Part of their mission is to increase sustainable building and design on college and university campuses, which across the country are under great pressure to operate sustainably. The primary reason: their students and it’s the right thing to do.

Student Watchdogs for Sustainability and Chartwells Green Power

Armed with Internet research and national activist networks that help students coordinate their actions large scale, students have become watchdogs for sustainability. They are demanding change, pushing administrators to set higher sustainability goals, pursue energy conservation, offer organic and locally sourced foods, reduce water usage and waste disposal, recycle disposed items, build green dorms and dining centers, and even become carbon neutral.

To date, more than 645 school presidents have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to implement a plan to go carbon neutral within two years of signing.

Environmental awareness, of course, is nothing new. Years ago, college campuses started placing recycling bins around campus to make recycling easy. They added low-flow lavatory fixtures and installed energy-saving compact fluorescent and light-emitting diode lighting.

As a food service provider, Chartwells was ahead of the green movement which was spreading across campuses. Chartwells has historically been acutely aware of the impact that their operations had on the communities in which they do business. Over the years, Chartwells had created and implemented many socially responsible programs dedicated to conserving resources and protecting the environment. Chartwells believes that the origin of food, how and where it is produced should be top of mind for their students and clients as they walk into their dining facilities.

Chartwells has been committed to practices that earn financial success by honoring ethical values, respecting people, valuing communities and sustaining the natural environment. Chartwells has implemented food sourcing policies for purchasing sustainable food products including 100% certified seafood from sustainable sources in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program. Because of Chartwells’ commitment to humane care of farm animals, only HFAC certified cage-free shell eggs are used on campuses nationwide. Chartwells also serves poultry produced without the use of human antibiotics and milk that is free from artificial growth hormones. Chartwells offers Fair Trade Certified sustainable coffee and is committed to purchasing locally grown and organic produce in support of local communities. Supporting the preservation of the American family farm, reducing the carbon footprint of the supply chain, and giving back to the local communities are central to Chartwells’ core values. Chartwells also recognizes that the food they serve has a significant impact on the health and well being of their students and customers. Their Balanced Choices® and Meeting Well initiatives provide a variety of healthful options and educational tools that encourage individuals to make healthier dining, catering and vending choices. Chartwells educates students on portion size, increasing grains, eliminating trans fats, reducing saturated fats and sodium intake.

Chartwells has also worked extensively to reduce food waste matter by implementing proprietary waste reduction programs. Chartwells promotes food waste awareness on campuses through their Project Clean Plate program combined with tray less dining service. This program is used to raise student awareness about food waste while encouraging students to choose only what they will eat. Tray less dining is gaining international recognition and was launched at many Chartwells managed facilities to also increase awareness about unnecessary food waste, energy and water conservation, and cleaning detergent reductions. In addition, Chartwells also implemented their Project Green Thumb recycling and composting program where materials from campus dining facilities are composted into soil and used on campus or donated throughout local communities. Another eco-friendly program known as Trim Trax is used to measure and weigh kitchen scraps and reduce kitchen waste on campuses. Leftover food scraps from their programs are handled accordingly and fed to farm animals. Used kitchen oil is turned into bio fuel on campuses and used in campus vehicles or is donated to a facility for processing. Chartwells also encourages their facilities to use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
 
Chartwells offers clients a program of disposable packaging made entirely from renewable sources and supports clients in efforts to establish capture systems and partner with sustainable waste management and/or recycling service companies. Greenware or biodegradable consumer food packaging, plates, and utensils made from compostable materials such as bamboo and corn are promoted by Chartwells. Reusable food and beverage containers as well as reusable shopping bags are offered on campuses.

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