Wentworth Institute of Technology
OP-7: Food and Beverage Purchasing
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Debra
Shepard Sustainability Consultant N/A |
Percentage of total annual food and beverage expenditures on products that are sustainably or ethically produced:
Percentage of total annual food and beverage expenditures on plant-based foods:
An inventory of food and beverage purchases that qualify as sustainably/ethically produced:
A brief description of the methodology used to conduct the inventory, including the timeframe and how representative samples accounted for seasonal variation (if applicable):
The inventory was conducted using Sodexo's purchasing data. WIT changed food vendors halfway through the year so the data in the attached file covers the available data in the months since Sodexo became the primary food vendor (8/20-12/20). As this is the first attempt to quantify sustainable food and beverage purchases in accordance with STARS, it may not have captured all applicable sustainability purchases. Future reporting efforts will focus on continuous improvement to improve accuracy.
Website URL where the institution’s validated Real/Good Food Calculator results are publicly posted:
Which of the following food service providers are present on campus and included in the inventory/assessment?:
| Present? | Included? | |
| Dining operations and catering services operated by the institution | No | No |
| Dining operations and catering services operated by a contractor | Yes | Yes |
| Student-run food/catering services | No | No |
| Franchises (e.g., regional or global brands) | No | No |
| Convenience stores | Yes | No |
| Vending services | Yes | No |
| Concessions | No | No |
Total annual dining services budget for food and beverage products:
A brief description of the institution’s sustainable food and beverage purchasing program:
Wentworth changed food service vendors mid-way through 2021. Our new dining services provider, Sodexo, has a regional sustainability coordinator who began partnering with Wentworth right away on topics ranging from local farmers' markets, to sustainable purchasing, to food waste reduction and recycling. Through this partnership, we have begun to collect food and beverage purchasing data for the campus in accordance with the STARS methodology, for the first time. The 2021 dataset reflects our preliminary inventory of sustainable purchases, however we have identified gaps in the information. Wentworth is working with Sodexo to develop a tracking system to improve our inventory of sustainable and ethical purchasing for future submissions. Current sustainable purchasing commitments include: 100% fair trade coffee and tea, 100% cage-free eggs, 100% sustainable seafood (Marine Stewardship Council eco-label and other regional certifications like Iceland Responsible Fisheries), and prioritizing poultry and meat products with humane and responsible practices whenever possible. In addition, Sodexo is committed to local sustainable purchasing through its programs to partner with regional businesses and organizations. Some examples include purchasing local produce and seafood through the MassImpact program and Red's Best Seafood, purchasing local organic dairy products, and partnering with food hubs that work with disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned, and small businesses.
Website URL where information about the food and beverage purchasing program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Wentworth switched dining contractors in July and the above data covers the period between August and December.
This submission includes catering that is produced in Wentworth's cafeteria and delivered to other campuses in the Colleges of the Fenway. Approximately 15% of catering is for other campuses.
Wentworth switched dining contractors in July and the above data covers the period between August and December.
This submission includes catering that is produced in Wentworth's cafeteria and delivered to other campuses in the Colleges of the Fenway. Approximately 15% of catering is for other campuses.
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.