Chartwells set the standards for food and service excellence by leading with ground-breaking policies and programs that focus on the environment, wellness and community involvement. We invest in local communities by purchasing fresh produce from local growers as well as a variety of products and services from minority and women-owned businesses.

Chartwells recognizes that the food we serve has a significant impact on the health and well being of our students and customers. Our 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.

Sustainability is a key strategic objective for Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services. We have implemented sustainable programs and practices on our campuses that protect the environment, reduce waste, decrease our carbon footprint and encourage green building design.

Chartwells Sustainable Programs and Initiatives on Campus Today

Food Sourcing Policies:

• Chartwells is acutely aware of the impact our operations have on the communities in which we do business. Chartwells believes that the origin of food, how and where it is produced, should be top of mind for our students and clients as they walk into our dining facilities.
• 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.
• Chartwells only serves certified cage-free shell eggs on campuses nationwide.
• Chartwells 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.

Chartwells Waste Reduction Programs:

• Chartwells promotes food waste awareness on campuses through our 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.
• Chartwells’ Project Green Thumb is a recycling and composting program where materials from campus dining facilities are composted into soil and used on campus or donated throughout local communities.
• Trim Trax is a waste management program used to measure and weigh kitchen scraps and reduce kitchen waste on campus.
• Chartwells' used kitchen oil is turned into bio fuel on campuses and used in campus vehicles or is donated to a facility for processing.
• Chartwells encourages the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products at our facilities.
• Chartwells offers biodegradable consumer food packaging, plates, and utensils made from compostable materials such as bamboo and corn. We help support client efforts to establish capture systems by partnering with sustainable waste management and/or recycling service companies.
• Reusable food and beverage containers as well as reusable shopping bags are offered on campuses.

Green Beyond Food

Chartwells Sustainable Facility Development and Green Design:

Chartwells and the Novus Group are engaged in supporting and driving sustainable development on campuses nationwide. We assist our clients with building new LEED certified facilities or upgrading existing facilities. Our mission is to accommodate the needs of our clients interested in LEED certified building for energy efficiency and the additional benefits gained with green design.

Chartwells is Committed to your Campus:

Chartwells has emerged as the market leader by providing environmentally friendly practices and products as well as sustainable building and design for clients, students and campus communities. Chartwells remains committed to helping customers make an ethical decision regarding what they purchase and business practices that honor ethical values.

The Chartwells Promise:

Nourishing students is not only our business; it is our commitment to the communities in which we serve. Chartwells is a diverse family of dedicated food and nutrition specialists serving the academic community. We deliver customized solutions that benefit our partners through innovative programs.