Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.55
Liaison Michelle Larkins
Submission Date Dec. 20, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Pacific University
OP-8: Sustainable Dining

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Michelle Larkins
Director of the CSS
Center for a Sustainable Society
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a published sustainable dining policy?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainable dining policy:

Yes, on campus dish we posted local distributors that are used, what used to be our composting program, and utilizing re-useable TO-Go containers.


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:

We purchase spring/summer vegetables from B-street. We have partnered with them to grow vegetables that are best utilized in our operation


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:

We have had B-steet and Charlie's Produce out to let students know about our partnership, local purchasing, and they sampled products


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:

There are vegan options at every meal, including bean burritos, faux meat, lots of vegan wrap options, etc.
Additional sustainable dining options include vegetarian and vegan options, and the choice of local cage-free eggs. We purchase our eggs from local farmers who raise hens without the use of cages. In 2009, we purchased 1,280 pounds of cage-free, local eggs.
https://www.pacificu.edu/academics/academic-support/centers-institutes/center-sustainable-society/food-dining


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:

We do hyperlocal food menus, and meet your food events.


Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host sustainability-themed meals (e.g. local harvest dinners)?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-themed meals:

Yes. Meet your Farmer, Local and in Season, Cultural Foodways.


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:
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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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability labeling and signage in dining halls:

Yes, we have placed signage and utilized our TV monitor to communicate these programs. Our Sustainabilty Intern Jacob has integrated himself with the current student body to work on sustainable projects and awareness


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:

We partner with the local farmers market for demonstrations on local foods, and do food literacy demonstrations at the campus farm.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the other sustainability-related dining initiatives:

We have programs that help students understand the links between nutrition and mental acuity for class, we have a table for cultural heritage months that display food and foodways.


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:

Lean path


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:

Boxer Dining piloted tray-less dining on Earth Day, 2008. This was such a success that we implemented 100% tray-less dining in the University Center on a permanent basis with the opening of the Fall 2008 semester.


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:

Food leftovers are donated and picked up weekly from Food Rescue program. Working to increase pick up availability from Food Waste volunteers
http://www.pacificu.edu/cce/programs/foodrescue.cfm


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the food materials diversion program:

All of our food waste is composted


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:

We are the only commercial composter in Forest Grove, and all of our waste is picked up by Waste Mgmt to serve the Portland Metro area.


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:

Post-consumer food waste is collected in dining room area, and added to pre-consumer waste, all serviced by Waste mgmt.


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:

We only use bamboo serving ware.


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:

Beginning in Fall 2009, Boxer Dining began offering reusable to-go containers on Campus for all meals.


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:

There are two ways to save green – both for the environment and your pocketbook. To help conserve resources, Pacific University offers a 10 cent discount every time you buy coffee or tea in your own re-usable mug.


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)?:
No

A brief description of other dining services materials management initiatives:
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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:
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