Supplier Diversity | Holiday Lights Recycling

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Supplier Diversity: A Principle of Sustainability

According to a recent poll, 82% of shoppers want a brand’s values to align with their own, and three-quarters of shoppers had parted ways with a brand over a conflict in values. As the COVID-19 pandemic drove people to reevaluate their priorities, elevating concepts like community service, equity, and sustainability, many are reconsidering where and how they spend their money.

WashU is no exception. As sustainability actions and activism become widespread on campus, we are also thinking about supplier diversity. The push for securing both local and diverse-owned businesses is both administrative and grassroots, ranging from “in St. Louis, for St. Louis,” Chancellor Martin’s call to foster relationships with communities within our region; to student groups catering from local, minority-owned restaurants for their general body meetings and socials. More>>

Planting for the Future

WashU arboretum curator, Stan Braude's goal for the arboretum is that everyone on campus will know that the Danforth Campus is an arboretum and will have a favorite tree. Explore this Washington Magazine feature. More>>

St. Louis Food Share

The St. Louis Food Share Network is a grassroots effort by individuals, grocery stores, and non-profit organizations to provide free and healthy food to St. Louisans. Also: campus efforts to address food insecurity. More>>

Mindful Holiday Celebrations

If you are celebrating a holiday this winter season, check out this updated guide to mindful holiday celebrations from the Sustainability archives. It includes ideas for sustainable gifts as well as responsible disposal. More>>

Vacation Power Down Checklist

Whether leaving your office or home vacated for an extended period, these tips will help you save energy while you're away. Review this brief list of best practices to minimize your carbon impact. Please share with office mates! More>>

FedEx Ink Cartridge Recycling

You can now recycle your empty Canon ink cartridges at our campus FedEx locations! While the program is only for the Canon brand, we also have information about how you can recycle other brands' cartridges. More>>

Environmental Justice & Water

WashU Arts & Sciences researchers examine environmental injustice along waterways from their own perspectives--geomorphology, history, and anthropology--shifting the current toward a more equitable future. More>>

New inventory on the WashUReuse Exchange Platform!

Recent items that have made their way to the Circularity Center are now available to preview on WashUReuse, the university's software platform that facilitates internal recirculation of no-longer-needed equipment, supplies and furniture. Anything with the #WashUReuse or #CircularityCenter tags can be viewed in person at the North Campus Circularity Center during posted open hours. Donations from students moving at the end of the semester will be accepted during the center's open hours (clothing, household goods, furniture, non-perishable food) and at the Reduce, Reuse, Repair Fair next week.

Reduce Reuse Repair Fair

Dec. 13, 1-4 pm, Risa Commons
This event will help you explore a creative reuse mindset and build community through skill sharing. Please bring us your extra buttons, bits and bobs! We will also be collecting household items and non-perishable foods. More>>

Holiday Lights Recycling

Now through Feb. 1, various locations
Don't know what to do with old or unworkable holiday lights? Don't trash them! Bring them to campus for recycling! Drop-off is currently available on the Danforth Campus and at the School of Medicine. More>>

Circularity Center Open Hours

Dec. 9, 2-5 pm, North Campus
Stop by during open hours to browse clothing, household goods, office supplies, furniture, appliances, and electronics all available at marked down prices. More upcoming open hours on 12/16 and 12/19. More>>

Make It Take It: Winter Decor

Dec. 9, 2-4 pm, Jubel Hall Makerspace
Join the Skandalaris Center for a special Winter Makerspace edition of Make It, Take It. Participants will use the laser cutter to design their own ornaments and other seasonal embellishments. More>>

Living Earth Collaborative

Thursdays, 4 pm
Expand your knowledge of biodiversity during weekly webinars featuring experts on various topics. The Living Earth Collaborative brings together experts from WashU, Missouri Botanical Garden and the St. Louis Zoo. More>>

Impact of Climate on Design & Policy

Dec. 13, 7 pm, Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Join designer-in-residence and internationally celebrated landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom and colleagues for a discussion about design and policy making for a climate resilient future. More>>

Save the Date!

The Spring e-waste recycling and confidential paper shredding event date will be March 28th on the Danforth Campus. Stay tuned for more information in January's newsletter!

Sustainability Practicum Position

The Office of Sustainability is recruiting Brown School students seeking to pursue a practicum experience to fulfill a new role as Coordinator of WashU's new Circularity Center. More>>

Gephardt Cohort Applications

Gephardt Institute's cohort programs provide powerful experiences that help students explore how to align civic and community engagement with their own passions and skills. More>>

Interfaith Fellows Positions

WashU undergraduates interested in interfaith dialogue and learning about diverse religious and spiritual perspectives are invited to apply as interfaith fellows. Apply by December 10. More>>

Social Media for Climate Activism

Hosted by Bard College, this internship will provide valuable, practical experience working with students from across the world on a social media campaign in support of global climate education. More>>

Community Agriculture Conference

Registration is now open for the Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. The event will take place February 11th and will be available both in-person and virtually. More>>

Do you have a sustainability story to tell from your office or department? Contact us to be featured as a guest author in the OOS newsletter.

Forward

The Office of Sustainability newsletter is intended as a clearinghouse of sustainability-related news and events at the university, in the region and around the world. Listings in the newsletter do not necessarily represent Office of Sustainability endorsements or views. To submit an event or news item to include in the newsletter, email sustainability@wustl.edu.

Our mailing address is:
1 Brookings Drive
MSC 1113-211200
Saint Louis, MO 63130

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