On May 28, 2025, the SEEDS Circular Economy Research Symposium brought together students, staff, and faculty to share progress on waste reduction, circular procurement, and research-backed solutions. Highlights included student housing innovation, a review of SEEDS research, opportunities for sustainable procurement initiatives, and lively discussion on UBC’s circular economy future.
Event Overview
On May 28, the SEEDS Sustainability Program hosted the Circular Economy Research Symposium in the vibrant and welcoming Dodson Room at UBC’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. The afternoon event convened representatives from Student Housing and Community Services, Facilities, The University Neighborhoods Association, Sustainability and Engineering, other UBC departments, faculty working in related fields, and students from a variety of backgrounds, creating a collaborative space to explore circular solutions for the campus.
The event was designed to share findings from student-led research to support the development of actionable strategies supporting circularity at UBC Vancouver, while also celebrating and recognizing the contributions of those advancing circular efforts across campus units.
The symposium opened with an overview of the SEEDS Program and UBC’s Zero Waste Action Plan (ZWAP), followed by a series of student research presentations focused on key circularity themes. Topics ranged from sustainable procurement practices and food system circularity to campus waste sorting innovations.
Research Highlights
Circularity Trends at UBC
One presentation offered a retrospective analysis of a decade of circular economy research in the SEEDS Sustainability Library. The findings showed that food systems and waste sorting were the most frequently explored themes, with waste sorting projects generating a high number of recommendations and measurable implementation success.
Procurement and Systems Thinking
Another presentation emphasized the importance of embedding circular economy principles into institutional procurement processes. The topic generated significant interest from attendees, with several participants requesting follow-up resources and tools for integrating sustainability into purchasing decisions.
Waste Innovation in Student Housing
A third presentation examined innovative waste sorting strategies tested in student residences. This pilot project revealed that two different interventions led to drastic improvements in waste diversion across the study period (131% and 152% improvement from the control). With student housing contributing nearly half of campus waste, this research finding has the potential to make a significant impact in achieving the Zero Waste Action Plan 2030 waste reduction goals.
Participation and Momentum
Throughout the event, participants engaged in thoughtful discussion and lively Q&A sessions. The energy in the room was high, with many attendees and student researchers exchanging ideas, contact information, and follow-up questions. The collaborative atmosphere sparked discussions on future partnerships, new research directions, and practical applications of circularity principles across campus operations.
Looking Ahead
The strong turnout and interest across sectors highlighted a shared commitment to advancing circularity at UBC. Over the next two years, the SEEDS program will focus on reducing food waste to landfill, promoting sustainable and circular procurement, creating a culture of sustainability, and supporting initiatives that facilitate a transition to circularity. Resources and reports from the event will be made available through the SEEDS Sustainability Library this summer. Future opportunities to connect research with campus operations will continue through SEEDS and partner units.
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