Sustainability is about living environmentally responsible lives so that we, and future generations, can live healthy and thriving lives on a healthy and thriving planet. Lawrence is working to do its part. Check out the awesome progress that was made in the past year in this quick summary of our annual report for sustainability.
- Lawrence was ranked as a top performer (8th) in AASHE’s Sustainable Campus Index for the category of Wellbeing and Work. Thank you to our HR and Wellness Services colleagues for all that you do!
- The Sustainability Steering Committee developed a sustainability strategic plan for operations, setting goals to be achieved by 2025.
- A new washing machine in the Wellness Center with a more efficient spin cycle has decreased drying time from 45 to 20 minutes.
- Bon Appetit eliminated plastic bags in the café and corner store and has also eliminated plastic straws.
- The Lawrence University Environmental Organization, a student organization, has created a collection system for compost in the major residence halls. Compostable material is collected by club members and brought to SLUG weekly.
- The hand dryers in the Warch Camus Center were calculated to save 330 rolls of paper towel and $3,660 last year.
- Lawrence became certified as a Bee Campus USA. Have you seen the demonstration hive in the Campus Center?
- A student project brought 9 goats to campus to munch away at invasive species in the campus garden, SLUG.
- 17 pounds of leafy lettuce and basil were harvested from Lawrence’s Flex Farm, a student-led project made possible by the Student Sustainability Fund.
We are excited to start this new academic year-with a focus on waste reduction, including paper reduction, and decreasing our waste contamination rate.
Sustainable Lawrence Webpage:
https://www.lawrence.edu/admissions/about/sustainable-lawrence