| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.53 |
| Liaison | Rachael Wein |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2020 |
Smith College
OP-8: Sustainable Dining
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Andy
Cox Director of Dining Services Dining Services |
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host a farmers market, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or urban agriculture project, or support such a program in the local community?:
A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host a sustainability-themed food outlet on-site, either independently or in partnership with a contractor or retailer?:
A brief description of the sustainability-themed food outlet:
Smith College has a dedicated vegan/vegetarian dining hall, which focuses on a low carbon and plant-based diet. Environmentally active students gravitate toward this kitchen because it provides them with a diet with low carbon impact.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor support disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its food and beverage purchasing?:
A brief description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
We purchase from farms recommended from our local agricultural non-profit as having a social justice mission (defined by labor, community and vision).
Estimated percentage of total food and beverage expenditures on products from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host low impact dining events or promote plant-forward options?:
A brief description of the low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options:
Smith has two dedicated plant forward locations. We offer plant forward entrees at four locations daily. We have partnered with the Humane Society 3 times to provide education and events for students featuring plant forward cooking. We feature plant forward meals in March in additional dining locations that might draw the same students to introduce them to plant forward items. We feature plant forward menus during Earth Week.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a vegan dining program that makes diverse, complete-protein vegan options available to every member of the campus community at every meal?:
A brief description of the vegan dining program:
Smith Dining offers vegan and vegetarian meals three meals a day, seven days a week. One of our dining locations (Gillett) is dedicated to vegan cuisine and provides multiple options every day.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor inform customers about low impact food choices and sustainability practices through labelling and signage in dining halls?:
A brief description of the sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls:
Ecologically sound food purchases are highlighted on the entree line at the point of service. Information about other food sources is available online. We host a sustainable food fair every fall open to the entire campus featuring 25 farmers/producers.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor participate in a competition or commitment program and/or use a food waste prevention system to track and improve its food management practices?:
A brief description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system:
Dining Services encourages chefs to batch cook and cut down on food waste. Extra food is used creatively on the salad bar or incorporated into new dishes.
Smith also has a student-run chapter of the Food Recovery Network. Students in this group work with some chefs to package or freeze excess food, and the students collect it and deliver it to community food pantries in neighboring communities.
Has the institution or its primary dining services contractor implemented trayless dining (in which trays are removed from or not available in dining halls) and/or modified menus/portions to reduce post-consumer food waste?:
A brief description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program:
Smith Dining residential has always been trayless. Half size reusable trays are offered at the campus center cafe with a la carte food options.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor donate food that would otherwise go to waste to feed people?:
A brief description of the food donation program:
Smith Dining has been a partner with the Food Recovery Network for seven years. They operate out of 7 kitchens on campus. They occasionally offer pick-up at large scheduled catering events.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor divert food materials from the landfill, incinerator or sewer for animal feed or industrial uses?:
A brief description of the food materials diversion program:
Cooking oil is recovered for rendering.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a pre-consumer composting program?:
A brief description of the pre-consumer composting program:
Smith College has both pre-consumer and post-consumer food composting at 100 percent of its student dining halls (which excludes our retail operation - the Campus Center Cafe, which has pre-consumer food composting only). Two student housing co-ops on campus (which house about 20 students each) prepare their own meals and also collect both pre- and post-consumer food waste, which is collected by the Facilities Management department and delivered to a farm in Westhampton, Massachusetts where it is composted in windrows.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a post-consumer composting program?:
A brief description of the post-consumer composting program:
Smith College has both pre-consumer and post-consumer food waste composting at 100% of student dining halls. Two student housing co-ops on campus (which house about 20 students each) prepare their own meals and also collect both pre and post consumer food waste. The pre and post consumer food waste is collected by our Facilities department and brought to a farm in Westhampton, MA where it is composted.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor utilize reusable service ware for “dine in” meals?:
A brief description of the reusable service ware program:
Regular china, flatware and glasses are used in the dining rooms because they can be washed and reused. Many catered events also use china, flatware, and glasses, which are washed and reused. Both the Center for Community Collaboration and the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability have purchased their own reusable dining ware, which is washed and reused when hosting lunches and other events where food is served.
Many events across campus are now organized as zero waste events. At these events the waste generated is minimized as much as possible, and all items given to guests are reusable, compostable, or recyclable. To do this we utilize either reusable dishes and utensils or compostable dishes and serviceware, with the appropriate collection bins. We also work with Smith catering and external caterers to plan menus that minimize waste and eliminate potential waste items such as individually packaged foods.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor provide reusable and/or third party certified compostable containers and service ware for “to-go” meals (in conjunction with an on-site composting program)?:
A brief description of the compostable containers and service ware:
For the past five years, at Central Check-In, which opens the academic year, Dining Services has distributed reusable water bottles to incoming students. Dining Services discontinued bottled water at the "Grab and Go" dining location and installed additional water spigots. The college encourages students to bring their reusable water bottles to this and other dining locations to fill up.
Compostable goods are offered for all outdoor dining events and composted through a third party. The paper products vary across campus as composting is not available outside of dining halls.
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?:
A brief description of the reusable container discount or incentives program:
In both of the to-go dining halls on campus, students are required to bring their own reusable mugs, as none are provided. At the Campus Center Cafe, customers may fill their own mug with ice water or hot water free of charge, and receive a discount on other beverages for having their own reusable cup/mug. Students are encouraged to use their own containers and hot/cold plastic reusable cups if they wish to take food or beverages out of the dining rooms.
A brief description of other sustainability-related initiatives not covered above:
Smith Dining co-hosts an International Student day, partnering with students to create authentic cultural cuisines from around the world. The most popular versions are scaled up to be featured in the dining halls either on specific regionally focused days or added to the cycle menu. Smith Dining offers a build your own entree with whole grains, multiple vegetable choices and lean proteins daily at the dining hall located near the Wellness Center and the Athletics facilities.
Website URL where information about the sustainable dining programs 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.