Mini and Tier One SIRF Projects in Action

Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund Mini and Tier One grants aim to boost sustainability awareness, foster a culture of environmental responsibility and encourage positive behavior shifts.

In 2024, various student and employee groups used SIRF grants to advance sustainable practices within the ASU community. Listed below are a few programs that received SIRF funding this year.

The Dean of Students at ASU California Center distributed reusable water bottles to over 100 incoming students to help reduce single-use plastics, provide education on ASU’s sustainability goals and support the building’s newly installed water refill stations. 

ASU proudly provides 1,000 water refill stations across its campuses. The university’s water refill stations boast a state-of-the-art filtration system to provide purified water — part of the university’s commitment to promoting a sustainable, healthy environment.

About 14% of the waste produced at ASU is single-use plastics. When you use a reusable cup or water bottle, you divert approximately 156 plastic water bottles yearly and help ASU create a circular resource system.

Find a water refill station near you. 

ASU Supply Chain Management hosted a coffee talk and tasting in April to support the University Services Building’s transition to reusable K-Cups® to reduce single-use plastics. Employees from SCM provided Fair Trade coffee and spoke to attendees about the importance of well-sourced coffee and zero-waste practices on campus. 

SCM, Facilities Development and Management, University Sustainability Practices and ASU Zero Waste aim to use the reusable K-Cup transition at USB as a model for sustainable kitchenettes and break rooms that can be implemented across all ASU campuses. Reducing single-waste plastics will help ASU reach its 30% aversion and 90% diversion goals by 2025.

Read more about USB’s transition to reusable K-Cups.

The Sun Devil Marching Band created and wore 429 Earth Day Every Day shirts during their halftime performance to support sustainable practices and awareness at an ASU Green Game in September 2023. In addition, USP created large posters using SIRF funding for the field half-time display, which showcased Earth Day Every Day imagery. The game focused on sustainable transportation, plant-based food options and zero-waste messaging.

This Sun Devil Marching Band is a prominent part of the fan experience at football games. Earth Day Every Day shirts showed the unity of students and departments supporting ASU’s sustainability goals.

PhD researchers at De Montfort University and the ASU Media and Immersive eXperience Center developed an immersive virtual reality experience that provides students a framework for reducing their carbon footprint. This experience will help complement the sustainability curriculum and help with retention and impact. 

The Asian/Asian Pacific American Students’ Coalition hosted a thrift market event in January 2024 to bring awareness about the negative impacts of fast fashion. The event supported circular fashion with upcycling of clothing and offered free reusable tote bags to all attendees. Promoting circular fashion aids environmental responsibility and action by encouraging the community to reuse and recycle clothing items. Over 20 members signed up to be vendors at the event, bringing their clothing to sell or trade, and over 400 students participated.