Sustainability Awards

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The Sustainability Awards recognizes leadership in the promotion and implementation of environmental sustainability as it relates to campus dining operations. The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) celebrates the pivotal role dining services has in the overall environmental sustainability and social responsibility goals of a campus.

Entry for the 2025 Sustainability Awards is closed.

Online Platform

Rules & Criteria

2025 Categories:

Sustainable Procurement
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/Social Justice
Carbon Neutrality
Waste Reduction

2025 Categories & Winners:

The 2025 Grand Prize Winner:

Revealed at NACUFS 2025 National Conference!

Sustainable Procurement

Awarded to operations with the best sustainable procurement programs. This includes, but is not limited to, programs with an emphasis on buying local, animal welfare, sustainable seafood, carbon footprint, and social equity.

The 2025 Sustainable Procurement winners are:

Gold:

University of Vermont

Virginia Tech

Silver:

Southwestern University - Georgetown

Bronze:

University of Michigan

George Mason University

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/Social Justice

Awarded to operations who place high importance on their impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and social justice. Elements of the programs who win this award could include training programs for DEI for staff, supplier expectations and purchasing policies, tracking of business types purchased from, and education and outreach to guests and staff.

The 2025 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/Social Justice winners are:

Gold:

University of Michigan

Boston University

Silver:

James Madison University

Waste Reduction

Awarded to operations with the best waste reduction plans, for both front- and back-of-house, and in regard to suppliers and procurement. Programs who win this award will place an emphasis on reducing single use disposables, recycling and composting, diverting waste, collecting data on waste production, and educating consumers on the importance of reducing all waste, including food and other dining related items.

The 2025 Waste Reduction winners are:

Gold:

Georgia State University

Silver:

SUNY Buffalo

Bronze:

Johnson & Wales University

Carbon Neutrality

Awarded to operations who place a high value on reducing their carbon footprint and working toward carbon neutrality. Programs who win this award will emphasize purchasing policies that avoid deforestation and favor regenerative agriculture, educating customers on how to reduce the carbon load of their meals, and integrating their efforts with campus-wide climate action programs.

The 2025 Carbon Neutrality winners are:

Gold:

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

New York University

Bronze:

University of Michigan