Sustainability

Encouraging Plant-Based Lifestyles

Studies have shown that those who enjoy a plant-based diet have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes, to name a few. Going plant-based is also good for the earth, as plants consume less water and less land than animals, and it helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing Waste

Pulpers are terrific machines built to reduce waste in landfills. Our Pulper located at the Food Court at Reber-Thomas, grinds the food waste into tiny particles, which helps to reduce the amount of space required for waste in landfills and helps to quicken the decomposition process.

Cage-Free Eggs

In keeping with Sodexo's commitment to animal welfare and sustainable practices, Sodexo made the switch to only source eggs from cage-free chickens.

Buying Local Produce

We purchase a mix of conventional and in-season, local produce to feed students on campus. Partnering with local farmers and companies allows us to serve fresh, local Virginia produce to our student body.

Sustainable Coffee

We are proud to serve Caribou Coffee on campus in the Food Court at Reber-Thomas and in our retail operations. Caribou Coffee is small-batch roasted and Rainforest Alliance Certified.

Portion Educating

We've all heard the phrase, "My eyes were bigger than my stomach." That notion is something we want to tackle. We encourage our students to consider how much they are putting on their plates and wait at least 10-20 minutes before going to grab additional food.

Green Cleaning Solutions

Almost all of our cleaning products on campus are Green Seal Certified, which means they are less toxic than other industrial cleaning solutions and are environmentally friendly.

Xpress Nap Dispensers

The napkins are made of 100% recycled paper. Energy is saved because less power is used to recycle paper products than to create them from virgin material.

Trayless Campus

Customers without trays typically waste less food and beverages. It is also a healthier approach to eating, as we all know that at times our eyes are bigger than our stomach. Trayless dining also reduces the amount of water and detergents needed to wash trays - and saves energy too!