Sustainability

Campus Initiatives

Your Campus Dining Team is dedicated to sustainability. We know we can all work together to make a positive impact right here at Austin Peay State University. From purchasing local seasonal produce whenever possible to reducing inorganic and organic waste, your campus team is dedicated to providing you with an exceptional dining experience that is good for you and good for the planet.

Single-Use Disposables

It is our goal to reduce the usage of single-use plastics in order to reduce our trash. Many of the common disposables such as plastic have become "upon request" to help eliminate as many disposable paper and plastic products as possible.

Xpress Nap

Xpressnap napkin dispensers save up to 25% of consumption and waste, the napkins are made from 100% recycled paper and the dispensers will encourage customers to take (and waste) fewer napkins. Energy is saved because less power is used to recycle paper products than to create them from virgin material.

Trayless

We are a 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.

Apex

As part of its commitment to increase the sustainability of its operations, Dining Services uses Ecolab’s Apex™ dishwashing system. Apex combines technology and products designed to save water and energy, minimize the impact of products on the environment, and has a built-in method of measuring results. Apex uses a unique combination of detergents, rinse additives, equipment, and consultative services to address the operational challenges in food-service operations. The Apex management approach uses a tablet PC and wireless technology to communicate with the system's controller to download, process, and analyze data to establish each food service operation's "rack-to-guest ratio." By monitoring and improving this ratio, the system helps reduce the amount of water and energy used at each facility, and improve total operational efficiency. All locations will benefit from using less water, energy, and labor, thus minimizing their operations' overall environmental impact. In addition, the Apex system further supports Dining Services' sustainability initiatives with non-caustic chemistry and 95% less packaging material than current methods. Apex products come in a compact solid form that significantly reduces transportation shipments compared to bulkier liquid detergents.

Local Suppliers

Sustainable Fish and Seafood: We are committed to serving sustainable seafood and fish. By 2015 100% of our fish and seafood will be sustainably certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or the Best Aquaculture Practices. We do not purchase any at risk species. Local Dairy: All of our fluid milk is purchased from local dairies that do not use rBST.