As consumers, we are now more ethical, environmental, and ingredient-conscious than ever before.
One recent study found that nine in 10 (88 percent) of global consumers surveyed would prefer to buy from companies that sourced ethical products and ingredients, instead of ones that did not.
Thankfully, it looks like conscious consumerism is a trend that’s here to stay and, here at ADU, we are committed to promoting it in every way.
We endeavour to lead by example by reducing waste, preserving resources, using reusable and sustainable alternatives, and encouraging our students to make ethical choices.
Below are just some of the ways that we are inspiring our students to live more consciously.
Fresh from plot-to-plate produce
As part of our efforts to accelerate the creation of sustainable and innovative agricultural solutions, we launched our on-campus AirFarm in 2023.
Inflatable and entirely portable for extra convenience, the farm was created in collaboration with Midbar, a smart ag-tech South Korean company and H.E. Rashed Bin Khalfan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri Holding company.
The AirFarm now yields an array of delicious and nutritious fresh produce, and every plant is picked, prepared and served across our on-campus restaurants and kitchens.
Along with introducing students to the amazing tastes and high nutritional benefits of locally grown ingredients, the AirFarm also promotes the advantages of the latest smart farming solutions.
With devices such as AirFarms known to increase crop yields by up to 30 per cent and reduce the use of natural resources and potentially harmful fertilisers, we hope that our AirFarm will inspire students to create more vital sustainable innovations.
Future-focused degrees
Our quality degrees reflect and embrace the current trend for conscious consumption.
We proudly offer a wide array of courses related to sustainability, urban planning, and environmental science, as well as energy management, renewable energy, and sustainable engineering
Many of our research programmes are also dedicated to different areas of conscious consumption. Projects dedicated to sustainable production, waste reduction and enhancing the circular economy are continually in action across our campuses.
Promoting sustainable practices, on and off campus
Conscious consumption is encouraged throughout the university. We have implemented an array of waste reduction measures, and all our buildings have been built to eco-friendly standards and fitted with energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting and solar panels. Recycling bins are of course dotted on every corner, too.
Furthermore, we aim to engage the local community in the benefits of responsible consumption and production. We encourage our students to get involved with organising public workshops and seminars and we collaborate with government agencies, businesses, and NGOs to support responsible consumption initiatives and host our awareness campaigns.
To find out more about how ADU is promoting conscious consumerism, please visit: https://www.adu.ac.ae/sustainability.
