Food Services - A Closer Look

Sustainable Foods: Organic, Humane, Local, & Fair Trade

Sodexo has implemented the use of cage free shell eggs on campus and is campaigning with their purchasing department to encourage those egg providers to be certified humane as well.  These eggs are also antibiotic free.

Sodexo plans to introduce organic cheese for the grilled cheese line in Blackhawk commons 

Sodexo introduced Fair Trade coffee as well as organic coffee to campus in 2006.  They now offer Fair Trade coffee at all locations on campus and encourage all catering events to use Starbucks Fair Trade coffee.

Food Committee, the SEAC student organization and the Campus Sustainability Organization sponsored an education program to help students understand sustainability as well as issues related to the use or non-use of cage free eggs on campus.  Student government then voted to support a resolution to encourage the use of cage free eggs on campus in all locations.

Food Committee voted to support a resolution to make the UW Oshkosh an official Fair Trade University, which supports the use of fair trade items on campus when and where feasible.

Food Committee voted to request that any future dining RFP encourage future dining contractors to support sustainability efforts on campus.

Energy & water conservation

We have reduced the amount of energy used in Blackhawk by almost 20% in the last year.

• Light bulbs continue to be changed out for more efficient bulbs
• New, more efficient air conditioning system was installed
• Lighting timer is being used to limit the time lights are on
• Timers are being used to lower heating, ventilation, and air conditioning running time, reducing energy usage
• Temperatures have been lowered during the winter in all areas of Blackhawk Commons

Plantings have been put in place to further shade the building in warmer months.  These plants shed their leaves and allow sun to shine on the building in colder months.  This reduces air conditioning in the summer, and heating in the winter.

Compressors for the refrigerated walk in coolers were being cooled with water.  This system was modified to reduce the use of fresh and waste water by changing this to an air cooled system.

A new roof  was installed on Blackhawk that will further insulate the building and should reduce heating and cooling losses

In 2003 the dish machine was replaced with an energy and water efficient model, which remains one of the most efficient machines on the market today.

In Blackhawk., lights are being turned off earlier due to better cleaning scheduling which will save energy and replacement of light bulbs.

Solid waste reduction

A recycle mug program with discounted refill options is provided on ampus by Sodexo.

Sodexo reduced the amount of packaging on desserts in retail operations by using muffin papers instead of plastic containers or styrofoam plates. 

Packaging for the Titan Taco and Godfather's Pizza both use paper instead of styrofoam, which will break down quicker in landfills and eventually will be sent to composting facilities.

A trash compactor was installed at Blackhawk as well as larger recycling bins to reduce the number of pickups, which reduces the carbon footprint of transporting the trash and recyclables.

Recycling

• Cardboard is recycled, and we produce a lot of it as most food items arrive in cardboard containers
• Metal and plastic is recycled
• Office paper is recycled
• Beverage bottles and cans are recycled 
• Newspapers are collected from tables and recycled
• Cans and plastic are recycled from kitchens and production areas 
• We have reduced the amount of printed material we use by over 80% since 2004 by using web based information

Food waste pulpers

• Food waste pulpers are used in thedishroom in Blackhawk
• All paper and food waste on the trays goes into this huge disposer
• Water carries the ground waste to the basement where it is separated from the water which is then sent back upstairs to the disposers to be reused.
• This greatly reduces the amount of garbage entering our landfills
• Less garbage volume
• no plastic trash bags being used
• Water is recycled and reused

During the second semester of 2008 Food Committee and Sodexo sponsored the "Clean Plate" program.  Students who ate all the food they took would receive a chance to enter a drawing for a flat screen TV.  Food Committee members would hand these out at random times at the tray return area of Blackhawk.

Alternative fuels

Our used fryer grease is being recycled into biodiesel

Sodexo's delivery trucks use 10% biodiesel

Working with Johnson Controls, we are in the process of purchasing and setting up a biodiesel production operation so we will be able to produce biodiesel for mowers and tractors on campus as well as the Sodexo delivery trucks from our used fryer oil

Purchasing

Sodexo introduced and is using compostable disposables in the Blackhawk Good To Go room  

Sodexo uses all green chemicals for cleaning and sanitizing

During the 2008 Academic year, the trays were changed in Blackhawk to smaller, lighter, and recyclable trays

This reduced the amount of chemicals, water, and energy needed to clean and sanitize the trays

This reduced food waste as students were taking less on their trays, and eating what they were taking.

During Sodexo's 2007 fiscal year, of the total dollars spent 71.3% of the purchases were from vendors located in Wisconsin. During that same time period 22.25% of purchases were made from neighboring states. The total dollars spent in Wisconsin and surrounding states equaled $2.6 million which was 93.62% of all purchases made in their fiscal year of 2007.  Sodexo is encouraged to purchase locally whenever possible and practical.

All new equipment that is purchased will be energy star rated if possible.

The equipment recently purchased for the Cyber Cafe was energy star rated where possible.

Future projects (Sodexo)

Continuing to work with Sodexo to introduce more organic, Fair Trade, and sustainable food sources to our students

The Biodiesel project is not complete, but is in motion and there will be a plan to expand the use of this project to possibly include waste oil from local schools and hospitals as well as using the fuel in more campus vehicles and buses

Composting of dining waste along with campus yard waste

Use of sustainable seafood sources

Greater use of compostable disposables where practical

Expansion of recycling efforts

Reduction of hours that cooking equipment is running through more efficient management of production times

Increased use of compostable paper products in Reeve in place of styrofoam plates when composting facilities are available.

Future projects (Reeve)

Adding more paper and comingled recycling containers, including placement in all conference rooms and high traffic areas.

Working with staff to make certain all recycling is recycled.

Adjust menu in Titan Underground to reduce the number of different kinds of paper product used.

Work with vendors to implement compostable paper products replacing Styrofoam cups/bowls and plastic silverware.