AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub

Desktop Printer Removal and the Transition to Managed Multi-Function Printers: Benefits and Case Studies

• Root Solutions (CA)

This document was designed to introduce higher ed staff to the topic of printer consolidation, with an emphasis on the many sustainability and other benefits (especially cost savings) of replacing ...

• Posted Dec. 29, 2020
• Publications
• View more

Urban and Metropolitan Universities: The Transformative Power of Anchor Institutions

• Democracy Collaborative (DC)

'Urban and Metropolitan Universities: The Transformative Power of Anchor Institutions' focuses on the role of urban and metropolitan universities as anchor institutions in their community to address long standing inequities ...

• Posted Oct. 23, 2020
• Publications
• View more

Ontario Tech University - Solar Panels

• University of Ontario Institute of Technology (ON)

Ontario Tech University’s long-established reputation as a post-secondary leader in conservation and green community-building has achieved a Gold rating from AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS ...

• Posted Oct. 19, 2020
• Photographs
• View more

Cal State East Bay Embraces System-wide Single-use Plastics Policy

• California State University, East Bay (CA)

The California State University system passed a new system-wide policy in 2019 that applies to all 23 CSU campuses in banning the institutional purchase of all single-use plastics. Plastic straws ...

• Posted Oct. 14, 2020
• Photographs
• View more

COVID-19 and Sustainability Resources

• Princeton University (NJ)

The Office of Sustainability has compiled this list of resources to support Princeton University students, faculty and staff as they navigate challenges related to sustainability and COVID-19 at this moment ...

• Posted Sept. 11, 2020
• Publications
• View more

A Holistic Approach and Model for a Sustainable Food System

• Harvard University (MA)
• AASHE (PA)

The Harvard Office for Sustainability (OFS) convened a multi-disciplinary committee of world-renowned faculty to translate their research into action on campus to create a more sustainable food system that contributes ...

• Posted July 9, 2020
• Videos & Webinars
• View more

Doing Good While Doing Your Job – Moving Toward a Circular Economy (during this time of Coronavirus)

• Stony Brook University (NY)
• AASHE (PA)
• Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (DC)
• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Brought to you by the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) and its members – a network of higher education associations with a commitment to advancing sustainability within their constituencies and ...

• Posted May 28, 2020
• Videos & Webinars
• View more

Committing UC Berkeley to the Strongest Plastic Ban in the Country

• University of California, Berkeley (CA)
• CALPIRG Students (CA)

CALPIRG Students, a student-run public interest nonprofit, ran and won their campaign to commit UC Berkeley to eliminate all non-essential single-use plastic by 2030. This is the strongest plastic ban ...

• Posted May 18, 2020
• Case Studies
• View more

The Free Store: A centre for re-use & recycling at the University of Ottawa

• University of Ottawa (ON)

The University of Ottawa’s Residences had a problem with waste. Large dumpsters would fill with valuable and reusable items every spring and fall when students moved out. These items ...

• Posted May 18, 2020
• Case Studies
• View more

Diversity Food Services: Leading the Way on Socially and Environmentally responsible Campus Dining in Canada

• University of Winnipeg (MB)

The University of Winnipeg Campus Sustainability Office would like to nominate Diversity Food Services for an AASHE Campus Sustainability Achievement Award.

Diversity Food Services is a joint venture of the ...

• Posted May 15, 2020
• Case Studies
• View more

The relationship between moral competences and sustainable consumption among higher education students

• NEOMA Business School (Rouen)
• Comillas Universidad Pontificia (Madrid)

Despite claims of the importance of students developing moral competences in the context of Education for Sustainable Consumption, the literature lacks a systematic perspective that empirically assesses the association between ...

• Posted May 13, 2020
• Publications
• View more

Green Chemistry and Environmental Management Systems: Relationships, Synergies, Advantages and Barriers of Joint Implementation at Universities

• Universidad San Jorge

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) based on international standard ISO 14001 are recognized as a tool to improve the environment and the sustainability of organizations. Green Chemistry (GC) seeks to reduce ...

• Posted May 13, 2020
• Publications
• View more

Sustainability and procurement practices in higher education institutions: Barriers and drivers

• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
• University of Passo Fundo
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Federal University of Santa Maria
• University of Winchester
• University of the Aegean (Lesvos)

A review of the literature reveals the scant research on sustainable procurement in the public sector, and in particular higher education institutions (HEIs). In this context, this paper aims to ...

• Posted May 13, 2020
• Publications
• View more

How mindfulness training cultivates introspection and competence development for sustainable consumption

• Arizona State University (AZ)
• Leuphana University of Lüneburg

Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationship between introspection and key competencies for sustainable consumption (KCSCs). It investigates whether mindfulness training can cultivate the ability to introspect and stimulate ...

• Posted May 11, 2020
• Publications
• View more

The Working Farms Fund: Partnership to Build a Sustainable Local Food System

• Emory University (GA)

Emory University and The Conservation Fund have formed a new partnership to support next-generation farmers in Georgia and help build the local food supply across metro Atlanta with a first-of-its-kind ...

• Posted May 11, 2020
• Case Studies
• View more

“Box to Farm to Compost”: A Paradigm Shift from an Extractive Culture to Regenerative Culture

• Iowa State University (IA)

As a land grant university with a student population of over 30,000 students and about 6000 faculty and staff, there are enormous packaging items that make its way to ...

• Posted May 1, 2020
• Case Studies
• View more

Analysing material and embodied environmental flows of an Australian university — Towards a more circular economy

• University of Melbourne (Victoria)

Humans are extracting and consuming unprecedented quantities of materials from the crust of the Earth. Contributing to this consumption, university campuses require large amounts of materials to operate. This offers ...

• Posted March 4, 2020
• Publications
• View more

Webinar: Innovation in Cleaning for Custodians and Students

• Stanford University (CA)
• AASHE (PA)

Stanford University’s Residential and Dining Enterprises has adopted a green cleaning standard that has reduced chemical usage in residences by over 90%. The system engineers water by infusing it ...

• Posted Dec. 12, 2019
• Videos & Webinars
• View more

Sustainable Procurement: Considerations and Best Practices

• EPEAT/Green Electronics Council (OR)

Strategic sustainable purchasing programs allow institutional purchasers, and colleges and universities in particular to advance the sustainable design of products and services they purchase while realizing environmental savings for their ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Leading with Circular Economy Concepts, Business Cases and Tools

• Stanford University (CA)
• Cascadia Consulting Group, Inc. (WA)
• Interface Americas (GA)

A circular economy is an economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources. This regenerative approach (in contrast to the traditional linear economy, which has a ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

EcoCoin Program as an Effective Alternative to Banning Plastic Bags

• University of Connecticut (CT)

On a small scale, localized bans and ordinances against single use plastic bags present many challenges: How will it impact local businesses' bottom line? Will customers go elsewhere? Who enforces ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Sustainable Economy in Labs: I2SL's Landfill Diversion Working Group Pursues Upstream Dysfunction

• Emory University (GA)
• University of Georgia (GA)

Researcher time is for research! Join us in calling for upstream innovations to build a circular economy and protect valuable scholar time! Achieving sustainability in laboratory settings with regard to ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Improving Sustainable Purchasing Through Business Services Systems and Practices

• Stanford University (CA)

The purchase of supplies by staff in universities is connected to the use of energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. The types and quantities of supplies purchased in universities ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Sustainable Procurement in Laboratories: It's Time to Act

• My Green Lab (CA)

Recent years have seen an increased focus on sustainable procurement across a multitude of industries. Yet with little information or sustainability standards for laboratory products, it has been challenging for ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Beyond Green - Can Your IT Purchasing Also Drive Supply Chain Responsibility?

• TCO Certified (TX)

IT hardware is a complex category for institutional purchasers. Institutions are concerned about not only environmental impacts of their IT infrastructure, but also working conditions in the manufacturing supply chains ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Breaking the Cycle of Convenience Culture: Inspiring Accountability Through Ownership

• KeepCup (CA)

College and university campuses are not closed systems. The population changes day to day, depending on class, staff, and vendor schedules and activities. With an ever-changing population with diverse needs ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Leveraging Campus Buying Power to Get Toxic Chemicals Out of Our Food and Off School Grounds

• University of California, Berkeley (CA)
• Center for Environmental Health

This session aims to educate, inspire, and equip purchasing decision makers, relevant staff and students to take action, collaborate with other purchasers, and employ creative solutions to eliminate toxic chemicals ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

California State University Says Goodbye to Single-Use Plastics

• California State University, Chancellor's Office (CA)
• California State University, Long Beach (CA)
• California State University, Los Angeles (CA)

The California State University includes 23 campuses, 500,000 students and sustains more than 150,000 employees. A new system policy enacted in December establishes purchasing practices aimed at eliminating ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Purchasing With Your Values

• Bow Valley College (AB)

Public institutions have to be conscious stewards of public funds when making purchasing decisions. Passing Sustainable Purchasing Policies or Procedures can help empower employees of schools to be creative and ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Supply Chain Partnerships: MSU and SPLC Pilot BENCHMARK in Higher Ed Operations

• Michigan State University (MI)
• Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)

Organizations around the world have recognized the need for supply chain sustainability in order to reduce the environmental, social and economic impacts of their purchasing while protecting and delivering value ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Leveraging Institutional Buying Power for Sustainable Procurement: A Strategizing Session

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

Many colleges and universities have separate conversations with the same suppliers. Imagine the impact we could have on the environment if higher ed coordinated sustainability requests of these companies and ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Outdoor Program Gear Purchasing: Applying Leave No Trace Ethics to Create a Circular Economy

• Auburn University (AL)
• University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)

This session will explore how outdoor programs can become more sustainable in regard to purchasing, maintenance, and transportation while effectively educating the student population on these topics. Presenters are two ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Improving Health in the Built Environment Through a Class-Based Approach to Chemicals of Concern

• Harvard University (MA)
• Center for Environmental Health

This panel introduces purchasers (and manufacturers) to the targeted chemical class-based approach to help provide clarity grounded in science about how to avoid the most common chemicals of concern in ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Can Buying Better Products Help Reverse Global Warming? Toward Circular, Carbon-Storing Procurement

• Interface Americas (GA)

What does Procurement have to do with global warming? Research indicates that the embodied carbon (the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere from product supply chains, manufacturing and transport) purchased by ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Data-Driven Sustainability: How Universities Can Use Data to Make Ethical Licensing Decisions

• Sumerra (OR)

Poor working conditions at a factory in China that manufactures t-shirts bearing a university's logo aren't that university's problem, right? Wrong. Universities are increasingly called to account ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Turning Values Into Results: The Real Food Calculator and Real Food Procurement

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

Through their purchasing power, institutions of higher education are in a position to create positive change in our food system that is currently dominated by industrial agriculture and exploitative, unsustainable ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Sustaining Local Producers Through University Purchasing

• Johns Hopkins University (MD)

Universities have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in their local economies by buying local. Through their large purchasing power in food procurement, universities can support a local food ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Local, Sustainable, Grassfed and Delicious: Harvest Table North Carolina Case Study

• Wake Forest University (NC)
• Changing Tastes (MA)
• Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)

More than two decades of work to promote local, sustainable and real food in colleges has transformed what it means to succeed in foodservice. It's raised awareness of the ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Going Beyond Local to Build Just and Sustainable Rural Economies

• University of Missouri (MO)
• Aramark (PA)
• Farm Forward (OR)
• Niman Ranch (CO)

Historically, the phrase 'sustainable food' focused exclusively on environmental impacts of food production, but to build a truly sustainable food system we must broaden the aperture to consider how the ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Supporting a Sustainable Economy Through Partnership With Local Food Hubs

• Gonzaga University (WA)
• Sodexo USA (MD)
• Puget Sound Food Hub (WA)
• LINC Foods (WA)

This session will showcase how to effectively collaborate with local producers to build a more sustainable economy through increased purchases of local products and to raise awareness about food systems ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

The Future of Real Food

• Real Food Challenge (MA)

The past ten years have seen a dramatic shift in real food purchasing on college and university campuses. Local food and sustainability are now common conversations in campus dining. Values ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Fair Trade Campus Advocacy for a Sustainable Economy

• Gonzaga University (WA)
• 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 in communities across the U.S. Our Fair Trade Colleges ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Leveraging the Power of Institutional Purchasing to Create a Sustainable Economy through Fair Trade

• Arizona State University (AZ)
• University of California, Irvine (CA)
• Aramark (PA)
• 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 in communities across the U.S. Our Fair Trade Colleges ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Broadening the Impact of Renewable Energy Purchases: A Case Study

• Low Impact Hydropower Institute (MA)

Current trends in the renewable energy market, particularly in the growing PPA procurement segment, have focused on energy usage and supporting new development. This limited focus has been directed primarily ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Lots of Watts: Building an Energy Cohort to Buy Big Renewables

• Lafayette College (PA)
• CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)

As campuses face climate action targets, or seek to manage energy budgets, large-scale renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) have emerged as a practical and cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Easier Said Than Done: Developing a Replicable Framework for Implementing CAP's in Higher Ed

• California State University, East Bay (CA)
• California State University, Northridge (CA)

When beginning to execute a Climate Action Plan it becomes apparent that there isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' solution or a readily available replicable framework. Having to create your own tools ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Student Governments as Platforms for Sustainability Efforts

• University of Denver (CO)

Many sustainability efforts on college campuses are student-driven, however, the majority of the students leading these efforts tend to be involved in sustainability-related organizations or employees of their university's ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

How 'Green' Can Green Cleaning Get? Strategies for Policy, Procurement, and Practice

• University of California, Irvine (CA)
• University of California, Merced (CA)
• WAXIE Sanitary Supply (CA)

Waxie Sanitary Supply, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of California, Merced, are collaborating to build a more sustainable economy through green cleaning policies, procurement, and education. Implementing ...

• Posted Dec. 4, 2019
• Conference Presentations
• View more

Turning the Page: A Behavior Change Toolkit for Reducing Paper Use

• Portland Community College (OR)
• AASHE (PA)
• Root Solutions (CA)

In 2017, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and Root Solutions, with funding from the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, created the Turning the Page ...

• Posted Nov. 6, 2019
• Publications
• View more

Turning the Page: A Behavior Change Toolkit for Reducing Paper Use

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

From 2017-2019, Root Solutions trained more than 20 higher education institutions in how to use behavioral insights to save paper. Based on real-world experiences at these institutions as well as ...

• Posted Oct. 24, 2019
• Videos & Webinars
• View more