small plant held in the palm of hand

Sustainability

Sustainability at Penn State: A Commitment to a Greener Future 

At Penn State, WE ARE dedicated to reducing waste, educating our students on sustainable practices and fostering a culture of sustainability. 

How Food Services Makes a Difference 

  • Fighting Food Waste: Our partnership with Leanpath helps us track, measure and prevent food waste, making every bite count.
     
  • Farm-to-Table Freshness: We collaborate with the Student Farm to bring hyper-local produce straight to our dining halls, ensuring fresh, sustainable and delicious meals.
     
  • Composting for a Better Tomorrow: Leftover food and kitchen scraps are composted right on campus and used for soil enrichment and landscaping, closing the loop on waste.
     
  • Campus-Wide Recycling: Recycling stations across dining commons and eateries make it easy to dispose of metal cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, mixed office paper and glass bottles responsibly.

Supporting Local

  • Local Vendor Purchasing: We prioritize local food suppliers, purchasing nearly 20% of our annual food from PA Preferred vendors, reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our communities.
     
  • Food for Those in Need: By partnering with the student run Food Recovery Network , we ensure that surplus food is redirected to those who need it most.
     
  • Less Plastic, More Impact: We are actively reducing plastic bag usage in campus convenience stores.
     
  • Paperless Practices: We embrace digital communication to cut down on unnecessary paper waste.
     
  • Know Your Food: Our Meet Your Farmer events and Local Meal Specials give students a firsthand look at where their food comes from and the impact of their choices. 

Educating and Empowering Students 

  • Student Sustainability Coordinators lead efforts to educate peers and staff on everyday sustainable actions. Additionally, they ensure that our sustainability programs remain impactful, measurable and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
     
  • The EcoReps are student sustainability ambassadors dedicated to educating first-year students about sustainable practices on campus and at home. The EcoReps meet twice weekly and hold monthly events at the University Park Campus. 

 

 

Stars gold level sustainability award

 

Gold Level STARS Rating

Penn State University Park earned the #1 ranking in the Big10 for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and earned a gold rating.