Sustainability Week is an annual observance that marked its sixth year earlier this month. Organizers noted the support of units across campus resulted in a successful effort. For Chartwells, the University food service provider, there are benefits to partnering with the Office of Sustainability on the transportation fair and other sustainability events.
“We like getting involved because we want the students to know where their food comes from,” said Lindsay Klingenschmidt, wellness and sustainability specialist for Chartwells. “We find that this partnership is a great way to host educational events where we can share how Chartwells is helping to shorten the distance between students and the food they're eating, and therefore supporting both the environment and local farmers.”
Held Oct. 14-18, Sustainability Week provided awareness to the UNC Charlotte community of the campus’s sustainable practices. The week, hosted by the Office of Sustainability in collaboration with other campus partners, included the transportation fair, student gathering and campus cleanup, along with newer events, such as an outdoor movie night, yoga in the Botanical Gardens and other seminars.
The transportation fair, held on Oct. 15, hosted 26 organizations, including student clubs, campus offices, local government agencies, nonprofit organizations and other local businesses and featured University research projects. This fair serves to inform the campus community about the affordability, safety and availability of sustainable transportation options.
The third annual student gathering, sponsored by the Charlotte Green Initiative (CGI), was held on Oct. 16. This event connects CGI with student organizations to discuss ways to increase the campus’ sustainable practices and opportunities.
The campus cleanup occurs twice a year. For the fall semester, cleanup hours were extended in campus housing areas to accommodate resident students. This was possible through the student resources in the recently expanded EcoReps program.
The Sustainability Office holds events throughout the year, with signature observances each semester.
“We’re in the process of planning some great events for Earth Semester,” said Mike Lizotte, University sustainability officer. “We’re collaborating with campus partners to make this a memorable event for students, faculty and staff, and look forward to sharing more about how the University and surrounding areas are taking steps to better our environmental future.”