Incorporating sustainability into our daily lives is not just a responsibility—it’s an opportunity to lead by example and create lasting change. Simple actions, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and supporting local initiatives, can collectively make a powerful impact.
At the University of Malta, we are fortunate to be part of a community that actively champions sustainable practices.
From student-led projects to university-wide initiatives, there are many role models among us demonstrating how to live and lead sustainably. These examples serve as daily inspiration and a reminder that meaningful change starts with individual choices.
- Prof. Philip von Brockdorff, Professor, Department of Economics
"When I think of sustainability, I understand it refers to sustainable living whether at home or at the workplace. In my daily activities, I try to put sustainability into practice by limiting energy use and reducing the use of paper.
As individuals making up the UM community, we can become more sustainable by reducing the use of vehicles using diesel or petrol, avoiding the use of air conditioning as much as possible, and reducing printing."
- Dr Elaine Grech, Lecturer, Department of Marketing
"When I think of sustainability, I believe it refers to meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
In my daily activities, I try to incorporate sustainability into practice by being mindful about my consumption, try to reduce waste and consider the environmental impact of my actions.
As individuals making up the UM community, we can become more sustainable by realising that changing minor things in our daily routine can promote and reinforce sustainable practices."
- Dr Inġ. Francarl Galea, Senior Systems Engineer, Department of Microelectronics & Nanoelectronics
"Embracing sustainable practices helps conserve resources, reduce pollution, and protect the environment for future generations. Simple actions like minimising waste, reusing materials, and supporting eco-friendly businesses contribute to a greener world.
Energy conservation is equally important. Small changes such as turning off unused lights, unplugging electronics, and optimising heating and cooling can significantly reduce energy waste. Setting air conditioners to efficient temperatures (24–26°C in summer, 18–20°C in winter) helps balance comfort and efficiency. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, further decreases reliance on fossil fuels and mitigates climate change. Recycling responsibly also plays a crucial role.
Properly sorting plastic, paper, metal, organic and glass reduces landfill waste and conserves raw materials. Supporting businesses that use recycled and sustainable products strengthens the circular economy and promotes a more environmentally conscious society. Every effort, no matter how small, makes a difference. By making sustainability a priority in daily life, we can reduce our impact on the planet and inspire others to do the same. Together, we have the power to build a healthier, more sustainable future."
- Ms Angela Xuereb, Senior Executive, Marketing, Communications & Alumni Office
"When I think of sustainability, I believe and understand that this refers to the 'maintenance' of resources in such a way that does not lead to waste, and therefore, while making full use there is the conscious intent of preserving these resources over time to the point that we can even increase usage without a decrease in execution or user experience.
This may be utopic but I feel that our mindset should be geared to this tangent: propense to sustainability.
In my daily activities, for as far as I can remember, I try to make sustainable choices by avoiding waste and opting for scalable practices. Just to mention one practical example in my daily life: as much as possible, I adopt the travel smart initiative encouraged by UM.
As individuals making up the UM community, we can become more sustainable by working together with a view to embracing the sustainable development goals in our daily routine and ultimately the initiatives promoted by C-SUM."
- Mr Clinton Cassar, Visiting Senior Lecturer, Department of Policy, Politics and Governance
"When I think of sustainability, I believe it refers to the process of balancing environmental, social, and economic aspects to foster a fair world for both current and future generations.
In my daily activities, I try to put sustainability into practice by making small yet meaningful choices that reduce my environmental impact, such as recycling and carpooling.
As individuals making up the UM community, we can become more sustainable by working together to build a more responsible community and fostering a culture of accountability to ensure a better future."
- Ms Isabella Bianco, Project Officer, SEA-EU Office
"When I think of sustainability, I believe/understand it refers to society's capacity to thrive and progress without exhausting the natural resources essential for future generations' survival. In my daily life, I strive to practice sustainability by thrifting and repairing items, composting, recycling, avoiding plastic bottles, using filtered water at home, refraining from using air conditioning, maintaining a vegetarian diet, and supporting local vendors.
As individuals making up the UM community, we can become more sustainable by sharing our eco-friendly practices and developing guidelines to help staff and academics reduce their environmental impact. This includes promoting composting, using air conditioning efficiently, utilizing car-sharing services, optimizing lighting, and powering down devices when not in use. Sustainable practices could be promoted by fostering healthy competition between departments and offices to determine which one is the most sustainable of the year. This could be achieved by monitoring consumption rates and rewarding those who demonstrate the greatest commitment to eco-friendly practices.
Promoting a paperless office by embracing digital alternatives and encouraging the use of reusable items, such as water bottles, is essential. We could establish specific days throughout the year for activities like clothing swaps, organising carpooling, or hosting walking challenges (such as tracking the most steps in a month) in the individual offices. Offering discounts at eco-friendly local vendors would further encourage sustainable choices. Furthermore, getting involved in community initiatives, like participating in clean-up drives, helps reinforce our dedication to sustainability."
- Mr Andre Pawney, Administrator, Marketing, Communications & Alumni Office
"To me, sustainability means the holistic use of existing resources without wasting or duplicating existing content. We try to apply this when it comes to the population of websites, since we encourage faculties and all directorates to, for example, link their website sections to existing content rather than creating a new section which replicates content which can already be found elsewhere. In my day-to-day proceedings I also try to avoid the excessive use of paper, getting as close as possible to a paperless mode of operation. I also make use of public transport on a daily basis and always try to keep the lights off in my corridor and the rest of the Administration Building.
If the UM community unites in support of the SDGs, we can drive meaningful, collective change. It all begins with small, positive habits that seamlessly integrate into our daily routines. Imagine if every staff member and student committed to making just one sustainable change each day—both on and off-campus. This simple yet powerful shift could spark a nationwide movement toward sustainability."
