Sustainability: What We're Doing on Campus
Green Team Student, Andy, at Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) Farm
Green Team Students hosting Wipe-Out-Waste, a waste education and reduction program, at the Dish
Join the Green Team!
Laker Food Company is proud to have the Green Team - a group of sustainability minded students that help drive sustainability efforts with Laker Food Co. at Grand Valley.
These students host fun educational events for GV students on campus about waste sorting, waste reduction and how to live sustainability.
Spots available!
Waste Management
- Composting is the process of recycling organic waste material into natural fertilizer. Pre- and post-consumer composting is available at all Laker Food Company restaurants.
- Single-stream recycling is available campus-wide. Look for a designated recycling bin at dining locations.
- Landfill streams are reserved for waste that cannot be recycled or composted. We provide composting and recycling to minimize the amount of waste needed to go to landfill.
- Items that belong in each waste stream can be found on the respective trash bin.
- Learn more about Waste Sorting.
Sustainable Products
- Eliminating single-use plastics in front of house offerings, including straws, cutlery, napkins, stir-sticks, cups, and lids.
- Coolfood Meals - menu items that are made with ingredients that have a lower environmental impact and a certified nutritional safeguard.
- Over 30% local spend
- Use of local food distributor since 2014, Gordon Foods, headquartered in Grand Rapids
- Fair Trade coffee and tea brands, including Java City, Starbucks, Bewley's and Tazo.
- Use of local dairy since 2010, Cedar Crest Dairy Hudsonville, MI
- Use of Cage-Free Eggs since 2011
Social Efforts
- Partnership with GVSU's Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP)
- In 2008 Laker Food Co. donated $5,000 toward construction of the initial hoop houses
- Agreement to purchase produce from SAP since 2014
- The SAP composts campus coffee grounds and utilizes Laker Food Co cardboard for garden beds
- GVSU Campus Race to Zero Waste Partner
- The Zero Waste college competition focuses on waste reduction and zero waste efforts campus-wide and compares their results to other campuses. Participants track all sources of waste generation in three campus buildings during the eight-week competition.
- 2024 Results - Campus Race To Zero Waste
- GVSU Farm Stand hosts a stand that provides samples of fresh produce from GVSU's Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP)
Sustainability Manager, Alyssa, presented Laker Food Co. practices at Reach Higher 2025 event
Sustainability team hosting wipe-out-waste, a waste reduction and education program, at Fresh Food
Sustainability Manager, Alyssa, Hosts Farm Stand a table serving a fresh fruit salad with fruit provided by the SAP
Resources
For more information on sustainable food, visit Sustainabletable.org.
For more information about sustainability at GVSU visit www.gvsu.edu/sustainability
If you have further questions about the sustainability efforts of Laker Food Co., please reach out to: [email protected]