AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub

Aggregating Higher Education Demand for Renewables

• APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
• AASHE (PA)
• CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)

Cohorts of colleges and universities are aggregating energy loads to achieve economies of scale when sourcing renewable energy. This article highlights the benefits of this aggregated approach by examining several ...

• Posted April 4, 2019
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Impact of environmental knowledge and product quality on student attitude toward products with recycled/remanufactured content: Implications for environmental education and green manufacturing

• City University of Hong Kong
• University of Sheffield
• Monash University Malaysia

This study investigates the impact of environmental knowledge and perceived product quality on purchasing intention and purchasing behavior of recycled products: A4 paper, mobile phones and printers. The intent is ...

• Posted March 31, 2019
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10% Discount on 2019 Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) Summit for AASHE Members

• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)

SPLC’s annual Summit brings together 500 purchasing and sustainability professionals, suppliers, and NGO experts from diverse sectors and regions to share and promote sustainable purchasing best practices for organizations ...

• Posted March 22, 2019
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Harvard's Challenge: Institutional Green Power

• Harvard University (MA)

This case study examines the options that Harvard University has for complying with one aspect of its Climate Action Plan, which was announced in February 2018. It specifically focuses on ...

• Posted March 1, 2019
• Case Studies
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Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast Episode 16: Reducing Waste and Increasing Reuse in Labs at Northwestern University

• Northwestern University (IL)
• Rheaply, Inc (IL)

Julie Cahillane, Sustainability Associate Director at Northwestern University and Dr. Garry Cooper, adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and CEO/Co-founder of Rheaply, Inc..

In this conversation ...

• Posted Feb. 14, 2019
• Videos & Webinars
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Green Supply Chain Professional Certificate

• Loyola Marymount University (CA)

The Certified Green Supply Chain Professional Online Training Program will give you the specialized knowledge to enable a company to achieve its environmental sustainability goals through global sourcing, materials management ...

• Posted Jan. 25, 2019
• Academic Programs
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University of Vermont Dining Services Vendor RFP

• University of Vermont (VT)
• Real Food Challenge (MA)

Request for Proposals for the University of Vermont's dining services provider, specifying ways that the Real Food Challenge and other sustainability measures are to be incorporated into the vendor ...

• Posted Jan. 11, 2019
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Transitioning to Renewables

• Dallas County Community College District System Office (TX)

Each year, a transition to all-renewable sources of energy seems more feasible for colleges and universities. The Texas Higher Education Renewable Energy Consortium is a coalition of colleges committed to ...

• Posted Dec. 21, 2018
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The Real Impact of Real Food: 8 Ways Institutional Procurement is Building Real Food Economy

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

This report pulls from interviews of 50 Real Food vendors across the US detailing how commitments to purchasing Real Food has improved their livelihoods and the overall infrastructure for a ...

• Posted Dec. 21, 2018
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Reactions from AASHE 2018

• Rheaply, Inc (IL)

How do you confidently answer the question: "Do we have this already"?

Rheaply dives into the ways in which institutions can boost communication and save on procurement costs by connecting ...

• Posted Dec. 21, 2018
• Publications
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A New Way to Benchmark your Sustainable Purchasing Program

• AASHE (PA)
• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)

The members of the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council have collaborated to produce a Benchmarking System for evaluating the maturity of Sustainable Purchasing Programs. The new tool is being used by ...

• Posted Nov. 8, 2018
• Videos & Webinars
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Sustainable Procurement: Strengthening the Voice of Sustainability When Partnering With Procurement

• New York University (NY)

Strengthening relations between sustainability and procurement is key to making far reaching impact university wide. NYU's Office of Sustainability has been working closely with the university's procurement department ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Data-Driven Planning for Campus Materials Management - From Inputs Through Outputs

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)

While the higher education sustainability field is grappling with materials management challenges, from procurement through waste operations, there are limited tools and processes for data-driven planning. University campuses yield the ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Lessons from Year 1 of Turning the Page on Campus Paper Use

• Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
• Root Solutions (CA)

Join this session to learn about the experiences of the initial cohort and AASHE's Turning the Page on Campus Paper Use program. Organized in partnership with behavior change specialists ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Raising the Bar - Updated Environmental & Social Criteria for EPEAT-Registered Computers/Displays

• EPEAT/Green Electronics Council (OR)

Product design has progressed, and EPEAT standards are progressing along with them. An update to the computer and display standard that large-scale purchasers have relied on to identify more sustainable ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Put Your Fork Where Your Ethics Are: Exploring Food Systems & Leveraging University Purchasing Power

• Johns Hopkins University (MD)

Do you support climate change? What about modern-day slavery? You don't have to answer that, the food that you buy already does. Worldwide, food is an essential commodity that ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Increasing Local Food Procurement at Ontario's 24 Colleges

• Mohawk College (ON)

Mohawk College executed an innovative project that proved that by sharing knowledge, resources, and solutions, together, colleges can work together to address systematic barriers to sustainability. The project, Increasing Local ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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The Dirt on Real/Good Food

• Macalester College (MN)
• University of Pittsburgh (PA)
• University of Calgary (AB)
• Sodexo (FL)

What makes food sustainable? As an institution how do we implement and report sustainable sourcing of food consumed on our campuses? The Good Food Challenge (Canada) and Real Food Challenge ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Researching and Purchasing Real Food on Campus

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

Our institutions of higher education have incredible purchasing power, with food budgets totaling approximately $5 billion. Instead of using their spending to support local and community-based, fair, ecologically sound, and ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Raising the Bar Across North America: Tracking Sustainable Food Purchasing in Higher Education

• Real Food Challenge (MA)
• Meal Exchange (ON)

Across the United States, the Real Food Calculator has become a standard-setting tool for local and sustainable food procurement in higher education. This student-led research tool allows universities to assess ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Estimating Greenhouse Gas and Water Reduction Through Food Labeling at a University Dining Facility

• Villanova University (PA)

As one of the most basic requirements for survival, food plays a massive role in how humans interact, not merely with one another, but also with the environment. The diet ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Leveraging Sustainability in Food Service Across Campus

• University of Houston (TX)

The University of Houston has undergone a physical and culture transformation with a different food service provider and new collaboration with our Office of Sustainability. In spring 2017 the Food ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Local Food Sourcing in Kentucky: A Case Study in Higher Ed Collaboration

• Aramark Higher Education (PA)

The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville have a unique approach to sourcing local food. Hear from the Sustainability Managers from their dining services and the Executive Director ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Food Service Contracts and RFPs as Vehicle for Sourcing More Sustainable Food

• University of California, Berkeley (CA)
• University of Vermont (VT)
• Farm Forward (OR)

College and universities need new strategies to scale sustainable food procurement. Programs like STARS and the Real Food Challenge have institutionalized sustainable food purchasing targets and many campuses have made ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Encouraging Sustainable Food Purchasing Through Student Programs

• Skidmore College (NY)

Many institutions endeavor to serve local and sustainable food within its dining services, but the complex and often opaque food system presents significant challenges to identifying and sourcing responsibly-produced products ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Campus Advocacy for Global Impact: Fair Trade and the United Nations SDGs

• Fair Trade Colleges & Universities (CA)

Fair Trade Campaigns is a powerful grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of conscious consumers and Fair Trade advocates on campuses and communities across the U.S. We are part of a ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Fair Trade and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• University of North Carolina, Charlotte (NC)
• Fair Trade Colleges & Universities (CA)

Fair Trade Campaigns is a powerful grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of conscious consumers and Fair Trade advocates on campuses and communities across the U.S. We are part of a ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Contracting for Renewable Energy Procurement: Financing and Legal Strategies and Considerations

• K&L Gates (DC)

Colleges and universities are adopting aggressive sustainability targets and deadlines to reduce carbon emissions. To meet these targets, institutions have a range of options, including installing on-site energy generation and ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Getting to a Green Light: How to Build Organizational Buy-In for Large-Scale Renewable Energy

• Brown University (RI)
• Michigan State University (MI)
• CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)

This interactive and action-oriented session will provide insights and tools to update your understanding of renewable energy, map out critical stakeholders on campus, and translate the renewable energy opportunity into ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Getting to 100% Renewable Electricity

• Colorado State University (CO)
• University of Denver (CO)

Colorado State University (CSU) signed the Climate Reality Pledge in January 2017 - pledging to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Since electricity is responsible for ~50% of CSU's GHG ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Off Site Solar - A Group Effort

• Amherst College (MA)
• Bowdoin College (ME)
• Smith College (MA)
• Williams College (MA)

Amherst, Bowdoin, Hampshire, Smith and Williams colleges-signed an agreement in February 2018 to purchase off-site renewable electricity. This agreement will facilitate the construction of a 'utility scale' solar power facility ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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Fair Trade Chocolates: Raising the Challenge with Sweets

• University of North Carolina, Wilmington (NC)

UNCW is one of over 46 universities nationally that have embarked on a campaign to achieve Fair Trade (FT) Status by ingraining FT practices, principles, and policy into their campus ...

• Posted Nov. 5, 2018
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JUST Label and STARS – Comparison and Synergies

• AASHE (PA)
• International Living Future Institute (WA)

The JUST Program has been adopted by organizations worldwide as a robust organizational transparency platform with a specific lens into social equity performance. As organizations and institutions seek to be ...

• Posted Oct. 31, 2018
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Fair Trade Fair at Seattle University

• Seattle University (WA)

In 2015, Seattle University was the first University in the Pacific Northwest to be designated as a Fair Trade University, building awareness about Fair Trade and getting Fair Trade products ...

• Posted Aug. 3, 2018
• Photographs
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EPA's Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

With over 450 ecolabels in the marketplace today, each claiming to validate environmental and human health benefits, it can become very difficult and time consuming for purchasers to identify which ...

• Posted Aug. 1, 2018
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Real Food Standards 2.1

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

The Real Food Standards are a set of criteria and certifications that define Real Food. The purpose of these Standards is to incentivize purchasing from food producers who reflect the ...

• Posted Aug. 1, 2018
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Emory University supports local community project and skilled job training with commitment to purchase lettuce

• Emory University (GA)

Emory University and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta partnered on a project to create green jobs in a low-income area of Atlanta and help Emory achieve its 75% local ...

• Posted July 31, 2018
• Photographs
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Emory University adopted a Pollinator Protection Policy in 2014

• Emory University (GA)

Emory University adopted a comprehensive Pollinator Protection Policy in 2014, a first of its kind policy at U.S. colleges and universities that bans neonicotinoid application, plants pre-treated with neonicotinoids ...

• Posted July 31, 2018
• Photographs
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Portland State University Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council award for Viking Pavilion Miller Paint work

• Portland State University (OR)

Portland State University’s design standards and sustainable procurement policy commit PSU to using sustainable products, with a preference for materials with low embodied emissions. In response to PSU's ...

• Posted July 31, 2018
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UConn ECOCoin Program

• University of Connecticut (CT)

In 2017, the University of Connecticut bookstore rolled out its ECOCoin initiative, through which customers are given an ECOCoin each time they forfeit a plastic bag at the register. The ...

• Posted July 31, 2018
• Photographs
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Good Food Calculator

• Meal Exchange (ON)

The Good Food Calculator is an auditing tool, run by students with support from food service staff, used to track food purchases that qualify as Good Food over time. The ...

• Posted July 13, 2018
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ANSI/LEO-4000, The American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture

• Leonardo Academy (WI)

The ANSI/LEO-4000 American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture empowers the entire agricultural supply chain, from producers to consumers, to decisively advance sustainability in agriculture. It is a benchmarking standard ...

• Posted June 18, 2018
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Stanford R&DE Student Housing Innovation in Cleaning

• Stanford University (CA)

Stanford’s R&DE Student Housing Operations (SHO) adopted a green cleaning standard that has reduced chemical usage in residences by over 90%. The system engineer's water by infusing it ...

• Posted May 21, 2018
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E-Book on Ethical Sourcing

• Fairware Promotional Products Ltd (BC)

A starter's guide to assessing your supply chain and will serve to start you down the path of finding suppliers that share your social and environmental goals.

• Posted May 18, 2018
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Purchasing Carbon Offsets 101

• Second Nature (MA)

"Join this webinar for an introduction to purchasing carbon offsets through the voluntary carbon market. The webinar will cover how schools can use verified carbon offsets to meet emissions reduction ...

• Posted May 8, 2018
• Videos & Webinars
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Learning and Teaching Sustainability: The contribution of Ecological Footprint calculators

• Global Footprint Network (CA)
• Cardiff University
• University of Siena

Consumption habits imply responsibility. Progressive awareness of the scale of materials, energy, goods and services consumed on a daily basis and knowledge of the implications of consumption choices are prerequisites ...

• Posted April 25, 2018
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University of Vermont Eco-Reps "Curb Your Consumerism" Campaign

• University of Vermont (VT)

While the consumption of goods and services is a crucial component of modern economic systems, the culture of consumerism contributes to waste, resource depletion, pollution, and social and economic inequities ...

• Posted April 23, 2018
• Case Studies
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Pass Up Plastic Challenge

• University of New Hampshire (NH)

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire coordinated a Pass up Plastic Challenge. Students, faculty, and staff collected single-use plastics ...

• Posted April 23, 2018
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Sourcing “Less Meat, Better Meat” Through Foodservice Contracts

• Farm Forward (OR)

Choosing a foodservice company is one of the most important sustainability decisions that a school, university, or business makes. Requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracts can be used to articulate ...

• Posted April 11, 2018
• Publications
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Example RFP and Scorecard for Procurement/Advisory Services for Large Scale Renewable Energy

• AASHE (PA)

This is an example RFP for a professional services firm to provide renewable energy procurement services that include the development and execution of an integrated strategy to procure renewable energy ...

• Posted April 6, 2018
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