AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub

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
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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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Organizational life cycle assessment: suitability for higher education institutions with environmental management systems

• Polytechnic University of Valencia (Valencia)

The purpose of this study is to analyze the suitability of organizational life cycle assessments (O-LCAs) for higher education institutions (HEIs) with special attention to the benefits and particularities of ...

• Posted March 22, 2018
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Putting “Reduce” to Work: Getting Rid of Plastic Bags on Michigan State University’s Campus

• Michigan State University (MI)

In order to mitigate the effects of plastic bags on the environment and to fulfill Michigan State University's commitment to sustainability, we pioneered a two part initiative to reduce ...

• Posted March 19, 2018
• Case Studies
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The Impact of Sustainable Purchasing Decisions

• Delta College (MI)
• University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
• National Association of Educational Procurement (TX)
• AASHE (PA)
• Interface Global (GA)
• Ray C Anderson Foundation (GA)

This is the 4th and final webinar in the Sustainable Consumption: Sustainable Campus (SC2) series by AASHE supported by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. The webinar will address the impact ...

• Posted March 12, 2018
• Videos & Webinars
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Contributing to Campus Sustainability Culture through Purchasing, STARS

• Green Seal (DC)
• AASHE (PA)
• EPEAT/Green Electronics Council (OR)
• Forest Stewardship Council (MN)

In partnership with the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, AASHE explores how sustainable procurement can transform campuses and the economy in this webinar series, Sustainable Campus: Sustainable Consumption (SC2).

Participants in ...

• Posted March 9, 2018
• Videos & Webinars
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Empowering Procurement to Transform Your Campus and the Economy

• American University (DC)
• Emory University (GA)
• AASHE (PA)
• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)

Learn how campuses spend money and how they can develop practices and policies that make spending a positive contribution to sustainability. Attendees will gain insight from sustainability officers, campus procurement ...

• Posted March 9, 2018
• Videos & Webinars
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Green Interview: Kimberly Smith, Director of Conferences and Events, AASHE

• AASHE (PA)

When Kimberly Smith began as director of conferences and events at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), she already thought she was doing her part ...

• Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Flame Retardant Chemicals in College Dormitories: Flammability Standards Influence Dust Concentrations

• Harvard University (MA)
• University of New Hampshire (NH)
• Silent Spring Institute (MA)
• University of Antwerp

Furniture flammability standards are typically met with chemical flame retardants (FRs). FRs can migrate out of products into dust and are linked to cancer, neurological impairment, and endocrine disruption. We ...

• Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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University of Regina's Print Optimization Program

• University of Regina (SK)

The Print Optimization Program originally started as the University's attempt to manage the number of print devices that we had on campus. Almost every faculty and staff member had ...

• Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Building a Strong Local Foods Program for Your Campus

• Seattle Central College (WA)
• Smith College (MA)
• Towson University (MD)
• University of Vermont (VT)
• AASHE (PA)
• Farm to Institution New England (VT)

Food systems have become an increasingly important element of campus sustainability efforts and planning, with varying levels of commitment and institutionalization across campuses. This topic has a variety of focus ...

• Posted Dec. 14, 2017
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College Students' Emissions “Foodprint”: Can Eco-Labels Shift Diet Types?

• University of California, Berkeley (CA)

Due to the higher greenhouse gas emissions from livestock food production compared to plant-based food production, it is imperative that consumers shift their diets away from meat. One possible method ...

• Posted Dec. 12, 2017
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Sustainable procurement: human rights and greenhouse gas emissions

• University of Leeds (West Yorkshire)

This paper reports on research based on the University of Leeds' supply chain as part of its sustainable development programme. The research examines the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in ...

• Posted Dec. 11, 2017
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Corrugated Pallets: How Campus Procurement Policies Can Drive National Change to Reduce Emissions, Advance Zero Waste, and Protect Employees

• Change the Pallet (OR)

Change the Pallet is a national non-profit dedicated to reducing carbon emissions massively through education and advocacy with respect to the tremendous environmental benefits of corrugated paper pallets vs. traditional ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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A New Way to Benchmark Your Sustainable Purchasing Program

• 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 Dec. 1, 2017
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What Paper Manufacturers Know About Environmental Impact that Customers Aren't Asking About

• Kimberly-Clark Professional (GA)

In this session we will examine some key environmental considerations that are often overlooked during procurement decisions. Specifically, we will focus on the manufacturing and waste footprint created by consumable ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainable Food Systems: Increasing Local Food Procurement on Campus

• Mohawk College (ON)

Increasing local food procurement represents an opportunity for post-secondary institutions to enhance campus sustainability, improve the student experience, and have a greater positive impact on the regional economy. Mohawk College ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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CURC Campus Recycling & Materials Management Survey

• Keep America Beautiful (CT)

The College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC) is conducting a national survey to document recycling and sustainable materials management (SMM) trends and practices at North American colleges and universities. The ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Developing a Green Office Program at your Institution

• Harvey Mudd College (CA)

Much of our work as sustainability officers is to encourage the campus community to embrace and live an environmentally sustainable lifestyle, While oftentimes initiatives will target students, eco-conscious purchasing and ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Social Sustainability: University Procurement and Ethical Labor Standards

• Harvard University (MA)

Universities are the center of thought leadership, training global leaders and world citizens. Their business practices should reflect the same core values. Expanding on the anti-sweatshop movement that reformed licensed ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Sustainability in the World of Print and Mail

• Messiah College (PA)

Dwayne Magee, President of IPMA, is also the Director for Print and Mail at Messiah College near Harrisburg, PA. Messiah College and other CCCU schools spend about $15 million every ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Light Up With LED

• The Ohio State University (OH)

Light Up With LED was a semester long, student-led project at the Ohio State University to educate our off-campus student population about energy efficient behaviors. Sponsored by a Coca-cola Sustainability ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Student Governments and the Power Purchase Agreement: A Tool for Financial Sustainability

• Southern Oregon University (OR)

Students at Southern Oregon University are exploring the potential for their student government to invest in solar panels and sell the resulting electricity back to the university, cutting the university ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Interactive Workshop: Simple Choices in Sustainable Purchasing? Beware the Pitfalls

• Green Seal (DC)

What's the simple answer for selecting a sustainable product?' Many purchasers ask this when seeking environmentally-responsible choices. Many of these simple answers may seem to be the correct ones ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Real Food Challenge: Making Real Food a Reality on Campus

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

Across the country, more than 80 institutions of higher education have made individual or system-wide pledges to increase their procurement of real food, increase institutional transparency of campus food purchasing ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Beyond Policy: Sustainable Catering at an Institutional Level

• Emory University (GA)
• America To Go (NY)

How many sustainable catering policies, goals, and guidelines are hard-fought and won, but face the challenge of ubiquitous adoption across the institution? Goals for landfill diversion, waste reduction, and sustainable ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Designing Menus for the Future: Sustainable Food Purchasing, Student Activism and Food Footprints

• University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
• Friends of the Earth (DC)

This interactive discussion explores real world strategies for shifting school menus toward food that is healthy, local and sustainable, including methods for evaluating environmental impacts of food choices. With on ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Refillable water bottles, reusable bags, and bicycle lights: Is sustainability swag sustainable?

• University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)

When students arrive on your campus, perhaps they find a refillable water bottle in their residence hall room. Or at new student orientation, perhaps they receive a reusable bag with ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Tackling the Supply Chain-Proven Strategies to Source More Sustainable Food

• University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
• Sodexo (FL)
• Farm Forward (OR)

Colleges and universities play an important role supporting the development of sustainable food systems. Historically, sustainable dining programs have focused on sourcing local and organic produce. Increasingly universities are playing ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Fishing for Solutions: How Sourcing Sustainable and Affordable Seafood Fits into Your Campus Foodservice and Sustainability Programs

• University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
• Monterey Bay Aquarium (CA)
• Sea to Table (NY)
• Changing Tastes (MA)

What's for dinner? Fish! And a chance to promote ocean conservation, increase seafood consumption on campus, and engage students in sustainability. Chefs, nutritionists and food activists have advised an ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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Food Service Companies and Campuses Innovating to Source More Local Food

• Grand Valley State University (MI)
• University of Vermont (VT)
• Aramark Higher Education (PA)
• Sodexo (FL)

This session will focus on increasing local food purchasing through stakeholder engagement at universities in Arizona, Maine, Michigan and Vermont. GVSU continues to expand its sustainable agriculture educational opportunities and ...

• Posted Dec. 1, 2017
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The Key to Sustainable Purchasing - Radical Supply Chain Transparency

• Georgetown University (DC)
• Harvard University (MA)
• AASHE (PA)
• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)

By definition, you can’t really know what is happening in your institution’s supply chain if you don’t even know where your supply chain is. Yet, few purchasers ...

• Posted Nov. 7, 2017
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Purchasing - University of Calgary

• University of Calgary (AB)

University of Calgary has demonstrated leadership for sustainable purchasing in all aspects of its campus operations. Supply Chain Management integrates sustainability into the purchasing processes by requiring preferred vendors to ...

• Posted Oct. 14, 2017
• Photographs
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NAU - Sustainable Campus Index - Bookstore Bag Pictures

• Northern Arizona University (AZ)

Northern Arizona University’s Bookstore (operated by Follett) is the latest concessionaire to stop handing out plastic bags for retail operations, opting instead for a more environmentally friendly paper bag ...

• Posted Oct. 11, 2017
• Photographs
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#EKULocal Festival

• Eastern Kentucky University (KY)

On September 7th, 2017, the Office of Sustainability at Eastern Kentucky University hosted its second annual #EKULocal Festival. The festival featured live music, fun activites, fresh produce, and a variety ...

• Posted Sept. 28, 2017
• Photographs
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Paper Reduction at the University of Washington

• University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
• University of Washington, Bothell (WA)
• University of Washington, Tacoma (WA)

The University of Washington is committed to reducing paper consumption at the university and using paper made from recycled content when necessary. Learn more about why that's important with ...

• Posted Aug. 17, 2017
• Videos & Webinars
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Marine Debris & Plastic Source Reduction Toolkit for Colleges & Universities

• University of California, San Francisco (CA)
• University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
• University of California, San Diego (CA)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)

EPA, the Product Stewardship Institute, and the University of California collaborated on this toolkit to help college campuses and other institutions cut their plastic waste and reduce marine debris and ...

• Posted Aug. 17, 2017
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University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point Designated as the 40th Fair Trade University in the U.S.

• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)

The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, part of a national initiative by Fair Trade Campaigns to engage college/university students in issues of global poverty, officially received designation as ...

• Posted May 22, 2017
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McGill University’s Fairtrade Campus Commitment: Roddick Roast Coffee

• McGill University (QC)
• Fairtrade Canada (ON)
• The Canadian Fair Trade Network (BC)

In June 2013, McGill University was given the designation of Fair Trade Campus by the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN). This means that 100% of coffee sold on campus is ...

• Posted May 22, 2017
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Making Local, Healthy, Sustainable Delicious: The How-To Guide for Foodservice Operators

• University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)

The How-To Guide for Foodservice Operators is a manual for restoring real food and regional food systems to the right place in our society. The guide documents UMass Dining’s ...

• Posted May 22, 2017
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Environmental and Economic Perspectives in the Analysis of Two Options for Hand Drying At an University Campus

Environmental criteria can be part of global energy policies for the establishment of support and development actions for different technologies. Minimization of greenhouse gas emissions is a benefit to all ...

• Posted May 19, 2017
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University of California, Climate Lab, Video Series Episode Three: Why your old phones collect in a junk drawer of sadness

• University of California, Office of the President (CA)

This is the third episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the ...

• Posted May 4, 2017
• Videos & Webinars
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How Campus Solar Cuts Carbon and Boosts the Bottom Line

• Cedar Valley College - DCCCD (TX)
• Edison Energy (CA)

Learning Outcome 1: Learn how to assess on campus solar potential Learning Outcome 2: Understand how to compare on-site and off-site approaches Learning Outcome 3: Gain insight on how to ...

• Posted April 25, 2017
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Large-Scale Renewables: The Next Chapter in Higher Education Sustainability Leadership

• Second Nature (MA)
• CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)

Higher education is uniquely positioned to both expand and benefit from climate leadership. Many universities and colleges have substantially stepped up their commitments and efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG ...

• Posted March 14, 2017
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University of Chicago New Construction Procurement Case Study: Securing Your Investment in Sustainability

• University of Chicago (IL)
• Second Nature (MA)
• AASHE (PA)
• Seventhwave (WI)

Join AASHE and Second Nature for an in-depth look under the hood of the University of Chicago’s innovative procurement approach to establish a measurable energy performance requirement in their ...

• Posted March 7, 2017
• Videos & Webinars
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Assessing Supply Chain Emissions in Higher Education: Who, Why and How

• Portland Community College (OR)
• Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)

The intent of this paper is to provide public and private sector professionals with a guidebook as to how to track and report on their supply chain-specific greenhouse gas emissions.

• Posted March 3, 2017
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“I’m Just Going to Buy That!”: Confronting Consumerism in Teacher Education

• Nipissing University (ON)

As educators at a faculty of education, the authors found that teacher candidates (TCs) invariably purchased new materials whenever they had an assignment requiring some form of construction activity. They ...

• Posted Feb. 9, 2017
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Green public procurement as an initiative for sustainable consumption. An exploratory study of Spanish public universities

• Polytechnic University of Valencia (Valencia)

Green public procurement has been considered an important policy instrument on the path toward realizing sustainable consumption and production. Additionally, universities are important to the promotion of sustainable consumption through ...

• Posted Feb. 6, 2017
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Real Food Assessment Tips

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

This document outlines helpful tips for identifying food and beverage products that meet the Real Food Standards, i.e. products that are fair, ecologically sound, humane, and/or local and ...

• Posted Dec. 12, 2016
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Real Food Standards 2.0

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

The Real Food Standards are a comprehensive guide to socially and environmentally responsible food purchasing for universities, developed in deep collaboration with advisors and stakeholders - including 100+ farmers, ranchers, fishermen ...

• Posted Dec. 12, 2016
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