Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.93
Liaison Merry Rankin
Submission Date Aug. 30, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Iowa State University
IN-4: Innovation 4

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Merry Rankin
ISU Director of Sustainability
Facilities Planning & Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

Iowa State University regularly displays banners for various events, seasons, or occasions on University Boulevard in Ames. The wind, sun, moisture and repeated use, however, take a toll on these vinyl banners and eventually they wear out. Since they could no longer be used for display and a viable recycling market was not available, university marketing found a re-use option and converted them into tote bags.
Vinyl and mesh banners were sent to a company to create 330 totes, which were then sold by the University Book Store and on the ISU Alumni Association’s website.

In addition, the Iowa State University Marching Band recently purchased new uniforms. Instead of the old ones ending up in the dumpster (due to trademark restrictions not allowing them to be donated), the 500 old uniforms were used to create 1000 unique band-themed products (tote bags, laptop bags, and iPod cases) in 2012 that were sold by the Music Department.

In total, approximately 2,800 pounds of material was diverted from the waste stream through these efforts.

http://archive.inside.iastate.edu/2011/0407/tote.php

http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/Nov2012.pdf

+ Date Revised: June 26, 2014

A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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