Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.97
Liaison Tom Hartzell
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Calvin University
OP-8: Sustainable Dining

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.63 / 2.00 Ryan Hartman
Sous Chef
Dining Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a published sustainable dining policy?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable dining policy:
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Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor source food from a campus garden or farm?:
Yes

A brief description of the program to source food from a campus garden or farm:

A large variety of fruits and vegetables from the main campus garden as well as the Handlon satellite location.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host a farmers market, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, and/or urban agriculture project, or support such a program in the local community?:
No

A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:
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Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a vegan dining program that makes diverse, complete-protein vegan options available to every member of the campus community at every meal?:
Yes

A brief description of the vegan dining program:

• The Commons Dining Hall offers vegan and vegetarian options at each concept dining station.
• The Knollcrest Dining Hall offers vegan, vegetarian and variety of healthy dining options on each concept dining station.
• The Café Operations offer vegan and vegetarian options to many of the Fresh Express and Feature Menus as well as offering prepared vegan and vegetarian sandwiches.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host low impact dining events (e.g. Meatless Mondays)?:
Yes

A brief description of the low impact dining events:

Veg-out is an event where plant based dining is featured in the dining halls. Animal protein if served is reduced to a condiment rather than the focus.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host sustainability-themed meals (e.g. local harvest dinners)?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-themed meals:
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Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host a sustainability-themed food outlet on-site, either independently or in partnership with a contractor or retailer?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-themed food outlet:

The Farmstead dining concept is centered around locally sourced and sustainable products when available and in season.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor inform customers about low impact food choices and sustainability practices through labeling and signage in dining halls?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability labeling and signage in dining halls:
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Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor engage in outreach efforts to support learning and research about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the outreach efforts to support learning and research about sustainable food systems:

Dining services contractor offers opportunities to engage in plant based cuisine education through the Humane Society and with vendor partners (GFS).


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have other sustainability-related initiatives (e.g. health and wellness initiatives, making culturally diverse options available)?:
No

A brief description of the other sustainability-related dining initiatives:
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Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor participate in a competition or commitment program and/or use a food waste prevention system to track and improve its food management practices?:
No

A brief description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system:

Production menuing system allows purchase amounts to be adjusted for future meals to increase efficiency.


Has the institution or its primary dining services contractor implemented trayless dining (in which trays are removed from or not available in dining halls) and/or modified menus/portions to reduce post-consumer food waste?:
Yes

A brief description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program:

Dining Services participates in the college's composting program, recycling program and Food Recovery Network. Compost and recycling weights are tracked. They also purchase locally when possible and collaborate with the colleges Campus Gardens for fresh produce.

Animal protein portions are reduced through purchasing.

There are no trays in the dining halls.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor donate food that would otherwise go to waste to feed people?:
Yes

A brief description of the food donation program:

Student organization brings pans of unopened hot food to local homeless shelter through the Food Recovery Network.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor divert food materials from the landfill, incinerator or sewer for animal feed or industrial uses (e.g. converting cooking oil to fuel, on-site anaerobic digestion)?:
No

A brief description of the food materials diversion program:
---

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a pre-consumer composting program?:
Yes

A brief description of the pre-consumer composting program:

Compostables receptacle used in all food prep areas.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a post-consumer composting program?:
Yes

A brief description of the post-consumer composting program:

Compostables receptacles used in pan cleaning areas and at the dish machine pulpers.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor utilize reusable service ware for “dine in” meals?:
Yes

A brief description of the reusable service ware program:

Dining halls, catering and conference center all use reusable service ware for dine-in meals.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor provide reusable and/or third party certified compostable containers and service ware for “to-go” meals (in conjunction with an on-site composting program)?:
Yes

A brief description of the compostable containers and service ware:

To-go meals incorporate the use of compostable and recyclable products.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor offer discounts or other incentives to customers who use reusable containers (e.g. mugs) instead of disposable or compostable containers in “to-go” food service operations?:
Yes

A brief description of the reusable container discount or incentives program:

CUPPS (Cannot Use Paper,Plastic or Styrofoam) mugs are sold by student organization and receive discounts at all campus establishments.


Has the institution or its primary dining services contractor implemented other materials management initiatives to minimize waste not covered above (e.g. working with vendors and other entities to reduce waste from food packaging)?:
Yes

A brief description of other dining services materials management initiatives:

Dining Services participates in the college's composting program, recycling program and Food Recovery Network. They also purchase locally when possible and collaborate with the colleges Campus Gardens for fresh produce.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

These data are from Calvin Dining Services information provided by Ryan Hartman.


These data are from Calvin Dining Services information provided by Ryan Hartman.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.