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Food is a part of our daily lives. What we eat, how it gets to us, the ways in which it is grown, produced, and/or processed - all of these things have far-reaching effects on our society and our environment.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, agriculture is responsible for 13.5% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. With the decreasing supply and rising cost of global fossil fuels, the dining industry has both the responsibility and power to greatly contribute to the reversal of climate change.
Gator Dining Services, the university’s official dining services provider, has made strides towards ensuring a more sustainable dining operation on our campus. From the purchasing of local produce, to fostering more partnerships with local businesses, to evaluating ways to cut down on energy and water usage, campus dining is becoming greener everyday.
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Waste Reduction
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Student Testimonial: "I have to say how proud I am at the initiatives that you took for Earth Day. Not only the trays being taken away, but also the education up was just amazing. Everyone seemed to do just fine without them and it can help save food waste and water. That made me proud to go to the University of Florida." – Alex Klein, UF Student
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| | o | By removing the trays from our dining halls, in one year we will prevent 60,000 lbs. of uneaten food from being thrown away and 470,000 gallons of water from being used. [close] |
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| | o | Bring your own mug and receive $0.25 off fountain beverages and $0.50 off coffee campus-wide. |
| | o | While no one knows the exact amount of plastic bags consumed, worldwide estimates range in the trillions per year. [close] |
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| | o | These products are made from renewable resources instead of petroleum-based plastics or Styrofoam. [close] |
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| | o | Distributing used coffee grounds throughout the campus & community for reuse in farming, composting, and landscaping. These can help replace the use of chemical-intensive fertilizers. |
| | o | Reusing over 60,000 lbs of coffee grounds per year [close] |
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| | o | Gator Dining has partnered with the Campus Kitchens Project - a hunger relief organization that takes unserved food from local food service providers and creates individually-packaged, nutritious meals to be delivered to social service agencies. [close] |
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| | o | Recycling all cardboard, paper, plastic, aluminum/metal, and glass. |
| | o | Recycling approximately 154 tons of comingled materials (plastic, glass, aluminum) and 215 tons of cardboard and paper each year [close] |
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| | o | The oil used to cook your food later becomes a fuel that can power cars. |
| | o | 125 gallons of oil collected each week. [close] |
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| | o | Since the beginning of 2008, over 4,000 lbs. of food have been donated to the needy throughout our community. [close] |
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Energy & Water |
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| | o | As part of new hire training, all employees now go through sustainability training which includes education on water and energy conservation at home and on the job. [close] |
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Responsible Procurement |
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| | o | Starbucks, Java City & Sweetwater Organic Coffee Roasters all offer sustainable coffee choices. [close] |
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| | o | Purchasing local produce has many benefits including supporting local farming; cutting down on the miles food has to travel (thereby reducing fuel use and pollution); ensuring a safe, stable, local food supply; ensuring a fresher product; and eating in conjunction with the seasons. |
| | | o Look for the “Locally Grown” tags in our dining halls to identify these items. |
| | o | Did you know most produce travels an average of 1,500 miles before being sold? [close] |
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| | o | Visit our convenience stores for a variety of healthy choices. Look for the natural and organic signs. [close] |
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| | o | Both Gator Corner Dining Center and Fresh Food Company use cage-free eggs. [close] |
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| | o | These Green Seal certified products protect the health of our workers, customers, & the environment. [close] |
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Education & Engagement |
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| | o | This event provided a platform for university organizations and local vendors. [close] |
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- Participant in RecycleMania - a nationwide college recycling competition
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Health & Nutrition |
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| | o | Trans fats can increase the risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of bad cholesterol. [close] |
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| | o | Allows you to review nutritional information to make healthy eating decisions [close] |
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Social Equity |
- Living Wage implemented for all full-time employees
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What Can You Do? |
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| | o | Did you know that on average, the typical American will throw away 4.5 lbs. of garbage every day? That’s 220 million tons of waste nation-wide per year! [close] |
| | o | For the times you do have to use a disposable can or bottle, make sure to recycle them. [close] |
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| | o | While no one knows the exact amount of plastic bags consumed, worldwide estimates range in the trillions per year. [close] |
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| | o | Fresh Food Company & Gator Corner Dining Center are both all-you-care-to-eat facilities. While we would like you to enjoy as much food as you’d like, try to avoid taking too much at first. You can always make a second trip! |
| | o | Did you know every year America throws away $43 billion worth of food, equivalent to 96 billion lbs.? That’s 3,044 lbs. every second. [close] |
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| | o | Purchasing local produce has many benefits including supporting local farming; cutting down on the miles food has to travel (thereby reducing fuel use and pollution); ensuring a safe, stable, local food supply; ensuring a fresher product; and eating in conjunction with the seasons. |
| | o | Look for the “Locally Grown” tags in our dining halls to identify locally-sourced items. |
| | o | Did you know most produce travels an average of 1,500 miles before being sold? [close] |
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| | o | Look for organic snack and grocery items at all four convenience stores on campus. [close] |
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Media Coverage |
| Alligator - Greening Dining Article (January 2008) |
| Office of Sustainability E-Newsletter (January 2008) |
| Gainesville Sun - Reusable Mug Article (February 2008) |
| College Services Magazine (PDF format) (April 2008) |
| USA Today - Trayless Dining (July 2008) |
| Alligator - Trayless Dining (July 2008) |
Videos |
| Fresh Food Challenge - April 2007, Video (plug-in required) |
| Local Foods Cook-Off - Earth Day 2008, Video |
