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 now open!

All entries must be submitted on the online platform. Click the button below for access.

Online Platform

Rules & Criteria

2025 Categories:

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

2024 Categories & Winners:

The 2024 Grand Prize Winner:

Simon Fraser University

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 2024 Sustainable Procurement winners are:

Gold:

University of Michigan

Silver:

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Bronze:

University of Montana

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 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/Social Justice winners are:

Gold:

Simon Fraser University

Silver:

University of Michigan

Bronze:

The University of Chicago

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 2024 Waste Reduction winners are:

Gold:

University of Michigan

Silver:

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Bronze:

Boston College

SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Services

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 2024 Carbon Neutrality winners are:

Gold:

University of Mississippi

Silver:

University of California, Berkeley

Bronze:

Elon University