, VU SR social process affairs coordinator. 

With this declaration, VU SR commits:

1. Follow the 5 Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recover, Recycle) and the circular economy principles in the activities of VU SR;

2. Digitize documents, publications or other paper-based printed products and, if not necessary, completely or partially eliminate the use of paper;

3. Sort rubbish in VU SR, University and personal environments and ensure that sorting instructions are provided;

4. Promote more efficient use of natural resources and electricity and renewable energy alternatives in the University environment;

5. Develop opportunities for students and VU SR members to conveniently use environmentally friendly transport, encourage and personalize the use of alternative transport: bicycles, public transport;

6. Ensure that the diet of participants at VU SR and University events follows green principles;

7. Refuse the use of disposable products, especially plastic ones;

8. Aim to integrate green principles into research and studies at the University;

9. To set a good example for others by practicing a sustainable lifestyle and learning from successful examples of sustainability implementation;

10. To carry out educational activities to promote responsible consumption and the sharing economy;

11. To make VU SR a climate neutral organization;

12. Apply the points described in the Sustainability Declaration within and beyond the University.

Vilnius University Students’ Representation (VU SR) is the oldest and largest non-profit, non-political, expert education organization in Lithuania representing the interests of students at Vilnius University and beyond, cherishes university culture and creates the most favorable conditions for students’ self-expression.