Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.91
Liaison Tom Hartzell
Submission Date Dec. 21, 2022

STARS v2.2

Calvin University
OP-8: Sustainable Dining

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Ryan Hartman
Sous Chef
Dining Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Sustainable dining initiatives

Local community engagement

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:
Campus has a partnership with Handlon Campus garden project where fresh garden produce is donated to the dining halls. In lieu of payment they have requested a donation to a local charity.

Sustainability-themed outlet

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?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-themed food outlet:
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Inclusive and local sourcing

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
Apples and other produce are purchased from local orchard and farm SMEs

Estimated percentage of total food and beverage expenditures on products from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
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Low-impact dining

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor host low impact dining events or promote plant-forward options?:
Yes

A brief description of the low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options:
Veg-out is an event where plant based dining is featured in the dining halls. Animal protein if served is reduced to a condiment rather than the focus.

Animal protein at all services has been reduced to 2-3 ounce portion sizes.
At each station a plant forward option is available focusing on ancient grains and plant protein.

Each dining location has a variety of plant forward options built into the concept and any element of rotational menus.

Vegan dining program 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the vegan dining program:
• The Commons Dining Hall offers vegan and vegetarian options at each concept dining station.
• The Knollcrest Dining Hall offers vegan, vegetarian and variety of healthy dining options on each concept dining station.
• The Café Operations offer vegan and vegetarian options to many of the Fresh Express and Feature Menus as well as offering prepared vegan and vegetarian sandwiches.

Labelling and signage 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls:
Vegan and vegetarian food items are labeled clearly.

Annually Kill-a-watt, a residence hall-wide sustainability competition and education program where students engage in lifestyle changes. Dining services uses specific plant based labeling to highlight low impact choices.

Part 2. Food waste minimization and recovery

Food recovery program

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?:
No

A brief description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system:
Production menuing system allows purchase amounts to be adjusted for future meals to increase efficiency.

Trayless dining and portion modifications 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program:
Dining Services participates in the college's composting program, recycling program and Food Recovery Network. Compost and recycling weights are tracked. They also purchase locally when possible and collaborate with the colleges Campus Gardens for fresh produce.

Animal protein portions are reduced through purchasing.

There are no trays in the dining halls.

Food donation 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor donate food that would otherwise go to waste to feed people?:
Yes

A brief description of the food donation program:
Student organization brings pans of unopened hot food to local homeless shelter through the Food Recovery Network.

Food materials diversion 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor divert food materials from the landfill, incinerator or sewer for animal feed or industrial uses?:
Yes

A brief description of the food materials diversion program:
Frying oil is diverted off campus to a bio-diesel fuel company.

All other food waste is sent to Spurt Industries Zeeland, MI to be composted.

Composting 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a pre-consumer composting program?:
Yes

A brief description of the pre-consumer composting program:
Compostables receptacle used in all food prep areas. Vegetable materials, paper products, protein trim are all composted off site by a contracted company (Spurt Industries).

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a post-consumer composting program?:
Yes

A brief description of the post-consumer composting program:
Compostables receptacles used in dish return areas and at the dish machine pulpers.
All materials are picked up for compost by a off site contracted company.

Dine-in service ware 

Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor utilize reusable service ware for “dine in” meals?:
Yes

A brief description of the reusable service ware program:
Dining halls, catering and conference center all use reusable service ware for dine-in meals.

Take-away materials 

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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the compostable containers and service ware:
To-go meals incorporate the use of compostable and recyclable products.

Green to Go programming has reduced the need for compostable products by using washable to go containers that are exchanged after each use.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the reusable container discount or incentives program:
CUPPS (Cannot Use Paper,Plastic or Styrofoam) mugs are sold by student organization and receive discounts at all campus establishments.

Optional Fields

A brief description of other sustainability-related initiatives not covered above:
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Website URL where information about the sustainable dining programs is available:
https://calvin.edu/offices-services/dining-services/sustainability.html

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
These data are from Calvin Dining Services information provided by Ryan Hartman.

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.