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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Green Office Program

The Green Office program has been developed as a framework and library of resources to support WashU’s offices, units, and departments in reducing the environmental impact of the university community’s daily work operations.

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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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Green Office Program Spotlights Newly Certified Offices

November 13, 2024
Green Office Program Spotlights Newly Certified Offices
Written by Office of Sustainability Green Office associate, Sofia Martinez, Class of 2026 WashU’s environment includes numerous offices and labs. When considering the university’s environmental impact, these spaces are important to consider, as they consume energy, use materials, and generate waste. By certifying with the Green Office Program, employees across the university can make a […]

WashU Receives Green Labs Award at International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories Conference   

November 12, 2024
WashU Receives Green Labs Award at International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories Conference   
WashU was commended for the success of its Green Labs Program at the 2024 International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) conference, held this year in St. Louis. The conference convened architects, engineers and sustainability professionals to discuss energy efficiency and waste reduction in research laboratories.   The “honorable mention” award recognized the program’s rapid growth over […]

Guide to Sustainable Holiday Celebrations

November 12, 2024
Guide to Sustainable Holiday Celebrations
Once November starts, the anticipation of the upcoming holidays hits. It’s a time filled with loved ones, traveling, gift-giving, and big feasts. We hope that you will have a good time, no matter when or where your celebration takes place. The holiday season also corresponds with a peak in consumerism, energy consumption, and waste generation. […]
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In November's newsletter, read about WashU's Gold-level designation from the League of American Bicyclists. If you haven't already done so, please take the transportation survey and be entered into a raffle for WashU gear. Also check out other great accolades that the WashU Arboretum, Green Labs Program, STS and Tech Den have received. Environmental Studies is hiring Impact Interns for the Spring of 2025. Any WashU students interested in having a meaningful impact on our STL community should consider applying. More information can be found on the Sustainability website under Internships. Want to exercise your artistic skills while soaking up the beauty of WashU’s beloved ginkgo allee? Join the WashU Arboretum and Sam Fox School’s MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture program on Thursday, November 7 at 4 pm. There will be some basic drawing materials available as well as warm cider. After the election, bring your *corrugated plastic* yard signs for special recycling collection to the 2nd level entrance of the parking garage at West Campus or the basement level (P2) Schnuck Pavilion entrance of the East End Garage. There are also limited drop-off hours at the Circularity Center on North Campus on 11/6 and 11/8. There are also a number of regional drop-off locations. Please note that these signs are not accepted in your home or university recycling bin. Visit the link in our bio for more information. 🚍🌱 Tell Us How You Get to and from Campus! 🌱🚲 Check out the Circularity Center’s Halloween sale the last two Fridays of October! Come shop for Halloween, or donate your old items. Please have your WashU ID ready to present at the door. In October's newsletter, read about the hidden costs of AI, WashU's landscapers, and lots of upcoming events including a career expo and Active Transportation Month (it's Mystery Shuttle Week!). All that and more at the link in our bio. Celebrate Active Transportation Month with WashU Parking & Transportation and Sustainability! Ride the WashU Shuttles this week and enter to win prizes up to $50 in value! Increase your chances of winning by riding these shuttles: The Delmar Loop Shuttle, The DeBaliviere Place Shuttle, and The South Campus Shuttle. As winners of this year’s College Transit Challenge, let’s take a look at some places that WashU students took transit!