Brainstorming Potential Sustainability Strategies Brainstorming Worksheet
Intervention Strategy
Target Audience (Actor/s)
Desired Effect
Collaborate with other companies to create a cell phone application to record the storage conditions of different foods. The application will alert users three days before the expected expiration of the food, thus avoiding food waste due to forgetfulness or wrong storage conditions.
Primary: The primary target audience for the mobile app will be consumers, students or people who purchase food to cook at home. Our mobile app will remind users to eat food before it spoils. For example, suppose a user purchases an orange and selects storage conditions such as room temperature, refrigerator temperature, etc., on the mobile app. In that case, the software will generate an estimate of how long it will take for the food to spoil based on the food itself and the storage conditions. Ultimately, the software will remind the user to eat the food as soon as possible, three days before the estimated spoilage.
Secondary: Local supermarkets or authorities can collect anonymous data on the most wasted foods and sell them without pre-packaging, thus avoiding the over-purchase caused by rationing.
The main goal of this project is to provide residents with greater clarity and visibility into the shelf life of their food. At the same time, the program will allow residents to avoid unnecessary food waste. In addition, we will allow participants to comment and share their opinions and collect feedback on how to make food last longer or avoid over-purchasing to discover more services to offer to users.
Implement a “ Residence Reduce, Reuse& Recycle Program” in student residences in cooperation with the building management. Hosting free in-person workshops and monthly events on topics like circular economy, food packaging and canning, sustainable packaging to encourage students contribute to this program.
Primary: The Primary target audience for the “Residence Reduce, Reuse& Recycle Program” will be students who lives in residences. We will be using different types of advertising and marketing strategies to encourage students in participation of workshops and monthly events, for example, we will be creating incentives such as free raffle to win prize money, gift card etc, and providing free delicious food and drinks with sustainable packaging for those who signed up for the event.
Secondary: Management Office will also play an significant role by allowing us hosting these events under their property. Proper communication and negotiation is needed to have their full support in this program which will be conducted by our team members.
The primary purpose of this program is to educate residents about the importance of waste diversion and how this affects our environment. Creating spaces for those who care about our environment and giving them the opportunity to connect. We will provide the opportunities to participants and let them share their opinions and collecting feedbacks for future improvements of this program.
Promote behavior change among consumers whereby they will be educated about the recycling, reusing, and proper disposal of waste. For instance, they can be sensitized to purchase disposable products, purchase only what they need, and buy in bulk.
Primary: Consumers such as individuals who buy household items. Targeting public awareness towards this group will reduce the amount of waste generated in household activities. The consumers will work closely with local authorities and suggest ways that can be used to facilitate waste diversion.
Secondary: Local authorities will be trained about waste diversion and how they can take an active role in enforcing the recommended waste diversion strategy.
Adoption of the suggested waste diversion strategy will reduce waste production, create greener living environment, and enhance collective responsibility in waste reduction.
Provide waste recycling and composting opportunities such as curbside collection programs and drop-off depots. Encourage use of yard waste collection and creation of backyard composters.
Primary: Target industries and restaurants. These are among the leading sources of waste production. Enforcing recycling and composting measures in industries will considerably reduce the amount of waste generated.
Secondary: Promote public campaigns targeting households informing them about the importance of waste diversion and how recycling and composting can be used to promote environment conservation.
This approach will increase the community diversion rate and the total waste sent to landfill, which are some of the indicators for tracking the success of waste diversion programs.
Grow more produces like fresh fruits and vegetables at University’s community gardens to eliminate plastic wraps and enhance a more sustainable lifestyle on campus.
Primary: The primary audience is University of Waterloo, specifically, community garden members who take care of these areas.
Secondary: students and staffs at UW who benefit from green space and local food source
By introducing community garden and increasing number of crops within these areas, some plastic waste for food packaging could be eliminated. More importantly, it demonstrates UW’s commitment to build a more sustainable campus.