Vanderbilt Campus Dining recognized with Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award

Vanderbilt University Campus Dining has been honored with the 2024 Tennessee Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awardfor Sustainable Performance for its leadership in innovation to significantly cut the university's overall environmental impact.

Presented by Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the award celebrates organizations that demonstrate outstanding commitment to protecting the state's natural resources. Vanderbilt's initiatives in waste reduction, local sourcing and sustainability education contributed to its selection.

"We are incredibly proud of this recognition and the hard work that has gone into making Vanderbilt a leader in sustainability," said Sean Carroll, senior director for Auxiliary Services. "Programs like ReusePass and 'No.More.Plastic.' have not only transformed our operations, but also demonstrated what's possible when we prioritize environmental stewardship."

Innovative waste reduction initiatives

Two key waste reduction initiatives lead the way in Campus Dining's sustainability efforts. The "No.More.Plastic."campaign, launched in 2019, eliminated single-use plastic water and soda bottles in Campus Dining locations. In 2021, the program expanded to athletic events, which removed over 25,000 plastic bottles a year from stadium concessions and saves more than 1.7 million plastic bottles during a graduating class' 4-year experience.

The ReusePassprogram, a reusable container initiative fully implemented in 2023, complements No.More.Plastic. Through ReusePass, students, faculty and staff can choose reusable to-go containers at no extra cost, which reduces the need for disposable ones. The program has already saved more than 44,000 single-use containers from landfills.

Campus Dining also donates surplus food weekly to the Nashville Rescue Missionand Room in the Inn. This not only reduces the university's food waste, but also aids in combating food insecurity for our neighbors in Middle Tennessee.

Local sourcing and sustainability education

Vanderbilt's approach to sustainability includes local sourcingand campus engagement. Campus Dining works with local farms HydroHouse Farmsand Henosis Farms, investing more than $250,000 annually in local agriculture. Additionally, 15 hydroponic tower gardenson campus produce fresh greens and herbs that are used in dining facilities-which means less food trucked to campus.

"Vanderbilt's sustainability initiatives are a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility," said David ter Kuile, associate vice chancellor for auxiliary services. "By partnering with local producers and educating our campus community, we're not only reducing our environmental impact, but also supporting the local economy."

In fiscal year 2023, Vanderbilt expanded its composting efforts, diverting over 256,300 pounds of food waste from landfills and transforming it into compost for use on campus and across Middle Tennessee. This partnership with The Compost Companyaligns with the university's holistic approach to sustainability.

A model for sustainable dining

Vanderbilt's recognition in the Sustainable Performance award category reflects the university's commitment to being a leader in environmental stewardship. Its broader sustainability strategy is to achieve "zero-waste" by 2030, and along the way be a model of excellence in sustainable operations that serves as an example for institutions nationwide.

Vanderbilt will join other winners from across Tennessee-including the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee, at an awards presentation in October.

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