Did You Know?
- In 2022, 34.1% of UW Food Services purchases were produced on-site, locally-sourced, or are third-party certified for sustainability.
- UW Food Services hosts Farm Markets during the Fall harvest season, to connect students and employees with fresh local produce.
- The Farm to Campus Fresh program highlights locally sourced options across campus menus Vegan and vegetarian options are available across all residence dining halls!
UW Food Services is committed to buying local to reduce the transportation emissions associated with our food. In fact, some ingredients are as local as our own back yard. The UC Garden is a Food Services run initiative that supplies our chefs with seasonal produce to use immediately or canned for use throughout the year. Supporting local suppliers helps liven the local economy and ensures the freshness of our ingredients. Our UW Farm Market also provides the UW community with on-campus access to fresh, local produce, honey and baked goods. Look for us in the fall!
Food Services has also continued to expand plant-based options across the campus, with almost half of all meals served in residences typically being vegan or vegetarian. Tracking has been put in place to help measure plant-based options, and approximately 30 per cent of all food sourcing in 2021 was plant-based, by dollar value.
Meet the University mandated Environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS) target: By 2025, 40% of all Food Services food and beverage purchases are produced on-site, locally-sourced, or are third-party certified for sustainability.
You can check out the University of Waterloo's Environmental Sustainability Report for more information on our sustainability initiatives at UW Food Services (See pp. 38-39 here). The report includes case studies, key statistics, and evaluation of progress towards established objectives. This report also maps out the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across various performance indicators, and includes a status update for the Shift: Neutral climate action plan.
You can also stay in the know by registering for the Sustainability Office’s newsletter here!
