Washington University in St. Louis is fully committed to being a national leader in sustainability, a core priority that runs through all aspects of our community, our operations, and our work as a leading teaching and research institution. Explore how we are addressing climate change and environmental degradation.

What we’re doing

We’ve invested in significantly reducing our carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices on our campuses and beyond.

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What you can do

From joining an organization to changing everyday behaviors, you can join WashU in protecting environmental and public health.

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Share Our Stuff

Share Our Stuff is WashU’s annual move-out collections drive, this year from April 15 to May 20. This collaborative effort makes it easy for students to donate their unwanted items at move-out in a way that benefits our community and keeps usable goods out of the landfill.

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SPARK

SPARK: Sustainability Leadership Training Program brings together environmentally-minded students to learn and network. It will take place August 16-24 and includes an overnight retreat, guest lectures, volunteer work, and day trips to local organizations.

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Community Supported Agriculture

CSA programs provide a convenient and affordable way for community members to access fresh, healthy and seasonal food while supporting and connecting with local farmers. WashU’s CSA program is managed by HOSCO.

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News

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New Food Waste Reduction Program

May 2, 2024
New Food Waste Reduction Program
Written by Office of Sustainability student associate, Faith Phillips, Class of 2024 Leanpath is a food waste prevention technology system that measures food waste and encourages food waste prevention in commercial kitchens worldwide. Leanpath believes that front line food service workers are the first domino in creating real change by challenging the global food waste […]

WashU Earth Day Festival a Success

May 2, 2024
WashU Earth Day Festival a Success
Last week, WashU celebrated Earth Day on the School of Medicine campus. An estimated 200 people attended the WashU Earth Day Festival to learn about sustainable initiatives from a variety of WashU programs and organizations from the St. Louis area. Operations and Facilities Management Department, which houses sustainability staff at the Medical Campus, had a […]

Part-time Student Worker Positions Available at the Office Of Sustainability

April 22, 2024
Part-time Student Worker Positions Available at the Office Of Sustainability
Typically the Office of Sustainability engages student workers in internship positions that require full-time summer commitments or part time work through the duration of the semester. Due to programming needs that fall outside of the typical internship program period, we have a call for student workers to help carry out two programs that support student-centered […]
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In our final newsletter of the school year, read about WashU's new food waste reduction program, Leanpath. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we've included our story about climate anxiety. We've also got a lot of events coming up as part of the Share Our Stuff move-out program as well as a number of opportunities for this summer. Check it out at the link in our profile. During campus move-out, SOS will be holding sorting days to organize the donations we receive. Students can volunteer to help with sorting efforts and in return have the first pick of items they discover (up to 10 lbs per hr donated)! We receive (LOTS of) clothes and small home goods items. We hope to see you there! For more info go to our link.tree or visit this webpage https://sustainability.wustl.edu/calendar_event/share-our-stuff-sort-and-score/ Two part-time paid internships with the Office of Sustainability are now open! This is a great way to gain professional skills, get hands-on experience in the sustainability space, and accelerate sustainability work at WashU. Scan the QR code or check out our Linktree for more details. #washusustain WashU's Earth Day Festival is this Thursday, April 25, from 10am - 2pm! It will take place on the School of Medicine Campus across the McDonnell Pediatrics Building Atrium and UHSP Quad. WashU departments, Farmers Market vendors, and community programs will be there! #washusustain #earthday Happy Earth Day! On the first Earth Day in 1970, 20 million people in the US took a stand to demand a better way forward for our planet. Here we are more than 50 years later, ready to celebrate the achievements of the environmental movement. This is an opportunity to give each other hope, inspiration, and motivation to keep fighting for a healthy planet and climate justice! 🌎 In April's newsletter, read about the new e-mobility charging hubs in the South 40 and Village. Moving out? Learn more about Share Our Stuff, WashU's annual move-out collection program and associated sales! Looking for summer plans right before classes start in the Fall? Sign up for the free SPARK: Sustainability Leadership Program. All of this and more in April's newsletter which you can access via the link in our bio. Share Our Stuff (SOS) is WashU’s annual move-out collection drive. This university-wide effort is designed to make it easy for students to donate unwanted items in good condition. We re-circulate items among the WashU community and non-profits servicing the St. Louis area! Join us for the April Commuter Challenge starting MONDAY! This campus-wide challenge celebrates, supports, and encourages the use of sustainable transportation at WashU. It runs from April 15-26 and is part of April’s Active Transportation Month. Eligible forms of commuting include biking, carpooling, vanpooling (med campus only), taking public transit or shuttles, and walking! 🚲🚉🚶‍♂️#washusustain The Office of Sustainability will be collecting eclipse glasses for Astronomers Without Borders' Recycling and Distribution program. You can drop off your glasses at our office on the 2nd floor of Schnuck Pavilion or you can mail them to 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO 63130, MSC 1113-211200. For more information visit this website: https://astronomerswithoutborders.org/programs/solar-glasses-distribution