Promoting Healthy and Sustainable Campus Consumption: QCU COOP’s Soda Policy
In line with its commitment to sustainable and responsible campus management, the Quezon City University (QCU) Multi-Purpose Cooperative has strengthened its policy on the sale of soda and carbonated soft drinks within the university’s canteens. The directive, issued on October 22, 2024, ensures that all concessionaires adhere to agreements that safeguard cooperative operations, while also advancing QCU’s broader sustainability and health objectives.
When the school canteen reopened in Academic Year 2022–2023, the Cooperative designated the sale of soda and carbonated soft drinks as an exclusive business activity. Concessionaires were allowed to sell these products, provided that they purchased supplies wholesale from the Cooperative Store.
This arrangement guaranteed fairness, transparency, and economic balance between the Cooperative and its concessionaire partners. However, it was observed that some concessionaires began sourcing and selling soda directly from outside suppliers, undermining the Cooperative’s business and creating unnecessary competition within the campus.
To address this, the Cooperative management has prohibited all concessionaires from selling soda and carbonated drinks effective November 4, 2024, reaffirming the Cooperative’s sole right to manage this activity.
Beyond ensuring fair business practices, this ruling also aligns with QCU’s sustainability vision and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Excessive consumption of carbonated soft drinks is linked to health risks such as obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. By limiting the indiscriminate sale of soda on campus, QCU takes a step toward SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, promoting healthier consumption habits among students and staff.
Moreover, by consolidating procurement through the Cooperative, the university is reinforcing SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Centralized supply chains reduce unnecessary duplication, ensure quality control, and allow profits to be reinvested into programs that benefit students and the academic community.
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