Beginning in September 2024, the UC Davis campus community will see a significant shift in the packaging of beverages sold in retail locations as well as vending machines across campus. While the drinks themselves will remain the same, much of the packaging will change. This change is closely tied to a new preferred supplier contract with PepsiCo and also aligns with broader efforts by the state of California and the University of California to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics.
Nearly a decade ago, campus leaders at UC Davis decided to invest in a small team of employees to reduce energy by optimizing building controls and systems. The concept was that UC Davis could fund such a team, if it could curb high utility bills — essentially having the team pay for itself with energy savings.
Eric O’Brien’s new position as director of Sustainability at UC Davis is just the latest chapter in his lifelong story of commitment to sustainability.
by Scout Mata and Katie Hetrick, FOA Communications
Tucked away on the west side of campus, UC Davis’ READ facility receives 20 tons of food waste per day from customers including local grocery stores and our own campus dining commons. With the improvements a recent $4.77M CalRecycle grant provides, the READ facility becomes an important part of UC Davis’ strategy to eliminate the use of fossil fuels from its operations and fight climate change.
by Scout Mata and Katie Hetrick, FOA Communications
Since taking ownership in 2017, UC Davis Facilities Management has dedicated itself to revitalizing the READ facility, working with academic and industry experts to find creative solutions including the development of an ammonia extraction system that processes the ammonia-rich digestate, separating it into nearly ammonia-free digestate and concentrated ammonia. The ammonia-free digestate can be processed at the campus’s wastewater treatment plant, or by other means, locally without adding excess nutrients to inland waters. The concentrated ammonia product has now become a valuable commodity purchased by California Safe Soil as an ingredient in the formulation of a certified organic fertilizer.
For the third consecutive year, national environmental leader Practice Greenhealth has named UC Davis Health one of the top 25 hospitals in the country for sustainability. This is the highest honor for hospitals and is based on a rigorous scoring system measuring leadership in sustainability, including greening the operating room, sustainable procurement, green building, energy, water, climate, chemicals, waste, food and transportation.
UC Davis Sustainability is launching an innovative pilot program aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability through the reuse of lab coats and goggles. From June 3rd to June 14th, students are encouraged to participate in a campuswide collection initiative.
UC Davis is embarking on a transformative journey to phase out the purchase and use of single-use plastics from our food service establishments and replace them with reusable or locally compostable alternatives.
It’s official! The Green Initiative Fund, or TGIF, will continue funding undergraduate-centered sustainability projects through the 2030-31 academic year after a successful referendum, voted on by students.
What words come to mind when you think about climate change? Urgency? Innovation? Carbon-free? Now, imagine those very words adorning the fluffy coats of sheep, transforming them into living symbols of our sustainability goals. Only at UC Davis could such a whimsical, yet meaningful event take place.
