Lehigh University
IN-1: Innovation 1

Lehigh University is eager to green operations within Dining Services and has taken a series of actions that led Sodexo-operated Rathbone Student Restaurant to be officially named a two-star certified green restaurant in 2016. Rathbone met the environmental standards of the Green Restaurant Association, a national nonprofit that has been greening restaurants since 1990. The standards provide a way to measure a restaurant’s environmental accomplishments, while providing a path for next steps each restaurant can take towards increased environmental sustainability. Rathbone actively worked to ensure that more than 90 percent of the cleaning chemicals used in Rathbone are “Green Seal” certified, concentrated or sustainable, with the purpose of promoting chemical pollution reduction. Rathbone has also installed Xpressnap napkin dispensers to curb energy and waste. The napkins are made of recycled paper, and the dispenser encourages customers to take (and waste) fewer napkins. Along with these actions, Rathbone implemented measures to save energy (i.e. all lighting was converted to LED) and water (i.e. low-flow faucets were installed), to offer one-third vegetarian dishes at every meal, and to use fresh and local foods in daily meals. The two-star green certification (132 Green Points) earned by Rathbone recognizes the 43 environmental steps taken, including minimizing chemical pollution, reducing waste through recycling, sourcing sustainable food, and conserving energy and water. Through this series of actions, Lehigh promotes environmental sustainability within campus services, facilities and operations, while engaging staff members and students in green actions.