PRO ACT campaign for selective waste collection at Corvinus
This subpage was created by us, former students of Corvinus University, in collaboration with the university, to support the development of selective waste collection and sustainability communication at Corvinus.
Who are we?
Our entire team graduated in the spring of 2025 with a Master’s degree in Marketing from Corvinus University of Budapest. During our studies, we also took part in a Double Degree master’s program, spending one semester at KEDGE Business School in Bordeaux, France.
Obtaining our French master’s degree required us to complete a project called PRO ACT, which involves developing and executing a sustainability-related initiative.
For this project, we chose Corvinus as our partner institution. In collaboration with Dr. Katalin Ásványi, Dean for Sustainability, and the university’s communications team, our goal is to raise awareness of eco-conscious living and the importance of selective waste collection within the university environment by using creative and engaging marketing tools.
We hope you’ll find our content inspiring, and that you’ll join us in creating a greener future together!
Thank you for visiting our page, please stay with us on this journey!
We’ll be back soon with more inspiring content!
MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION
DO YOU KNOW ITS EFFECT ON YOUR HEALTH AND BODY?
🧪 WHAT IS MICROPLASTIC?
According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, microplastics are any fragment that is having a diameter of less than 5mm.
There are two types of microplastics:
- Primary microplastics: that are created to be small, found in cosmetics and personal care products.
- Secondary microplastics: most of the microplastics that come from the slow decomposition of larger plastic products, such as PET bottles, plastic containers, or polyester clothes.
🌍 HOW COMMON ARE MICROPLASTICS AND WHERE CAN THEY BE FOUND?
Unfortunately, they are very common, can be found in the water, soil and air. According to one estimate by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2.7 million tonnes of microplastics seeped into the environment in 2020.
Microplastics have been detected in:
- oceans, rivers, rainwater, and tap water
- sea salt, fish, seafood
- and, as of The Guardian, even in human blood, lungs, and placentas!
🧮 HOW MUCH DO WE INGEST AND WHY IS IT HARMFUL?
According to a 2019 study, the average person consumes between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastics particles per year on average
As Susan Gardner, Director of the Ecosystems Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says “Scientists are still trying to understand the potential impact on our health but there are real reasons to be concerned.”
However, some study found microplastics may cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal disruptions.
💡 WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Use a reusable water bottle instead of single-use PET bottles
Choose fabric tote bags over plastic
- Never litter – any plastic waste can become microplastic
Support brands and institutions reducing plastic use
Sources:
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/policy-scenarios-for-eliminating-plastic-pollution-by-2040_76400890-en.html https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/24/microplastics-found-in-human-blood-for-first-timehttps://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2019-who-calls-for-more-research-into-microplastics-and-a-crackdown-on-plastic-pollution
PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN
SERIOUS HARM ON MARINE LIFE
🌊 PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN – WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING?
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic debris in marine environments – oceans, seas, and coastal zones. It includes:
- Macroplastics: visible items like bottles, bags, fishing nets
- Microplastics: plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, often invisible to the eye
🧭 WHERE DOES OCEAN PLASTIC COME FROM?
Contrary to popular belief, 80–90% of marine plastic pollution comes from land-based sources: Littering and mismanaged waste
- Stormwater runoff and rivers
- Industrial activity and packaging
- Maritime industries (fishing gear, shipping waste)
📊 HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
- In 2016, an estimated 19–23 million tonnes of plastic entered aquatic ecosystems
That’s the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks dumped into the ocean every day
- By 2040, plastic flow into the ocean could triple if we don’t act
🐢 WHY IS OCEAN PLASTIC HARMFUL?
- Marine animals mistake plastic for food – causing starvation or death
Wildlife gets entangled in nets, rings, and other debris
- Plastics absorb and release toxic chemicals that affect marine and human health
Microplastics enter the food chain, reaching humans through seafood
🌊 DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS CONCENTRATED IN THE OCEAN?
Sources:
https://www.unep.org/topics/ocean-seas-and-coasts/ecosystem-degradation-pollution/plastic-pollution-marine-litter https://ourworldindata.org/ocean-plastics
SUSTAINABLE FASHION
DO YOU KNOW THE TRUE COST OF YOUR CLOTHES?
♻ WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE FASHION?
Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, produced, distributed, and consumed in ways that are environmentally and socially responsible. It considers the entire lifecycle of a garment (from raw material to end-of-life) with minimal harm to the planet and fair treatment of workers.
Fast fashion, on the other hand, promotes cheap, trendy clothing made quickly and often unethically. And we are paying a much higher price than we think.
🛍 WHY IS THE FASHION INDUSTRY A PROBLEM?
- The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world:
- Produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste per year, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes dumped every second.
- Responsible for up to 10% of global CO₂ emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.
- A single cotton t-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water to produce, the amount a person drinks in 2.5 years.
Most fast fashion garments are made using synthetic fibres that release microplastics into our oceans.
👥 SOCIAL COSTS: WHO REALLY PAYS?
Fast fashion relies on low wages, unsafe working conditions, and child labor in some cases. Garment workers, especially women in developing countries, often earn below living wage while working long hours.
As the demand for cheap clothing rises, so does the pressure on both people and the planet.
💡 WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Choose quality over quantity. Invest in timeless pieces that last.
- Support ethical and transparent brands that care about sustainability.
Shop secondhand or swap clothes with friends.
- Avoid impulse buys by asking yourself: “Will I wear this 30 times?”
- Wash clothes at lower temperatures to reduce water and energy use. The Conscious Consumers Association and Körforrás websites have useful tips and product ratings.
Sources:
https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/?utm_source https://globalfashionagenda.org
SELECTIVE WASTE COLLECTION
THE ECO-LITE VERSION OF LIVING SUSTAINABLY
♻ WHAT IS SELECTIVE WASTE COLLECTION?
Selective waste collection means to separate different types of waste (plastic, paper, metal, glass, etc.), making their recycling possible. This is not only an environmental responsibility but also a conscious lifestyle choice.
Using selective bins instead of using only one trash bin contributes to sustainable future.
Selective bins at Corvinus:
WHY IS SELECTIVE WASTE COLLECTION IMPORTANT?
- The primary goal of selective waste collection is to be sustainable.
- Recycling helps conserve primary raw materials, preserves natural resources, and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.
- Saves resources (e.g., producing recycled aluminium requires 95% less energy than producing new aluminium).
- The world produces more than 2,000 kg of waste every second.
Only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled annually.
👥 WHAT ARE THE COMMON MISTAKES IN SORTING?
- placing non-recyclable items in recycling bins
not emptying and rinsing containers
- not checking local guidelines
- putting hazardous waste (batteries and electronics) in regular bins
not separating food waste or greasy items.
💡 WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Follow local guidelines (colour-coding system, special requirements)
Use seperate bins for different kinds of waste
- Clean and prepare recyclables (rinsing/compressing/removing non-recyclable components)
Reduce and reuse (minimize packaging, repair or recycle)
- Educate yourself
Sources:
https://group.met.com/en/mind-the-fyouture/mindthefyouture/selective-waste-collection/ https://oxygenihair.com/selective-waste-collection-how-to-do-it-correctly/ https://treadingmyownpath.com/2022/03/10/recycling-mistakes/
https://safelec.co.uk/5-common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-handling-waste-insights-from-our-waste-removal-experts/ https://www.schoellerallibert.com/hu/h%C3%ADrek/szelektiv-hulladekgyujtes-szabalyai https://zoldkovet.hu/2022/11/11/szelektiv-hulladekgyujtes-kisokos/
FOOD WASTE
SAVE MONEY AND EAT SMART!
🍏 YOU DON’T THROW AWAY FOOD EITHER, DO YOU?
Food loss is the reduction or deterioration of the quantity or quality of food resulting from the decisions and actions of food suppliers (i.e. occurring before or during the food production and processing processes). While food waste is the reduction or deterioration of the quantity or quality of food resulting from the decisions and actions of retailers, catering service providers and consumers. Within food waste, we can distinguish between avoidable, unavoidable and potentially avoidable waste:
Avoidable food waste: a raw material or prepared food originally fit for human consumption that has been thrown away. This type of food waste is usually the result of human carelessness. (e.g. spoiled yogurt, thrown away slightly wilted tomatoes)
Unavoidable food waste: parts of food of animal or plant origin that are not suitable for human consumption. For example: eggshells, bones, banana peels. Such waste is necessarily generated in the food chain. (e.g.: eggshells, bones)
Potentially avoidable food waste: raw material or ready-made food suitable for human consumption, but discarded for health reasons or personal taste. (e.g. chicken skin, bread crust, apple peel)
The generation of food waste places an unnecessary burden on natural resources and impacts food security. Less food loss and waste would lead to more efficient land use and better management of water resources, which would have a positive impact on climate change and livelihoods.
🏭 IS FOOD WASTE CAUSED BY BIG COMPANIES?
More than 71% of food waste in Hungary is generated in households,
while 17% is generated during food production, 7% by food retailers,
and a little less than 3% by restaurants.
🍔 AND THEN WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT?
It increases food insecurity, thereby contributing to the rise in hunger and malnutrition (Nearly 33 million people in the EU can only afford a full meal every other day, while millions of tonnes of food go to waste) The environmental burden of overproduced food contributes to climate change
Producing food requires the use of valuable resources, so the ecological footprint is high. Food waste accounts for 16% of total greenhouse gas emissions from the EU food system
Growing, harvesting, transporting, manufacturing, packaging, storing, trading, and preparing food all require energy. This energy is wasted on food that is produced unnecessarily and then thrown away.
Food waste costs up to EUR 132 billion per year.
FOOD LOSS AND FOOD WASTE ARE A GROWING, GLOBAL PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
💡 WHAT CAN I DO?
Few tips:
- Think about how much and what you buy – write a list, look at what you have at home when compiling your menu!
- Less is sometimes more – only buy what you will definitely eat!
- Become a meal prep champion yourself – freeze the leftovers, label them, eat them when you don’t have time to cook!
- You cooked too much – invite a hungry friend or relative over!
- Do you already have a composter? – Those foods – especially perishable vegetables and fruits – that you can no longer eat can even be useful as compost!
Good news:
Hungary has managed to reduce food waste since 2016, but there is still room for improvement: 24% of household food waste is avoidable and a further 4.6% is potentially avoidable!
Pay special attention to these food categories:
- fresh vegetables and fruits 🍊
- bakery products 🥐
- ready meals 🍝
Is this worth it to me?
An average household loses 50-60 thousand forints every year, although with a little attention and changing ingrained consumer habits, much of this could be saved.
Sources:
https://www.fao.org/platform-food-loss-waste/food- waste/introduction/en#:~:text=Food%20waste%20refers%20to%20the%20decrease%20in,would%20positively%20impact%20climate%20change%20and%20livelihoods. https://ksh.hu/s/kiadvanyok/fenntarthato-fejlodes-indikatorai-2022/3-28-sdg-2
https://ksh.hu/kiadvanyok/fenntarthato-fejlodes-indikatorai/2024/3-28-sdg-2 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/hu/policies/food-waste/#0 https://www.igyteljesazelet.hu/tippek-az-elelmiszer-pazarlas-megelozesere https://ng.24.hu/fold/2020/03/31/ha-mar-megvettuk-ne-dobjuk-ki/