After a fierce competition between five universities and colleges, Antwerp Management School (AMS) wins the 2025 River Cleanup University Cup.
In this sustainability challenge, which encourages educational institutions from Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia to strengthen their campus initiatives, AMS scored the highest points across three tests. As a reward, both local and international students will be able to enjoy a zero-waste party next month.
The River Cleanup University Cup is an initiative of the Antwerp-based non-profit organization River Cleanup, which focuses on raising awareness and driving behavioral change around plastic pollution. Over the past six years, the organization has removed more than 3.5 million kilograms of waste from rivers in 100 countries, together with over 300,000 volunteers.
Last autumn, five educational institutions took part in the third edition of the River Cleanup University Cup. Points were earned through three tasks: a campus cleanup, a student survey, and a campus check evaluating disposable plastics and sustainable facilities.
Three challenges, one winner
In the first task, participating schools mobilized as many students as possible for a cleanup action. They either took part in World Cleanup Day or organized their own cleanup event. The jury considered both the number of participants and the kilograms of waste collected per student. AMS brought together 45 students, each collecting an average of 2.25 kg of waste. While the school tied for first place in waste collected per student, it had the highest number of participating students.
River Cleanup also visited the campuses to assess how students are supported in adopting a sustainable lifestyle. During this campus check, AMS scored highly across multiple criteria, including:
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Water access: 10 drinking fountains for refilling reusable bottles, serving around 1,500 students
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Waste sorting: four clearly marked waste streams (PMD, residual waste, paper, and paper cups)
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Sorting points: 18 stations across the campus, scaled to the number of students
Finally, a student survey measured knowledge about plastic pollution and willingness to take action, where AMS achieved the highest scores in both knowledge and participation. Across all three challenges, AMS had the highest total score and emerged as the winner.
As a reward, students will enjoy a zero-waste party next month, featuring drinks and snacks made from surplus food, no disposable packaging, and interactive activities showing how small daily choices can make a tangible difference.
The University Cup raises awareness among students about the importance of reducing plastic and waste. Low-threshold actions encourage quick engagement in a way that is both feasible and fun. It’s not just about winning a prize. We want to make students more aware of the plastic pollution crisis and show which choices already make a difference today. This encourages them to use less disposable plastic and take action together.
We are proud of this recognition and the commitment of our students. “If enthusiasm counted, our students would have scored even higher. During the competition, they experienced firsthand how everyday choices about waste and sustainability on campus also have societal impact. This victory confirms that they take responsibility, think critically, and are willing to take action themselves. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we aim to develop.
The University Cup encourages students to rethink their daily routines to prevent plastic pollution and motivates them to take action. Because this project combines local action, common sense, and a hands-on approach, supporting it was an easy choice for us.
