Resumen

Environmental pollution derived from disposable materials represents one of the most pressing challenges for sustainable development. Within university environments, the frequent use of disposable cups contributes significantly to daily waste generation, highlighting the importance of promoting responsible consumption behaviors aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). This study aims to assess the impact of an environmental awareness campaign on the level of knowledge and consumption habits of the community at the Faculty of Economics and Administration (FAEA), Universidad Nacional del Comahue, regarding the use of disposable coffee cups. A quantitative pretest–posttest design was employed, using two structured online surveys administered before and after the awareness campaign. The first survey was conducted in May to measure the initial level of environmental awareness, while the second was carried out in October, following a month-long campaign in September that included informational materials and digital communication. The findings reveal a significant increase in environmental awareness: the proportion of participants who fully understood the impact of disposable cups rose from 3.1% to 74.2%. Likewise, daily use decreased from 18.8% to 12.9%, and the proportion of respondents who never used disposable cups increased from 40.6% to 48.4%. Moreover, 86.7% of participants agreed that the university community should actively promote the use of reusable cups, reflecting a growing sense of environmental responsibility. The results confirm that educational interventions can effectively foster behavioral change and environmental commitment within university communities. This project directly contributes to SDG 12 by promoting sustainable practices, reducing disposable waste, and reinforcing the university’s role as an agent of cultural transformation toward sustainability.