| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.52 |
| Liaison | Lindsey MacDonald |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Washington University
OP-7: Food and Beverage Purchasing
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.98 / 6.00 |
Steve
Wadsworth Resident District Manager Dinning Services |
Percentage of dining services food and beverage expenditures on products that are third party verified under one or more recognized food and beverage sustainability standards or Local & Community-Based:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (expenditures on conventional animal products)? (If data is not available, respond “No”):
Percentage of total dining services food and beverage expenditures on conventional animal products (meat, poultry, fish/seafood, eggs, and dairy products that do NOT qualify in either the Third Party Verified or Local & Community-Based category):
A brief description of the sustainable food and beverage purchasing program, including how the sustainability impacts of products in specific categories are addressed (e.g. meat, poultry, fish/seafood, eggs, dairy, produce, tea/coffee):
We understand the vital importance of food in our daily lives and interactions. Our food choices have a significant impact on our health, our culture, and the natural environment in local and global economies. As an organization we are committed to strengthening our existing network and beginning new connections that make positive transitions from field to fork. We in the business of changing the culture of food by nourishing our guests with menus that emphasize fresh whole foods. These foods are grown and harvested locally and sustainably wherever possible and are prepared in ways that respect and maintain quality, freshness, and pureness.
Aramark works with the following renowned sustainable food organizations to ensure that our food purchases follow our commitment to long-term environmental stewardship.
- USDA Organic: USDA's National Organic Program regulates the standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced.
- Seafood Watch: A program of Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. Aramark follows the recommendations of Seafood Watch to make decisions with regards to which seafood to buy or avoid.
- The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Thanks to the participation in this program, Aramark meets rigorous standards to conserve biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihoods.
- The Fair Trade Certified™ guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met to produce and trade a particular agriculture product. Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla.
- Food Alliance is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farmers who produce food in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways, and educating consumers and others in the food system about the benefits of sustainable agriculture.
An inventory of the institution’s sustainable food and beverage purchases that includes for each product: the description/type; label, brand or producer; and the category in which it is being counted and/or a description of its sustainability attribute(s):
A brief description of the methodology used to conduct the inventory, including the timeframe and how representative samples accounted for seasonal variation (if applicable):
Inventory attached is an invoice of all purchases for a representative month.
Percentage of total dining services expenditures on Real Food A (0-100):
Percentage of total dining services expenditures on Real Food B (0-100):
Which of the following food service providers are present on campus and included in the total food and beverage expenditure figures?:
| Present? | Included? | |
| Dining operations and catering services operated by the institution | Yes | Yes |
| Dining operations and catering services operated by a contractor | Yes | Yes |
| Student-run food/catering services | No | No |
| Franchises (e.g. national or global brands) | Yes | No |
| Convenience stores | Yes | Yes |
| Vending services | Yes | No |
| Concessions | Yes | No |
A brief description of purchased food and beverage products that have other sustainability attributes not recognized above :
Non Real Food that is community-based is defined as any purchase from any privately held or cooperatively run business based in Whatcom County. Regional food is defined as any food grown or raised in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or British Columbia or food produced with regionally sourced food.
Please find a sample of of few of our community-based and regional partners below:
Avenue Bread, Bellingham, WA
The Baglery, Bellingham, WA
Draper Valley Farms, Mt. Vernon, WA
Edaleen Dairy, Lynden, WA
Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods, Bellingham, WA
Burton and Sons Fruit (E. WA)
Chuckanut Bay Foods (Bellingham, WA)
Herb Co. (Duval, WA)
Island Spring Organics (Vashon, WA)
Kunutzen Farms (Skagit Valley, WA)
Ostroms Mushrooms (Olympia, WA)
Rainier Fruit Co. (E. WA)
Shepherd's Grain (E. WA)
Tokyo House (Bellingham, WA)
Auburn Dairy Products - Yami and Zoi Yogurt (Auburn, WA)
Tilamook (Tilamook, OR)
Additional percentage of dining services food and beverage expenditures on conventional products with other sustainability attributes not recognized above (0-100) :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.