Grand Valley State University, MI Sustainability Efforts
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Grand Valley State University,
MI,
US
Type: Policy
Status: Ongoing
Source File: http://www.gvsu.edu/campusdine/index.cfm?id=C07FAEB6-B728-D68D-26D79C332BA7E2F3
Description:
Campus Dining is continually increasing its sustainable practices while serving the campus community high quality foods and top-notch customer service. Below is a list of our current sustainability initiatives.
Local Vendors:
- Produce: Local Farm Markets, when available
- Ice Cream: Hudsonville Ice Cream, Hudsonville, MI
- Baked Goods: Sandy’s Bakery, Grand Rapids, MI
- Concessions: Kowalski Hot Dogs, Grand Rapids, MI
- Dressings: Chadel Farm, Lowell, MI
- Vending: Karr’s Nuts, Detroit, MI
- Concessions: Grand Rapids Popcorn
Note: Using local vendors are an important sustainability initiative because it requires the use of less fuel to deliver the food to campus.
Waste Reduction/Recycling:
- Campus Dining participated in a Sustainable Research Group in Grand Rapids. Food waste from our locations was made into compost.
- Central production uses to-go containers made of corn products. For more information about the containers used, click here.
- Campus Dining uses biodegradable grocery bags.
- The Meal Plan brochures were streamlined into one brochure in 2007. T his reduced the number of brochures printed by 3,500 from 2006 to 2007.
- Campus Dining sold “Earth Sense” mugs to celebrate Earth Week. Customers could refill that mug for .25¢ for the remainder of the academic year in all Campus Dining locations.
- Customers can refill their own coffee mug at any Campus Dining location for $1. Campus Dining gave away over 1,000 mugs and refillable cups during the Sustainability Event in Fall 2007.
- Campus Dining partners with the Housing Office by placing our brochures into their student mailings. This eliminates the use of unnecessary envelopes and fuel by the post office.
- Nutritional information can be found on the website, eliminating the use of printed brochures.
- Campus Dining purchases recycled printer cartridges.
- Chemical buckets for cleaning products are reused.
- Payroll envelopes for managers and supervisors are reused.
- Campus Dining locations have collection sites for pop cans, plastic bottles and glass.
- The Meadows uses reusable plastic baskets to serve food.
- In Fall 2007, Campus Dining will began using disposable plates made of sugar cane. More information can be found here.
- Campus Dining is also using sustainable cups, more information can be found here.
- Used grease from Campus Dining locations is used to make bio-fuel for a GV SU campus bus
- Campus Dining participates in Recyclemania, a 10-week competition among colleges and university recycling programs. More information can be found at http://www.recyclemaniacs.com.
Sustainable Products (Used by Campus Dining or Available by Campus Dining):
- Eco-Friendly Coffee and Fair Trade Tea is available at Einstein Bros. Bagels
- EcoGround and Fair Trade coffee is offered in Java City locations and the Fresh Food Company. More information can be found here.
- The Meadows grows its own herbs
- Low emission fluorescent lights are used in Campus Dining coolers
- Campus Dining purchased a flex-fuel vehicle used for food delivery
- In 2007/2008 all Campus Dining uniform shirts will be 100% cotton.
General Sustainable Efforts:
- Campus Dining participates in the Adopt-a-Highway program.
- Healthy food options are available in the vending machines
- Campus Dining educates its employees on sustainability through our BLT training course
- Campus Dining eliminated the use of trays at the Fresh Food Co. to eliminate the need for unnecessary water and soap usage.
- Campus Dining has a manager dedicated to sustainability.
Goals:
- To create as sustainable of a kitchen as possible in the lower Commons renovation.
- To participate in a community garden project.
- Utilize as many Fair Trade products as possible.
- Use sustainable and biodegradable utensils in dining locations.