Every year, students at The Columbus School (TCS) participate in robotics, MUN, and TOM, developing skills but generating waste. Energy use, paper waste, and material disposal raise concerns about sustainability.
Sustainability in school events has become a pressing issue, as students and faculty recognize the need to reduce waste, conserve resources, and implement eco-friendly practices. The robotics team at TCS, COSMUN organizers, and TOM leaders are at the forefront of these efforts. This investigation reveals the sustainability challenges faced by each group and explores potential solutions to minimize their environmental impact.
Robotics events require significant energy usage, from high-powered tools to constant battery recharging.
Felipe Franco, a student leader in the TCS Robotics team and senior, emphasized the high energy demands: “The building and testing phases definitely consume the most energy. We use power tools, CNC machines, and 3D printers extensively, and testing requires running the robot for long periods, which drains batteries quickly.”
Waste management is another challenge. Robotics competitions generate substantial electronic waste, including old parts, broken components, and spent batteries. “We try to reuse as many components as possible,” Franco explained. “Motors and gearboxes from past seasons are repurposed for prototypes, and batteries are sent to recycling facilities when necessary.”
Despite these efforts, Franco believes sustainability in robotics events could improve. “A good first step could be creating a sustainability committee within our team to propose ideas and share them with event organizers,” he suggested. Another potential solution is integrating renewable energy sources. “We could explore using solar panels for charging stations or designing robots with energy-efficient systems,” he added.
Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, like COSMUN, generate large amounts of paper waste through resolutions, background guides, and printed materials.
Joaquín Pérez, Secretary General of COSMUN and senior, admitted, “Paper usage is one of our biggest sustainability challenges. While we’ve reduced unnecessary printing, a fully digital format hasn’t been implemented yet.”
Efforts to go paperless have faced resistance. “Some participants still prefer printed documents for note-taking and referencing, but we are exploring ways to make digital options more accessible and user-friendly,” Pérez explained.
Beyond paper waste, event logistics also impact sustainability. “After COSMUN, we make sure that materials like banners and decorations are reused for future events. However, badges and other single-use materials still contribute to waste,” he noted. Looking ahead, he believes sustainability should be a priority. “We need to implement stricter guidelines, like requiring all committees to use digital files and finding eco-friendly alternatives for conference materials.”
TOM is known for its hands-on approach to problem-solving, but its sustainability practices are still evolving.
Juliana Arango, the logistics leader for TOM, highlighted waste management as a significant concern. “We handle a lot of plastic, paper, and food waste during the event, and while we try to recycle, there’s room for improvement in how we manage leftover materials,” she said.
TOM organizers have started incorporating eco-friendly materials, but challenges remain. “We aim to use sustainable materials, but cost and availability are limiting factors. However, we are working on sourcing more recycled and biodegradable options,” Arango explained.
Energy consumption is another area for improvement. “We use a lot of power tools and machinery, and while we encourage mindful energy use, we haven’t implemented concrete strategies to reduce overall consumption,” she admitted. As TOM continues to grow, she believes sustainability should be at its core. “TCS could support us by providing more sustainable material options and promoting workshops on eco-friendly building techniques,” she suggested.
Research shows that sustainability in school events is achievable with proper planning and awareness. According to a study by the International Society for Technology in Education, transitioning to digital formats can reduce paper waste by up to 80%. Additionally, the FIRST Robotics Competition has introduced sustainability initiatives, including recycling programs and energy-efficient robot designs. These findings suggest that TCS could adopt similar strategies across its events.
As robotics, COSMUN, and TOM continue to shape student experiences, their sustainability practices must evolve. Reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and adopting greener alternatives are not just possibilities—they are necessities.
“If we start small—implementing digital solutions, recycling materials, and considering renewable energy sources—our events can become models of sustainability,” Franco emphasized.
The Columbus School has the opportunity to lead by example. The question is: are we ready to take the next step toward a more sustainable future?