"Drink Sustainably" Nalgene Design

We will offer these bottles for sale to students beginning in early April. Students can use them in the PIT, Benson, and Subway, with potential discounts in the latter two. They should cost no more than $4 or $5.

Sustainability Week

The mission of sustainability week is

• To promote awareness of non-sustainable practices on the Wake Forest campus.
• To provide simple remedies for students to better improve their ecological footprint.

There are three major initiatives in the week:

1. "To-Go" Sustainably

During Sustainability Week we will have the PIT replace their Styrofoam to-go materials with biodegradable ones. We will set up computers at the tables in the entrance, where students can fill out a survey about sustainable issues on campus. We will present the results of this polling to Aramark, hopefully persuading them to use biodegradable materials permanently. We will provide an incentive for students to fill out the survey, possibly a raffle for a free sustainable Nalgene bottle (see part 2). We will market this event with fliers, in the OG&B, and on The Student.

We know that some other schools with Aramark have traded their Styrofoam for biodegradable alternatives. Among the most notable are The University of Florida and The University of Minnesota. Another good example is UC Berkley, though they do not use Aramark. This website has a directory of sustainable products, which may serve useful in our search for a supplier.

2. "Drink Sustainably"

As somewhat of a companion to part 1, we will design and sell Nalgene-type water bottles. We will design logos for these bottles, get them made, and sell them for as cheap as possible. Hopefully this will encourage people to use their Nalgenes in the PIT instead of the Styrofoam or even biodegradable alternatives. We will sell these in the week leading up to Sustainability week, and maybe we can even get Aramark to sell them in the PIT. We might choose something other than Nalgene, more coffee-cup like.

Also, we will try to get discounts on drinks if you use the mug at Benson, Campus Grounds, and other hot spots in Winston. A good example of a program like this is the College of Charleston "Lug-A-Mug Program." A few initial ideas for suppliers are this one, this one, or this one.

Initial Thoughts

To begin studying the sustainability of the Wake Forest we think one of the most important areas is the Aramark corporation and its practices. We will research the corporation and their national statement on sustainability. We will also look at schools that have more progressive Aramark programs, specifically the University of Florida.

Below are two important areas of study. The sustainability week project is currently only focused on the first part, though the use of local produce is, according to many theorists, an even more important step towards sustainability than the use of non-biodegradable materials.

Part one:

1. Getting the PIT and Aramark to make their to-go products with eco-friendly materials.

Goal:
1. During sustainability week have the PIT uses eco-friendly products.
2. Compile research, specifically cost-benefit analysis about to-go materials.
3. Especially get research from other schools to present to Aramark and the administration as leverage for change.

Part two:
Look into having a farmer's market on campus, even if it has to be sponsored by Aramark. Also, focus on getting Aramark to use more local produce issue.

Goals:
1. Define the feasibility of having a farmer's market.
2. Increase the amount of local produce used by some pre-determined percentage.