Sustainability

Sustainable Columbia

Sustainable Columbia
Sustainability Plan
Sustainable Columbia

Columbia Dining is a partner working to help achieve goals set by the University's Sustainability Plan. Learn more about how our efforts are helping to create a more Sustainable Columbia

Approximately 65% of all food served is purchased from vendors within 250 miles of the Morningside campus.
Sustainable Purchasing

Approximately 56% of all food served is purchased from vendors within 250 miles of the Morningside campus.

Level 1 Green Restaurant Certified
Level 1 Green Restaurant

We are Level 1 Green Restaurant Certified, meeting standards across water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable goods, energy, reusable and disposable items, and chemical/pollution reduction.

Organics collection/composting bin
Food Waste & Composting

John Jay Dining Hall composts 5,652 pounds of organics per day as a part of the DSNY Organic Collection Pilot. We were the first NYC campus to join the program.

THE REUSABLE ECO-CONTAINER

Making To-Go Dining More Sustainable

When you want to take a meal to-go but don't want to create extra waste, the eco-container is here for you. The eco-container is the only reusable container allowed in the dining halls and can be used to take a meal to-go at select locations. All Columbia Dining Plan Holders are eligible to join the program. Watch our Instagram reel to see the eco-container in action.

The eco-container and dining token

Our Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainable practices drive our purchasing decisions, menu development, and physical operations. We order from local businesses and farms, provide a wide range of daily vegan and vegetarian options and prioritize recycling and reuse. Learn more:

Local Purchasing
Local Purchasing
Sustainable Purchasing

Approximately 58% of all food served is purchased from vendors within 250 miles of the Morningside campus.

Menus of Change
Menus of Change

Our culinary team has added more plant-based items as a features on our menus, as part of our membership in the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative.

Reuse and Recyling
Reuse and Recycling
Reuse & Recyling

100% post-consumer recycled or compostable materials are used in our dining locations. We make every effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

Facility Efficiency
Facility Efficiency
Facility Efficiency

We choose energy efficient equipment and follow processes that help to cut waste, like the InSinkErator that helps reduce food scraps sent to landfill by 85%.

Food Waste & Composting
Food Waste & Composting
Food Waste & Composting

We aim to be a 0% waste organization. (We love food too much to waste it.) 

Sustainable Leaders Network
Sustainable Leaders Network

Columbia Dining received a Gold Workspace Certification from Environmental Stewardship. As a member of the Sustainable Leaders Network, we aim to drive behavior change from the ground up.

Green Restaurant certified logo dinegreen.com
Green Restaurant Certified

We are Level 1 Green Restaurant Certified in all of our residential and retail locations. 

STARS Ratings
STARS Ratings
STARS Ratings

Columbia University received a Gold rating from STARS for its sustainability efforts, in which Columbia Dining played a key role.