By Cyrus Bhewdar, Director of Sustainability
Emory University has been recognized as a top performer in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index, claiming sixth place in Food and Dining and seventh in Campus Engagement. A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus Index recognizes top-performing sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).
Emory earned its top Food and Dining performer status by advancing sustainable food initiatives, including committing to sourcing local and sustainable food through efforts such as the Sustainability Guidelines for Food Purchasing. Key programs offered by Emory’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives — including the Emory Farmers Market, Oxford Organic Farm and the Emory Educational Garden Project — encourage community members to engage with small-scale producers and support the local economy, contributing to a more robust and sustainable food system, while enjoying delicious, local food.
Students are able to use their Emory Cards and meal plans at the Emory Farmers Market, just like they would at any of the on-campus dining halls. Since fall 2015, students have spent more than $800,000 from their meal plans at the market, demonstrating the community’s love of fresh, local food.
Emory also collaborates with The Conservation Fund to support local farmers and has developed a Food Security Resource Guide to aid members of the Emory community facing food insecurity.
In addition, Emory supports student sustainability groups and engages employees through a variety of sustainability engagement opportunities on campus. The annual Student Sustainability Showcase allows students to present innovative environmental projects, while the Piedmont Project equips faculty to integrate sustainability into curricula. Preorientation programs, including the IGNITE sustainability track and resident advisor sustainability training, introduce incoming students to Emory’s green initiatives.
Funding opportunities such as the Incentives Fund from the Office of Sustainability Initiatives empower the Emory community to implement new ideas and research that support innovation, knowledge-gathering and positive behavior changes on campus.
“All of us at AASHE extend our warmest congratulations to Emory University for their achievement,” says Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE’s executive director. “By fostering sustainable practices and initiatives, you set an inspiring example for your peers and future generations. Your efforts are a testament to the positive impact that institutions can make when they prioritize sustainability and take meaningful action. Keep up the outstanding work in creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all.”
Emory’s most recent STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website.
To learn more, visit the Emory Report article covering our accomplishments.