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History of the EcoMug

In 2009, Western Michigan University created a novel, and as far as we know unprecedented, waste reduction initiative. During the first few weeks of school, each incoming student is given a free, high-quality, ISO-certified, stainless steel mug, called the EcoMug. The EcoMug—which is emblazoned with our university sustainability logo and the URL of the Office for Sustainability, and has a variety of incentives associated with it—is designed to do much more than counteract disposable cup use on campus. It’s an innovative model for introducing students to our campus’s sustainability commitments and for stimulating long-term, meaningful behavior change.

The EcoMug program began with Dr. Harold Glasser’s Appropriate Technologies course at Western Michigan University.  After undergoing rigorous testing, the current model for the EcoMug was chosen.  The EcoMug program has many benefits but the main goal is to reduce waste on campus and promote sustainable behavior that will hopefully become habit in the campus community and beyond.  A variety of projects have been developed that will enhance campus sustainability and take us one step closer to the realization of this goal. These projects include an EcoMug distribution plan and schedule based on new student Fall Welcome events and centralized distribution locations, the implementation of a free filtered water program for select drinking fountains around campus, and a contract with campus Dining Services that promotes the use of the EcoMug in the dining halls.

The goal of reducing waste with EcoMug consists of three main parts:

1. To inform students about the benefits of reusable mugs while providing incentives for their use.
2. To distribute the EcoMug free to new incoming students, transfer students, and any student with a campus meal plan.
3. To provide free filtered water from select drinking fountains around campus that would promote the use of the EcoMug, reduce the use of bottled water and other disposable cups, and promote drinking water.

EcoMug distribution, historically, has reached approximately 2,500 new students.  Roughly 4,000 mugs have been distributed in Fall of 2011 alone providing proof to the growing awareness and success of the program.    The mugs were featured at several Fall Welcome events including Stadium Night, Campus Resource Fair, and Pizza with the Profs.  Also, EcoMugs were distributed in the Bernhard Center, near the Bernhard Café, throughout September, 2011.

The continued success of the program depends on the involvement of you, the student.  Using your EcoMug not only reduces waste around campus, but hopefully will create a sustainable habit that you will use throughout your life. 

See the links below to learn more about student research on disposable cups and the EcoMug Project:
Student Research
ENVS 4100 — course overview
WSA