College of Saint Benedict
IN-1: Innovation 1

As a Catholic, Benedictine institution, sustainability is central to our institutional values and mission. Practices of stewardship and social justice have long permeated the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). As part of our commitment to sustainability and to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, St. Ben’s has banned the sale of plain, plastic bottled water on campus, and the purchase of plain, plastic bottled water with institutional funds beginning the fall of 2011. This policy was enacted because of our recognition of environmental, economic and social costs of producing bottled water. We believe water is a fundamental human right and as an organization decline to profit from its sale. This policy was carried out with the help of student involvement in the form of a petition and demonstration regarding the negative effects of bottled water consumption. Administrative bodies including the CSB Cabinet, Sustainability Council and Student Senate all helped support this policy. The policy aims to promote sustainable consumption habits of all members of the campus community. We hope to encourage more sustainable practices as a result of an institution-wide ban on bottled water. It has also been used as an educational tool for discussing the various environmental, social and economic costs of producing and buying bottled water.