St Andrews Residential and Business Services – the campus of health, food and drink
50% more plant-based food choices, 23,400 hot beverages served in reusable cups and close collaboration with local suppliers – the University of St Andrews Residential and Business Services won Campus Health, Food & Drink at the Green Gown Awards this Wednesday.
The Residential and Business Services (RBS) takes a holistic perspective on sustainability. By working with local farmers, letting students have their say on their business, and constantly exploring new ways of reducing waste, RBS ensures sustainable choices across the whole supply chain.
The initiatives are many. Often quite small but with significant impact.
Last year, the team managed to remove 1,056 supply vehicles from the road – simply by changing logistics letting suppliers “piggyback” on each other when making their way to St Andrews. 54,147 sausages were prevented from travelling 3,744 by switching to the local supplier Balgove Larder. 50% more plant-based food choices were made by adding more plant-based selections and placing them first in service.
RBS demonstrates the essential in our journey towards a climate positive future – it is about taking one step at a time and take the opportunities to improve.
“An excellent student experience can be a sustainable one too, and I congratulate our team at Residential and Business Service for feeding our students at St Andrews in a way that reflects their values, supports our local community, and is good for the planet.”
– Professor Sally Mapstone, FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of St Andrews.
This year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards Finalists represented over 850,000 students and 130,000 staff. They are leading the way with their commitment to the global sustainability agenda and proving the value that universities and colleges bring to the wellbeing of society.
The Residential and Business Services was announced as the winner at the Green Gown Awards, category Campus Health, Food & Drink.