Food & Dining
Introduction
Modern industrial food production often has deleterious environmental and social impacts. Institutions can use their food purchases to support their local economies; encourage safe, environmentally friendly and humane farming methods; and help eliminate unsafe working conditions and alleviate poverty for farmers. These actions help reduce environmental impacts, preserve regional farmland, improve local food security, and support fair and resilient food systems. Dining services can also support sustainable food systems by preventing food waste and diverting food materials from the waste stream, by making low impact dining options available, and by educating its customers about more sustainable options and practices.
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Saint Mary's College Earth Day Vegetable Plant Giveaway
- Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Saint Mary's College's half-acre garden, The Legacy Garden, is a source of fresh fruits and vegetables on campus for students, staff and faculty. The garden also hosts an annual vegetable …
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Photographs
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Saint Mary's College of California Dining Hall Photo
- Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Saint Mary's College iconic Oliver Hall serves all on-campus students as well as staff, faculty and campus visitors. In 2022, Saint Mary's College switched its food service provider to the …
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Photographs
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Saint Mary's College of California Dining Hall Photo
- Saint Mary's College of California (CA)
Saint Mary's College iconic Oliver Hall serves all on-campus students as well as staff, faculty and campus visitors. In 2022, Saint Mary's College switched its food service provider to the …
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Campus Sustainability’s Secret Sauce – Athletes
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- AASHE (MA)
- Switch4Good inc. (CA)
- Food System Innovations (CA)
Athletics teams can be sustainability’s secret sauce. College athletes are often treated like celebrities, making them powerful influencers for catalyzing campus-wide change and rallying enthusiasm for bold sustainability initiatives. This …
- Posted Aug. 31, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainable Food Production at Yale
- Yale University (CT)
Yale is being recognized as a Top Performer in the category of Diversity & Affordability in the 2023 SCI.
- Posted Aug. 30, 2023
- Photographs
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Acadia Receives Organic Campus Designation
- Acadia University (NS)
Acadia University receives its Organic Campus Certificate from the Canada Organic Trade Association making it the first university in Canada to earn the national designation.
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
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Sustainable Dining
- Denison University (OH)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
Resuable containers for meals to-go at Slayter Market. Championed by Denison Green Team and supported by Bon Appetit.
- Posted Aug. 23, 2023
- Photographs
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Sustainability & Wellness
- Denison University (OH)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
Weekly tabling showcasing health, wellness, and sustainability.
- Posted Aug. 23, 2023
- Photographs
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Sustainability Tour of the Yale Farm
- Yale University (CT)
As part of Celebrate Sustainability Week at Yale in October 2022, the Yale Office of Sustainability, in partnership with the Office of International Students & Scholars, organized a “Lunch and …
- Posted June 27, 2023
- Photographs
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A case study of sustainable hospitality education relating to food waste from the perspective of transformative learning theory
- Shih Chien University
This study applies a critical tourism approach and transformative learning theory to examine the factors influencing students to take a food design course and the relationships among students' learning intentions …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Incentives and penalties tied to sales volume in contracts between beverage companies and public universities in the United States
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (MD)
- Center for Science in the Public Interest (DC)
To assess whether and how beverage companies incentivize universities to maximize sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) sales through pouring rights contracts. Cross-sectional study of contracts between beverage companies and public U.S. universities …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Informative initiatives as a useful tool to raise awareness of food waste. An application to higher education
- University of Zaragoza
Purpose: Because food waste is a serious problem today, society is currently aiming for more responsible consumption to minimize it, as defined in the 12th goal of the United Nations …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Environmental and Climate Impact Perceptions in University Students: Sustainability Motivations and Perceptions Correspond with Lower Red Meat Intake
- Merrimack College (MA)
- University of California, Davis (CA)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (MD)
Background: Red meat production is a leading contributor to food-related greenhouse gas emissions. Decreasing red meat intake can mitigate climate change and lower risk of diet-related diseases. Objective: The goal …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Community relationships and sustainable university food procurement
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
Many universities are working toward more sustainable campus dining food systems. Third-party standards that offer definitions of sustainable food and outline procurement goals are one tool universities can use to …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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What's to Eat and Drink on Campus? Public and Planetary Health, Public Higher Education, and the Public Good.
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
Public higher education institutions (PHEIs) have a unique and important role in responding to the public and planetary health crisis—they are centers of research on public and planetary health and …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Valuation of student-led agricultural activities at university: comparison of willingness to pay with inferred values
- Ritsumeikan University
Agricultural fields in university campuses can improve urban nutrition security, increase greenery, and provide opportunities for students to grow crops and enhance self-management skills. We conducted student surveys among freshmen …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Evaluating the successes and challenges toward achieving the Real Food Commitment at Johns Hopkins University
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- SAGE Fund
With their significant purchasing power, institutions of higher education can create substantial changes in the food system through their food purchases. The Real Food Challenge launched a national campaign in …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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The college campus as a living laboratory for meaningful food system transformation
- University at Albany (NY)
- Johnson & Wales University, Providence (RI)
As has become abundantly clear to the social scientists, agriculturalists, policymakers, and food justice advocates who have taken up the fight, progress toward more resilient, fair, and effective food systems …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Students as co-researchers: Using participatory action research to address college food insecurity
- University of San Francisco (CA)
Studies indicate that college students experience high rates of food insecurity. Growing awareness of food insecurity on college campuses has resulted in efforts by many institutions to address the problem …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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From food access to food sovereignty: Striving to meet university student needs
- Western Washington University (WA)
The ongoing neoliberalization of higher education has meant that college and university students at state institutions face declining state support for their education, increasing debt, precarious post-graduation job opportunities, and …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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An analysis of students’ attitudes and behaviors toward on-campus sustainable dining initiatives
- University of North Carolina, Wilmington (NC)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine students’ attitudes toward sustainable dining. It aims to identify the level of importance that students place on specific on-campus sustainable dining …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Student Led Governance of a Campus Community Permaculture Garden at a Liberal Arts University
- St. Lawrence University (NY)
This case-study supports the implementation and social investment in university campus community gardens as an interdisciplinary resource for academic research, extra-curricular activities, and community building. Using a permaculture design model, …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Higher Education and Food Access: A Case Study of Food Access Initiatives and Their Community Impact
- Central Washington University (WA)
Food security issues are being prioritized across college campuses and among student communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While basic needs services are typically available on campuses, there …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Towards Sustainable Dietary Change: An Exploration of Norwegian University Student's Attitudes toward Meat Reduction
- University of Agder
The current food system is associated with various environmental implications. The meat the industry has been recognized as a substantial contributor to these environmental implications and places enormous strain on …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Incentives and penalties tied to sales volume in contracts between beverage companies and public universities in the United States
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (MD)
- Center for Science in the Public Interest (DC)
To assess whether and how beverage companies incentivize universities to maximize sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) sales through pouring rights contracts. Cross-sectional study of contracts between beverage companies and public U.S. universities …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
- View more
FRESH to Table: A Homegrown Dining Initiative
- Boston College (MA)
Boston College (BC) seeks to foster the ethical and personal formation of its students to prepare them for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society. In addition, as a …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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The Community Action Center Project: Where Food Shelves Meet Carbon Offsets
- Carleton College (MN)
In the city of Northfield, MN, uneaten food typically ends up as waste in the landfill. As this food decomposes, it releases methane—a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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"Food Waste Prevention Week"
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The University of California, Merced's (UC Merced) Sustainable Food Programs is focused on and committed to surplus food recovery, food waste awareness and prevention, food security and more. UC Merced …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Food Waste to Energy: From Pilot Scale Biogas to Grid Tied CHP on a Campus Farm
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Dickinson College Farm is culminating a multi-year project to convert campus food waste to sustainable energy through a grid-connected biogas system. Biogas is a carbon neutral, renewable alternative to …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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USC’s Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy
- University of Southern California (CA)
The University of Southern California (USC) established the Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy in July 2022, prohibiting the purchase or use of single-use plastic beverage products across the …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Earth Fest
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI)
Earth Fest, a free and inclusive community celebration of the past, present, and future sustainability efforts in River Falls and the surrounding area. This family friendly event was held for …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Waste Management Education and Procedural Improvements at a Residential Dining Facility
- Wake Forest University (NC)
- Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)
Sustainability features are only as effective as their operators. While the second largest dining facility at Wake Forest hosts several sustainability features, the compost program was lacking in strength due …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Campus foodscapes as sites of transformation: mapping policy and projects in US universities envisioning just, sustainable and healthy food systems
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- University of Melbourne (Victoria)
Globally universities have expanded their mission beyond teaching and research: recognising their broader responsibilities to their students, communities and civic neighbours, and to sustainable operations and infrastructure. This research considers …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Publications
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Choose to Reuse
- Boston University (MA)
- ARAMARK at Boston University
Boston University’s Choose to Reuse program, offered at seven retail dining concepts in the George Sherman Union, provides students staff, and faculty the choice between ordering their meal on reusable …
- Posted May 23, 2023
- Case Studies
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Cooking with Purpose – Empowering Food-insecure College Students to “Take Back Cooking” for Climate Mitigation, Nutrition and Budget Benefits!
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- AASHE (MA)
Food pantries on college campuses have a wide variety of food choices with a wide variety of cost, nutritional, and greenhouse gas impacts. In an effort to encourage food-insecure students …
- Posted May 18, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Achieving zero-waste targets: residential & retail takeout dining
- USEFULL (MA)
This is a conversation to discuss the challenges and opportunities with takeout food packaging on campus.
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Campus-Community Partnerships: Building Food Sovereignty and Fostering Collaboration
- Lafayette College (PA)
This session will explore how Lafayette College has succeeded and failed at building campus-community partnerships to address food sovereignty with an opportunity for participants to explore their own campus-community engagement …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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An Educational Program on Organic Waste Composting and Compost End Use at Kean University
- Kean University (NJ)
An institutional-wide educational and behavior change campaign was initiated in 2021 at Kean University (KU) to promote organic waste recycling and composting on campus. The program focused on three areas …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Building Social Sustainability in Food Procurement
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Nearly two and half years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, academic institutions continue to grapple with disrupted supply chains and their embedded inequities, which further exacerbated the challenging …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Students and Curricula to Create a More Sustainable and Equitable University Food System
- Naropa University (CO)
Join us for a step-by-step explanation of a curriculum-based, community development approach to creating a more sovereign, secure and sustainable food system at Naropa University. Discover how staff and faculty …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Interdisciplinary Learning Community: Sustainability and Agriculture
- County College of Morris (NJ)
An interdisciplinary approach to environmental topics, such as climate change and sustainability, helps to bridge the gap between identifying an environmental concern and implementing a societal resolution. This presentation aims …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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High Impact Practices at Bridgewater State University’s Permaculture Garden and Local Farms
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
In this presentation, faculty from the Bridgewater State University Sustainability Program share their experiences of using the permaculture garden as a tool for their teaching, research, and scholarship. The goal …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Campus Operations (Group 4)
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
- Farm to Institution New England (VT)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to campus operations. The Lightning Talks are: Innovations in Sustainable Procurement: A Campus Green Purchasing Guide - This session introduces …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Pigface Pancakes – Towards an Edible Campus at University of Tasmania
- University of Tasmania (TAS)
The University of Tasmania has for many years promoted community gardening and the growing of native food plants on its campuses throughout the Australian island state of Tasmania. A recent …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Playbooks for Progress: High-Impact Strategies for Climate-Smart Dining
- Stanford University (CA)
In this session, you’ll gain actionable solutions for advancing plant-forward menus through food choice architecture and preventing food waste—the top two food-related climate solutions at our disposal as leaders in …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Fair Trade and Climate Justice: How People and Planet Benefit From Fair Trade
- Fair Trade Colleges & Universities
Fair Trade Campaigns is a powerful grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of conscious consumers and fair trade advocates on campuses and in communities across the U.S. Our Fair Trade Colleges & …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Essential Food Workers and University Purchasing Power
- Georgetown University (DC)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Food workers are essential, yet they endure wage theft, harassment, trafficking, discrimination, and hazardous working conditions. As institutional purchasers, universities have the purchasing power to improve labor conditions within their …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Composting: Community Based Solutions to Food Waste & Climate Challenges
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Food loss and food waste are global challenges; an estimated 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted. Food waste is directly related to food insecurity, poverty, and the climate …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Greek Sustainability: Leveraging Change, Empowering Leaders
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
Students have been organizing chapter houses to host a "Green Chair" or also popularly known as "Green Greek Reps". We will share our resources, strategy, and recent academic year's impact …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Augsburg University’s Local Food Initiative: Student-Designed, Locally-Sourced
- Augsburg University (MN)
In 2020, Augsburg University’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship launched Augsburg Local, a campaign to leverage Augsburg University’s purchasing power to support local businesses. Purchasing at Augsburg typically takes …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 7: Food and Beverage Purchasing
- Percent of sustainably or ethically produced food and beverage expenditures
- Percent of plant-based food expenditures
- Sustainable food and beverage purchasing inventory
- Description of the sustainable food and beverage purchasing program
- Website URL - Sustainable food and beverage purchasing
OP 8: Sustainable Dining
- Description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project
- Description of the sustainability-themed food outlet
- Description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs
- Description of low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options
- Description of the vegan dining program
- Description of sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls
- Description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system
- Description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program
- Description of the food donation program
- Description of the food materials diversion program
- Description of the pre-consumer composting program
- Description of the post-consumer composting program
- Description of the reusable serviceware program
- Description of the compostable materials and serviceware program
- Description of the reusable container discount or incentives program
- Website URL - Sustainable dining programs
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.