Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.63
Liaison Dwayne Doornbosch
Submission Date June 24, 2021

STARS v2.2

Langara College
OP-8: Sustainable Dining

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.35 / 2.00 Raymond Yeung
Manager Facilities Services
Facilites
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Sustainable dining initiatives

Local community engagement

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host a farmers market, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or urban agriculture project, or support such a program in the local community?:
Yes

A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:
The Langara Community Garden is run by the Langara Community Garden Society (registered nonprofit society), which members include faculty (several of which are in the Biology Department), students and community members. Faculty, staff, students, and members of the community are people who can gain access to a garden plot, which include single or double plots. Users of garden plots keep any vegetables, herbs, and/or fruits grown.

The fruit garden was created in 2017 with the assistance of the Langara Community Garden Society to promote the usage of green space. Home to 20 plots, the fruit grown is shared among the community.

The Langara Community Garden is also home to an Apiary that was established in May 2014, mainly for educational (Sustainable Urban Beekeeping certificate) and environmental purposes (pollinating the garden). Any honey gathered is bottled up and sold to Langara students, faculty, staff, and community.

More information about the community garden can be found here:
https://courseweb.langara.bc.ca/langaracommunitygarden/about/

More information about the Langara College Apiary can be found here:
https://langara.ca/about-langara/applied-research/research-projects/langara-college-apiary.html

Sustainability-themed outlet

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?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-themed food outlet:
---

Inclusive and local sourcing

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor support disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its food and beverage purchasing?:
No

A brief description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
---

Estimated percentage of total food and beverage expenditures on products from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
---

Low-impact dining

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host low impact dining events or promote plant-forward options?:
Yes

A brief description of the low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options:
Langara College was one of the first Western Canadian institutions that adopted Meatless Mondays, alongside our food service provider, Chartwells. Each week vegetarian dishes are offered ranging from Vegetable curries, BBQ Meatless Meatballs, Salads, and Vegetarian Lasagna.

Vegan dining program 

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?:
No

A brief description of the vegan dining program:
---

Labelling and signage 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor inform customers about low impact food choices and sustainability practices through labelling and signage in dining halls?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls:
Various labels are used within the dining services that showcase Vegan, Vegetarian, Local, Sustainable Seafood, Made Without Gluten, Cage Free Eggs, Halal, and Whole Grain food options offered.

Part 2. Food waste minimization and recovery

Food recovery program

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system:
Langara College's dining services, Chartwells, use an internal Compass food waste program called “green bin” where all organic waste is put in clear bins and weighed with the goal to reduce food waste. Overall, Chartwells has practices in place to minimize food waste by re-purposing food, strict menu and prep guidelines, par ordering as well as waste tracking.

Trayless dining and portion modifications 

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:
All meals are portion controlled and can be taken home as leftovers. Dining halls are not operated at Langara, and so the trayless dining component does not apply here.

Food donation 

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:
In some circumstances food is donated that would otherwise go to waste. If food is within the safe time zone, it is donated to Collingwood Neighborhood House*, or occasionally to other organizations that approach the College with food needs.

*Collingwood Neighborhood House is a non-profit agency that provides services and community development initiatives to low and middle income families in a variety of languages and for residents of all ages.

Food materials diversion 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor divert food materials from the landfill, incinerator or sewer for animal feed or industrial uses?:
No

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

Composting 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a pre-consumer composting program?:
No

A brief description of the pre-consumer composting program:
---

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:
At Langara, we have been actively composting for over 10 years and we are proud to say that 100% of organic waste from Chartwells/cafeteria, Tim Hortons, and Starbucks is composted. A company called Urban Impact comes to campus several times a week and takes all our compost waste to their New Westminster facility. From there, Urban Impact properly disposes of all waste and composts any organic materials. We are in the works of creating an onsite closed-vessel composter at Langara for pre-consumer and landscaping waste.

For more information:
Composting at Langara: https://langara.ca/about-langara/sustainability/waste-management/composting.html
Urban Impact: https://urbanimpact.com/service/organics-recycling

Dine-in service ware 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor utilize reusable service ware for “dine in” meals?:
No

A brief description of the reusable service ware program:
---

Take-away materials 

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:
Compostable "eco products", such as compostable containers and service ware, are provided for some meals and products.

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

A brief description of the reusable container discount or incentives program:
Langara has a Bring Your Own Mug Incentive/Coffee Cup Recycling Program This Program is all about raising awareness on the waste generated at Langara that comes from coffee cups. The initiative teaches employees and students how to recycle coffee cups properly as well as promoting the use of reusable mugs for beverages, which Starbucks and Tim Horton's offer a small discount on if customers bring their own mugs.

Optional Fields

A brief description of other sustainability-related initiatives not covered above:
Stop Food Waste Day: Langara College and Chartwells participate in Stop Food Waste Day to educate the community on the issue of food waste and to share strategies for minimizing food waste.

Website URL where information about the sustainable dining programs is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.