Published October 14, 2009

by afdubreu

The following appeared in the Wednesday, October 7, 2009 edition of Excalibur:

A recent symposium critically examined the sustainability of York University’s purchasing policies as well as campus food options, finding that students are dissatisfied with York’s food choices.
The Sept. 24 symposium called “Sustainable Purchasing Policies: Developing and Implementing Living Documents,” brought together various stakeholders such as purchasing
managers, administrators and students from York, as well as from other universities and organizations.
The symposium focused on the purchasing policies of goods in universities.
It was put together by Darryl Reed, associate professor in the department of social science, and J.J. McMurtry, assistant professor and coordinator of the business and society
program at York.
Some of the questions under discussion included whether or not goods were exchanged fairly, whether or not sweatshop labour was used in the production of the goods and whether or not they were environmentally friendly, among others.
The symposium also introduced a series of concerns and solutions about the sustainable purchasing policies at York. One of its co-sponsors, the Institute for Research & Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS), began looking at the range and types of food on campus in the summer of ’08.
IRIS released their findings at the symposium in their report “Examining Campus Food Sustainability at York University.” They discovered that not only do students have very few food options, but many are also oblivious to what is available.
“What we found is that generally students want more organic food, they want more local food, they want more vegetarian food,” said Annette Dubreuil, coordinator of IRIS.
“We were surprised that 40 percent of the population [including students] only eats meat five or less times a week,” she continued.
“When you look around campus, the quality of the food doesn’t reflect the need of students because, although we find a lot of vegetarian burgers and salads, we don’t find much variety in the vegetarian food that is available, including more diverse and nutritious vegetarian meals,” she said.
Many members of the York community also expressed their dissatisfaction with the amount of trash produced by food services.
“York should have a standard policy that would govern campus food service operations,” said Dubreuil.
IRIS recommends better coordination within the food service operations on campus in order to support the implementation of sustainable practices to a much higher degree.
The symposium demonstrated the concerns and issues that many organizations and institutions face when implementing a policy of purchasing goods.
“I believe that students in any institutional setting need to educate themselves on the ethics of the goods they purchase at school and at home,” said McMurtry.
“Students have a long history of leading positive social, political and economic change. Purchasing policies are no different.”

- To view “Examining Campus Food Sustainability at York University,” which includes students’ ideas on sustainable purchasing policies regarding food and waste, visit
www.irisyorku.ca/projects/food

Posted in: IRIS News | Sustainability News

Published October 14, 2009

by afdubreu

The following appeared in the Wednesday, October 7, 2009 edition of Excalibur:

Composters crop up around campus
No servicing required for bottomless composters
Earthworms key to project’s success

You may have been wondering what all those cone-shaped garbage bins around campus are.
They’re composters – but not your average backyard kind.
York has installed new additions to the composting cones all around the university, in a continued attempt to make campus more environmentally friendly. Currently there are 50 cones at the Keele campus and two at the Glendon campus.
Campus Services and Business Operations (CSBO), the entity responsible for waste management on campus, has been exploring the usage of worms in the process of  composting.
Composting is the biological decomposition of organic substances.
The Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability at York (IRIS) looked into potential ways of improving compositing on campus.
The outdoor system consists of bottomless cones that stand above half-a-foot-deep holes in the ground.
The items that should go into the bins include vegetables, fruits and plain carbohydrates.
This system does not require York to supply the worms; the worms that are already on campus are attracted to the compost and consume the waste.
Due to the bottomless nature of the bins, the garbage decomposes at a rate that precludes the need for maintenance.
Meagan Heath, a master’s of environmental studies student and member of IRIS, said the bins have to be emptied once a year in the fall before the frost so that they can be used during the winter.
“Waste management is a municipality responsibility and York has to manage its own garbage through contracts with other companies such as waste haulers,” Heath said.
There is a difference between what York University and the City of Toronto consider to be compost. For instance, the compost bins at York do not accept biodegradable packaging,
such as coffee cups, even though they are accepted throughout the rest of Toronto.
To help students determine what qualifies as compostable material, illustrative stickers on the bins clarify what kind of waste belongs in the cones.
The food vendors and restaurants on campus are required to collect any kitchen food waste and sort it into their own organic collection.
The compost is then collected and shipped to industrial composting facilities, paid for by the restaurant owners as part of their maintenance fees.

Posted in: IRIS News | Sustainability News

Published October 14, 2009

by afdubreu

The following was issued by CNW on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 and quotes IRIS Executive Board Member David Bell:
Bosch survey finds 7 in 10 Canadians see disregard to the environment as 'uncool'; senior scholar says eco-offenders will soon be considered outcasts
TORONTO, Oct. 6 /CNW/ - In the near future, Canadians driving gas-guzzling vehicles, purchasing products with excess packaging, or giving dinner guests a tour of the house with inefficient old appliances will be seen as social outcasts. Already today, fellow citizens are watching. According to a new national consumer poll entitled, The Bosch Eco-lution Report, a full 7 in 10 Canadians say it's a social faux pas to do things that are environmentally irresponsible.

"We're seeing changing sensibilities around the environment and sustainability, just as our society experienced a major culture-shift on smoking not too long ago," says Dr. David Bell, senior scholar, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University. "Today, it's simply unacceptable to smoke in someone's house - a norm of yesteryear. Our eco-culture is growing leaps and bounds in the same way today, and soon people who blatantly disregard the environment will be treated as outcasts."

According to the survey, 85 per cent of Canadians considered themselves to be committed to greener living, and almost one in three Canadians (29 per cent) identified themselves as either "green crusaders" or "green ambassadors" proudly leading by example. Nearly all Canadians (95 per cent) reported doing something to live a more eco-friendly life such as: 1) using re-usable shopping/grocery bags (78 per cent); 2) switching light bulbs at home to energy-efficient ones (68 per cent); 3) purchasing earth-friendly household products (53 per cent); and 4) purchasing energy-efficient kitchen or laundry appliances (50 per cent). What's more, a full 43 per cent of Canadians said they purposefully favour brands that are environmentally responsible.

"Canadians are starting to close the gap between their eco-beliefs and their actions - and while we have a ways to go, I see this country at the cusp of great social change," predicts Bell.

Change happens when there are a combination of drivers, explains Bell, including government legislation, public policy incentives and disincentives, demonstrated leadership from the corporate world, government, schools, etc. and increased education and awareness. Because all of these things are currently aligning, Bell expects fundamental shifts in our eco-culture to take place not within 20 years, but as quickly as five years.

"Companies like Bosch, who have been leading by example in the area of sustainability and producer responsibility for decades now have a serious competitive advantage because many corporate companies are only now starting to catch up to the consumer mindset," says Bell.

Interestingly, half of all survey respondents (51 per cent) said they believe the average Canadian is greener than most corporate companies, while an overwhelming majority (92 per cent) of Canadians said companies must invest more into developing smarter, greener technology.

It used to be that high-performing water and energy efficient kitchen and laundry appliances were a luxury, a nice-to-have. But today, as evidenced from the consumer poll, they have become a should-have. In the future, according to Bell, the expectation will be that it's a must-have. Only the most efficient, technologically savvy appliances will remain on the market.

"Whereas in nature, the output of one natural process becomes the input of another, as a society, many businesses have operated in the opposite way with a take, make and waste model," adds Bell. "That will have to change almost immediately, because in the very near future, the assumption will be: if you want to have a successful business, you must operate it a sustainable basis."

Consequently, Bell says that 25 years from now, it is likely that only companies with a sustainable operation will be successful.

"At Bosch, we feel there is a great opportunity for us to partner with our local communities in order to empower this movement of change," says Steve Preiner, Director of Marketing for Bosch and BSH Home Appliances Ltd. "To do this, we are searching for individuals and groups across Canada who share our commitment of pursuing innovation that embraces the planet we live on. We want to find these change agents, recognize them, and help further the sustainability cause so we can reach this country's green goals even faster."

"What's Your Eco-lution?" is Bosch's latest initiative to inspire Canadians and recognize those who are setting great examples of environmental care in communities across Canada. Bosch is inviting consumers to visit bosch-appliances.ca and submit examples of local Eco-Leaders. An Eco-Leader could be any individual or group who exemplifies Bosch's commitment to environmental responsibility within their community - through their own commitment to sustainable living, education or business practices. In addition, consumers can follow Dr. David Bell's Voice of Reason blog and watch a series of short videos - Bosch's Lessons in Eco-Leadership - which speak to the simple environmental responsibilities shared by homeowners across Canada. Further information on the campaign can be found at bosch-appliances.ca.

The Bosch Eco-lution Report survey was conducted by Leger Marketing and analyzed by Dr. David Bell and Bosch Home Appliances between April 14th and August 31st, 2009. A total of 1510 interviews were completed with Canadian adults, 18 years of age and over. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

About Bosch

Bosch Home Appliances is part of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, the third largest home appliance maers, all Bosch products combine superior performance and excellent quality withnufacturer in the world. Inspired by the lifestyle of today's discerning consum unrivaled ease-of-use. The leader in environmentally-friendly home appliances, Bosch manufactures products that regularly receive industry and consumer awards and its dishwashers are consistently top-ranked by leading consumer magazines. For more information, please visit www.bosch-appliances.ca or call 1.800.921.9622 to request a catalogue.

For further information: Media requiring further information, images and/or interviews, please contact: Rohini Mukherji/Sharon Hayward, DDB Public Relations, (416) 963-4297/(416) 972-5844, rohini.mukherji@can.ddbpr.com/sharon.hayward@can.ddbpr.com

Posted in: IRIS News | Sustainability News

Published October 14, 2009

by afdubreu

The following appeared in the Thursday, October 8, 2009 edition of Y-File:

The College Sustainability Report Card, released yesterday, awards York University a B+ for sustainability, the highest ranking achieved by Canadian universities in the US-Canada survey.

Among the 332 schools evaluated, York scored first in Ontario, sharing the top Canadian ranking with the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, the University of Calgary and McGill University, all of which received grades of B+.

The most comprehensive survey of sustainability on campuses in the 50 US states and in Canada, the 2010 report card assesses 48 indicators in nine categories: administration, climate change & energy, food & recycling, green building, student involvement, transportation, endowment transparency, investment priorities and shareholder engagement.

York University improved its ranking from a C+ in 2009, and earned the designation of Campus Sustainability Leader, awarded to institutions that achieve an average grade of A- or better across all six campus categories.

“This report card is great news for York and for the communities we serve, but we know there is more work to be done," says York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. "Sustainability is an idea whose time has come; it’s about giving future generations opportunities equal to those we have enjoyed.”

The report card highlighted York’s achievements in building a greener University community, including:

Administration: The President's Sustainability Council advises the president on a variety of sustainability initiatives, and the Yorkwise campaign has been launched to educate the University community about sustainability. The Office of Environmental Design & Sustainability, created in 2008, employs one full-time staff member.

Climate change & energy: In 2008, York University achieved a 15 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels. The University has invested in an energy management program to meet its commitment of reducing emissions to 25 per cent below 2006 levels by 2011. There are two cogeneration plants on campus and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) retrocommissions and lighting retrofits have been completed for energy efficiency.

Food & recycling: The University's food service providers purchase fair trade coffee, as well as organic and local produce and beef. The University is currently conducting a pilot program with a local community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm. Food waste is composted in 22 compost digesters around campus.

Green building: The Keele campus features seven buildings constructed to meet Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. New buildings and renovations incorporate green building strategies, such as the use of environmentally preferable materials, efficient airflow systems and storm water retention. Occupancy sensors and low-flow plumbing fixtures have been installed around the Keele campus.

Student involvement: Numerous student organizations at York work to advance sustainability, including the Student Subcommittee of the President's Sustainability Council. The york is U Green Team organizes events such as the environmental expo, tree planting, an eco-food fair and an eco-friendly fashion show. Residence environmental ambassadors coordinate residence recycling initiatives, and electricity use in the residence halls decreased by 26 per cent during the recent Res Race to Zero energy challenge.

Transportation: York runs two free shuttle services between its Keele and Glendon campuses, offers a discount on Toronto Transit Commission Metropasses and awards financial incentives to carpoolers. Bike racks are placed at major buildings, indoor monitored bike parking is present at one location; and shower facilities are available for cyclists. More than 65 per cent of community members commute to the University by means other than single-occupant vehicles.

The 2010 report card saw the highest participation levels to date: 89 per cent of schools responded to the campus survey; 91 per cent to the dining survey; 82 per cent to the endowment survey; and 75 per cent to the student survey. In all, 318 out of 332 schools responded to at least one of the surveys. The College Sustainability Report Card is provided to the public free of charge by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. To view the full report card click here.

Posted in: IRIS News | Sustainability News