Green Ambassador Earth Day Picnic

Today, ambassadors from the Green Office and Green Labs programs joined us for a picnic to celebrate Earth Day!

Attendees spent time enjoying the sunshine, talking about sustainability initiatives in their offices, eating food, and making their own herb planters.

Earth Day celebrations don’t have to end with this picnic. Here are 5 tips for how you can be more sustainable on Earth Day, and every day:

1. Sort your waste: UW is committed to becoming a Zero Waste Campus, with a goal of 90% waste diversion by 2035. This means reducing waste and making sure as much material as possible is reused, recycled, or composted instead of going in the garbage.
2. Think before you buy: Whether it is retail therapy or a quick takeout meal, consider the resources, energy, and pollution involved in bringing that item to you, and where it will end up once you’re done with it. Wait, use what you have, or say no sometimes.
3. Conserve energy: Cut down on energy use by using natural light, turning off lights, appliances, and office equipment when not in use, and washing laundry in cold water. Every small action counts!
4. Choose healthy, sustainable food options: Choose plant-based or low-impact meat options, such as chicken or fish. Whenever possible, look for local and seasonal foods, which often have a smaller environmental footprint. If you’re grabbing coffee on campus, take advantage of the eco-mug  program to save money while also reducing waste.
5. Donate unused items: Instead of throwing them out, consider donating unused items to various campus initiatives. Clothes can be donated to WUSA Thrift, the Free Store takes donations for most office, kitchen, and household items, and unopened food can be donated to the WUSA Food Support Service.