University of Alabama
OP-8: Sustainable Dining
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
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Reporter |
Kristina
Patridge Director of University Dining Service Fresh Foods |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Sustainable dining initiatives
Local community engagement
No
A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:
N/A
Sustainability-themed outlet
No
A brief description of the sustainability-themed food outlet:
N/A
Inclusive and local sourcing
Yes
A brief description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
Bama Dining partners with small and medium-sized enterprises through contacts with local food trucks and small businesses stated by UA students. Bama Dining also partners with local businesses to allow the Dining Dollars fund to be spent at their locations, supporting their small businesses.
Estimated percentage of total food and beverage expenditures on products from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
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Low-impact dining
Yes
A brief description of the low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options:
Bama Dining partners with student organizations such as Vegan Voices to promote vegetarian and vegan options. Bama Dining menus consistently offer 30% or more plant-based options for guests to choose from. Bama Dining hosts station takeovers highlighting plant-forward options every semester. During Earth Day, Bama Dining highlights sustainable practices and provides statistics on ways they strive to achieve sustainable practices.
Vegan dining program
Yes
A brief description of the vegan dining program:
Sola in Lakeside Dining offers a variety of vegans options including Temph, Impossible products, jackfruit, and tofu. Each dining hall provides both vegan and vegetarian options for all guests.
Labelling and signage
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls:
We keep this information on our sustainability page on our website. We label plant-forward options with signage in the dining halls.
Part 2. Food waste minimization and recovery
Food recovery program
Yes
A brief description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system:
N/A
Trayless dining and portion modifications
Yes
A brief description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program:
In 2012, Bama Dining removed trays from the dining halls and food courts. Elimination trays saves over 12,000 gallons of water per week and 6,000 pounds of solid waste per week which results in 25-30% reduction of energy and chemical use.
Food donation
No
A brief description of the food donation program:
N/A
Food materials diversion
Yes
A brief description of the food materials diversion program:
Bama Dining participates in an oil recycling program through Filta. Last year we saved 17,000 pounds of oil that was converted to bio- diesel.
Composting
Yes
A brief description of the pre-consumer composting program:
Bama Dining has reduced the impact to the local landfill by over 4,000 pounds per week. Pre-consumer "green matter" from vegetable and fruit peels is delivered to the University of Alabama Arboretum to mix with the leaves or "brown matter" from the University of Alabama Grounds Department to create beautiful compost that is a treasure to the Tuscaloosa community.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a post-consumer composting program?:
No
A brief description of the post-consumer composting program:
Bama Dining is currently look at the Orca machine for post consumer composting.
http://www.totallygreen.com/products/orca-green-machine
http://www.totallygreen.com/products/orca-green-machine
Dine-in service ware
Yes
A brief description of the reusable service ware program:
Bama Dining utilized reusable service were at both residential dining facilities.
Take-away materials
No
A brief description of the compostable containers and service ware:
Bama Dining provides compostable to-go options at national brands and in dining halls, but we do not have an on site composting program for post-consumer items.
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:
Every year Bama Dining offers students the opportunity to purchase re-fillable mugs for use in Bama Dining's locations around campus. Our goal is to do away with as many disposable cups on campus as possible.
Optional Fields
N/A
Website URL where information about the sustainable dining programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.