Slippery Rock University’s Boozel Dining Hall has earned Certified Green Restaurant® certification from the Green Restaurant Association, recognizing the environmental steps the dining hall has implemented to become more sustainable.
Boozel Dining Hall has achieved more than 165 GreenPoints™ by implementing 39 environmental steps across the Green Restaurant Association’s rigorous certification standards. A key part of that effort is its comprehensive recycling program, which includes plastics, glass, aluminum, cardboard and paper. With the average restaurant producing 100,000 pounds of garbage each year, Boozel Dining Hall is diverting up to 50% of its waste from landfills, or approximately 50,000 pounds annually.
The Green Restaurant Association is a national nonprofit organization helping restaurants become more environmentally sustainable since 1990 through its transparent, science-based certification standards. Restaurants earn GreenPoints™ across seven environmental categories: Energy, Water, Waste, Reusables & Disposables, Chemicals & Pollution, Food, and Building & Furnishing. Each location must meet a minimum number of GreenPoints™ to achieve certification, providing a transparent measure of environmental accomplishments and a pathway to continued progress.
In addition to its recycling efforts, Boozel Dining Hall has taken several steps to reduce waste and conserve resources. The dining hall provides a bottle filling station and does not offer bottled water. It also makes regular food bank donations, offers bulk condiments and uses reusable plates, cutlery, glasses, mugs and bowls, with no disposable options available. Boozel Dining Hall also reduces energy use through occupancy sensors in its office and storage closets and strip curtains on one of its walk-in coolers, which save enough energy to power a residential home for an entire year. With more than 50% of its main dishes being vegetarian or vegan, Boozel Dining Hall also offers sustainable food options for diners.
“I applaud Slippery Rock University on their dedication to reducing their environmental impact,” said Michael Oshman, CEO and founder of the Green Restaurant Association. “Boozel Dining Hall has set an example in Slippery Rock for restaurants across Pennsylvania and the nation to follow. By having a Certified Green Restaurant® on campus, this university is proving it’s possible for any college or university to change their environmental footprint right now.”
“Earning Certified Green Restaurant® status reflects Slippery Rock University’s commitment to sustainability and responsible stewardship of resources while delivering an exceptional dining experience for our students,” said Chris Cole, SRU’s assistant vice president for auxiliary operations and student services. “From reducing waste and conserving energy to expanding sustainable food options, the efforts at Boozel Dining Hall demonstrate how environmental responsibility and high-quality campus dining can go hand in hand. This recognition highlights the dedication of our University and our food vendor, Aramark, to creating a more sustainable future for our campus community.”
More information about Dining Services at SRU is available on the University’s website. More information about the Green Restaurant Association is available at www.dinegreen.com.
