Sustainability Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are your overarching sustainability practices?

What are your bags made of?

Do you charge for your plastic bags? If so, where does the money go?

Has the UBC Bookstore considered phasing out plastic bags and substituting them with paper bags? 

What is the UBC Bookstore's policy on recycling plastic packaging, bags, books and more?

Are the products you buy from sustainable sources?

What are your internal staff practices?

What are your overarching sustainability practices?

Our practices include: 'No Sweat' (fair labour) clothing, supporting developing countries through TOMS shoes and Books for Africa, 100% biodegradable bags, used/rental textbooks and ebooks, recycling electronics, recycled stationery products, a growing number of Fair Trade products and serving Fair Trade coffee. We also support hundreds of student and community groups each year through donations, sponsorship and prizing, helping them to continue to develop. The Bookstore is committed to supporting UBC’s overarching sustainability goals.

What are your bags made of?

Our bags are made with 1.2 ml low density plastic with the oxy biodegradable additive EPI oxy, which makes them 100 per cent biodegradable.

Do you charge for your plastic bags? If so, where does the money go? 

We encourage our customers not to take bags, however, if they need a bag we do not charge.  Course materials are expensive and when a customer needs a bag we believe that we should give them one for free.  Having said this we have signs up indicating that if you do not take a bag we will donate the cost of the bag, approximately $00.05 to a local school (Mt Pleasant Elementary).

Mt Pleasant Elementary was selected by UBC's Learning Exchange in the Downtown Eastside.  Last year we gave them $5k which they used to buy equipment for the school.

We also sell back packs and other bags in the store as other options to replace plastic bags.

Has the UBC Bookstore considered phasing out plastic bags and substituting them with paper bags?

Paper bags are not strong enough for course materials and we would have to double and triple bag products which would defeat the purpose.  The bags that use decompose.

What is the UBC Bookstore's policy on recycling plastic packaging, bags and more?

In our warehouse we recycle all of our cardboard in a compactor.  We also recycle packaging (paper, foam chips and plastic) and reuse it wherever possible for our outgoing shipments including packages to customers and returns to vendors. Wooden pallets are also recycled.

We recycle printer ribbons and cartridges.  The collection container is in the computer shop department.  Batteries can be dropped off at the computer shop cash desk.  We are presently working with the Sustainability Office on the logistics for the Bookstore to become a drop off point for other electronics recycling.

All metal fixtures are taken to a recycling centre.

We also encourage re-use of course materials through used books, buybacks and rental books.

Are the products you buy from sustainable sources?

We have a ‘no sweat’ policy in place for our clothing suppliers to ensure it is manufactured in ethical conditions. We also offer a number of recycled products throughout the store such as stationery, and an increasing number of Fair Trade products which ensure a fair working wage for farmers.

What are your internal staff practices?

The Bookstore also participates in recycling all paper (blue bins), the lunch room has recycled bins for food waste (picked up by Plant Operations and used in the gardens)and there are recycle bins for plastic and cans. We have tiny garbage bins allocated to staff to reduce non-recyclable waste.

We encourage cycling, healthy eating (with a Weight Watchers’ Club centered here) and staff to bring their own healthier lunches and eat in our lunch room. For those who take part in fitness events, such as the Vancouver Sun Run, we refund half of their entry fees upon completion.

We have reduced the number of flyers and posters we print, and ask those organizations or campus groups who want to publicize events to also reduce their printed materials and giveaways.  Instead, we use social media channels, in-store digital screens, as well as the cross campus screens to promote messages and events. We are also asked to provide coupons for many events. The printed paper versions are currently being made available on-line via a coupon code on our website. Finally, our marketing department sources giveaways that are recycled wherever possible including paper and actual products.