Fostering Sustainability Through Creativity: WKU Earth Day Series Successfully Held

On April 22, 2025—World Earth Day—Wenzhou-Kean University successfully hosted a series of events including the Earth Day Marketing Competition, the Student Flea Market, and the WKU Sustainable Campus Community Innovation and Proposal Showcase. Co-organized by the College of Business and Public Management (CBPM), the Green Campus Development Task Force, the Institute for Asian Industry Competitiveness (IAIC), and the Student Advisory Council (SAC), these events attracted participation from over 1,000 students. Through creative marketing, circular economy practices, and actionable sustainability proposals, the events aimed to encourage students to merge business thinking with environmental responsibility, injecting new vitality into sustainable development on campus.

 The picture shows Vice President Zheng Xiaodong and Director Chen Qingjia participating in the opening ceremony and the pre-event workshop.

Marketing Competition

The Earth Day Marketing Competition featured three categories: creative video, poster design, and social media marketing. Judging criteria focused on alignment with sustainability principles, creativity, and communication impact. Students were encouraged to structure their works around the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over 50 creative teams engaged in fierce competition around the theme of campus sustainability. Topics ranged from carbon neutrality on campus to recycling unused items, with students transitioning from passive supporters to proactive designers. Practical solutions such as a "Campus Clothing Recycling Program" and "Energy-Saving Equipment Promotion Plan" were proposed. Some outstanding entries gained over 10,000 views under hashtags like #WKUSustainability and #WKUearthday, extending eco-awareness beyond the campus into the wider community.

The first-prize-winning team, happyhappy, created a short video in the form of a puzzle, documenting sustainability initiatives at Wenzhou-Kean University. With a lens focused on natural landscapes, ecological systems, waste sorting, and energy use, they seamlessly stitched fragmented scenes into a compelling visual narrative of WKU’s unique path toward green development.

The winning entries of the marketing competition

Flea Market

The flea market served as a living classroom of the circular economy. With 25 creative booths, students brought used books, clothes, electronics, and accessories for sale or exchange. These transactions directly reduced waste sent to landfills and extended the lifespan of products, embodying the principles of reuse and circularity. The event also provided students with a platform to hone their entrepreneurial skills—learning pricing strategies, customer communication, and micro-business management. On-site, vibrant interaction, idea sharing, and mutual support among students fostered a strong sense of community.

The third-place winning team launched an independent brand, “Rolkatt Pop-Up Shop,” focusing on the reuse of second-hand clothing. All items were professionally disinfected and ranged from T-shirts and tank tops to jackets, dresses, shorts, and pants, catering to diverse fashion needs. A thoughtfully arranged fitting room with full-length mirrors offered a convenient and comfortable try-on experience, putting sustainable fashion into practice and promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Flea market stall display

Green Sustainability Idea and Initiative Competition

As one of the signature events, the Sustainability Innovation & Proposal Competition aimed to spark creative thinking and translate sustainable concepts into actionable ideas within the campus and community. Impressively, 216 proposals were submitted by WKU students and faculty, showcasing their deep understanding and critical reflection on sustainability topics.

Focusing on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), students proposed a “Green Dormitory Certification Program,” which uses check-ins and point-based incentives to promote energy-saving and waste-reducing behaviors, contributing to a low-carbon campus lifestyle. Centered on SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), another group proposed a “Campus Circular Economy Hub” to facilitate item exchange and repair, promote the reuse of idle resources, create green shared spaces, and foster a culture of frugal and sustainable consumption.

Winners of the Three Competitions Announced

(1) Earth Day Marketing Competition:

First Prize: Xu Nuo, Fu Yuxi, Weng Zhengyang

    - Second Prize: Song Qinyun, Zheng Yaxin, Zheng Dongsheng, Zhang Ning

    - Third Prize: Huang Ziyi, Li Zeting, Hu Yueyang

    - Fourth Prize: Sang Yonghui, Zheng Zhicheng, Shen Hanting

    - Fifth Prize: Zhang Bingye, Su Weiqi, Zhang Qiuzi

    - Sixth Prize: Chen Hangyu, Zhang Shiyi, Wang Kundi

(2) Earth Day Flea Market:

    - First Prize: Shu Chang, Lv Ziyue, Shen Yingyi

    - Second Prize: Zheng Xianshuo, Meng Sitong, Huang Weihan, Li Zhengyang, Shen Yitao

    - Third Prize: Jiang Ziyue, Peng Kailin, Zhu Shuhan, Chen Anjin, Qi Caiyi

(3) Sustainability Innovation Competition:

Lin Zijin, Gong Cunhan, Zhou Luohan, and 33 other individuals received awards for their proposals.

Closing Remarks

Vice Chancellor Zheng Xiaodong stated, “Sustainability is not only a global concern but also a core mission of higher education. At Wenzhou-Kean University, sustainability is embedded in our values, planning, and operations. We are committed to building a net-zero emissions campus through concrete actions.” Professor Chen Qingjia, Dean of the College of Business and Public Management, also encouraged students to transform classroom theories into practical solutions for environmental challenges.

The 2025 Earth Day series was another innovative milestone in WKU’s sustainability education, successfully establishing a complete loop of Education–Practice–Impact. Wenzhou-Kean University will continue to advance green education and nurture talents who combine business acumen with social responsibility, contributing to a sustainable future for all.

Special Thanks

This event’s success was made possible by the collective efforts of all stakeholders. Dr. Candy Lim Chiu and Dr. Han-Chiang Ho from the Department of Marketing provided full academic guidance, ensuring that all competition entries were logical and innovative. Student leaders Chen Ke, Zhou Hongming, and Xiao Zhi took charge of the flea market coordination, competition promotion, and technical support, respectively. They led the student team (Bai Yunfeifei, Chen Xin, Cai Chenghui, Jia Bei, Li Wanming, Liu Qingyang, Liu Yutong, Liu Shiyu, Shen Yixin, Xu Xiaoxi, Ye Tianlan) in efficiently executing promotional planning, resource coordination, and logistical support, ensuring the successful launch of the Earth Day events.