UNAIR NEWS (UNAIR) has taken a bold step in reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Starting with the inauguration ceremony for professors on Thursday, April 24, 2025, the university officially replaced traditional floral congratulatory boards with tree seedling arrangements攁n eco-conscious gesture aimed at supporting environmental preservation and climate action.
Toward sustainable environment
The new initiative was announced by UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, MT, Ak, CA during his remarks to the newly inaugurated professors and members of the academic community. He explained that the long-standing custom of sending large floral congratulatory boards is being phased out in favor of more sustainable practices. Going forward, the university has officially banned the delivery of such floral displays to campus grounds.
淪tarting today, sending floral congratulatory boards to UNAIR is no longer allowed. If someone insists on sending them to a faculty building, they must be prepared to handle the cleanup themselves, said Prof. Nasih. 淚f not, it becomes a burden, especially considering the microplastic waste from these boards affects us all.
Meaningful gesture of appreciation
As an environmentally responsible alternative, Prof. Nasih encouraged well-wishers to offer tree seedlings instead of floral congratulatory boards. These seedlings攑referably productive varieties such as durian or grape攎ay also bear the sender檚 name. He noted that this approach is not only more sustainable and useful but also serves as a living tribute that can grow and be remembered for years to come.
淲e still have plenty of land to plant trees, he said. 淪o beginning next week, congratulatory gestures for newly inaugurated professors should come in the form of seedlings. It檚 a simple yet deeply meaningful way to show appreciation.
The move aligns with UNAIR檚 commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically: SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land.
The policy also enhances UNAIR檚 performance in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, particularly in the areas of waste reduction, expansion of green spaces, and the integration of environmental education across academic activities.
By holding a professorial inauguration with a reduced environmental footprint, UNAIR not only celebrates scholarly achievement攊t also underscores a broader message: academic excellence and environmental responsibility must move forward together.
Author: Nafiesa Zahra
Editor:Yulia Rohmawati
