Objective E1
By 2020, Waterloo broadly distributes timely and audience-relevant information about sustainability initiatives and opportunities within the campus community
Progress: Completed
Description: Waterloo continues to expand its communication on sustainability initiatives. These have shown year-over-year increases in engagement and participation. However, they still represent a minority of campus community members.
Objective E2
By 2020, additional programming is developed for incoming students during orientation and in residences to encourage sustainable living on campus
Progress: Completed
Description: Increased effort has been made to link with orientation activities, and through Housing and the Green Residence Ambassador Program to reach first-year students.
Objective E3
By 2018, establish a sustainability leaders program in partnership with students from residences, clubs and societies, student government, and for students in off-campus housing
Progress: Complete
Description: Student leaders continue to engage in campus efforts through a variety of pathways. These have evolved over time with varying groups of students, but include the Green Residence program, Living Planet @ Campus, a variety of student groups, training and integration into Orientation Week, the SDG Student Hub, and opportunities to serve on University advisory committees.
Objective E4
By 2025, increase from 5% to 25% the proportion of university departments that are Green Office certified
Progress: Mostly complete
Description: Interest and activity within the Green Office program remained strong throughout 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic. Several departments withdrew from the program due to the challenging circumstances, but overall there was an increase in the number of departments achieving designations.
And more employees completed the Sustainability Certificate to both train Green Office ambassadors and for general interest among employees, with over 400 registered or completed.
Objective E5
By 2020, Waterloo is recognized as a sustainability leader in Waterloo Region
Description: Waterloo is actively immersed in local sustainability partnerships, networks, events, and collaborations. New collaborations are strengthening this position, and the University has been recognized with five community awards since 2016.
Progress: Completed
Indicators
Actions and accomplishments
Annual events
- Bike Fair
- Eco Summit
- BioBlitz
- Seedling Swap
- Grand River Envirothon
2024/2025
- Developed tools to integrate campus feedback, including the 2024 Sustainability Survey, which had over 1,500 respondents
- Delivered guest lectures to dozens of undergraduate and graduate classes, reflecting on global and campus sustainability topics, reaching over 850 students
- Facilitated centralized waste sorting at Black and Gold Day
- Hosted a Free Store pop up as part of orientation’s “Choose Your Own Adventure” activity
- Relaunched the Green Residence program, focusing on interactive pop-up booths to educate residence students on sustainable living and learning
- Created co-curricular opportunities to recognize sustainability efforts of students within and beyond the classroom, through the Sustainability Leadership Certificate
- 30 departments achieved Green Office certification, including 7 Platinum, 9 Gold, 9 Silver, and 5 Bronze
- 8 labs achieved Green Labs certification, including 5 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze
- Received STARS Gold designation
- Received Water Efficiency Excellence Award from the Region of Waterloo for the Campus-wide Water Fixtures Retrofit Project
Related links
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