Discover what Washington University is doing to improve sustainability on campus, in St. Louis, and internationally.
Introducing WashU Spring Blooms
Spring blooms are upon us here at WashU! After a relatively colder winter this year, our trees and flowers are beginning to push out new floral and leaf growth. For anyone interested in tracking what’s in bloom, the WashU Arboretum has got you covered. Biweekly bloom updates will be posted to the WashU Arboretum website […]
Celebrating Women Environmentalists
Written by Office of Sustainability student associate, Meghan Jachna, Class of 2027. We are highlighting five prominent women who have positively shaped the environment and have inspired sustainability in profound ways. March is Women’s History Month, and we want to share the stories of women who have played an influential role in creating policies and […]
Sustainable Fashion Week
WashU Sustainable Fashion Week brings together fashion enthusiasts and practitioners from across campus to share knowledge that encourages a responsible relationship between us and our clothing. From policy to runways, label start-ups to faculty innovators, the week promises to offer a variety of perspectives and insights in this area. Event Date and Time Location More […]
April is Active Transportation Month
April is the first of two Active Transportation Months (ATM) at WashU hosted by Parking & Transportation, Office of Sustainability, and WUSM Operations & Facilities Management. The goal of ATM is to motivate staff, faculty and students to reduce solo-driving and try active, low-carbon means of transportation. Even in a car, consider carpooling or budgeting […]
The WashU “Buyerarchy of Needs”
Written by Office of Sustainability student associate, Meghan Jachna, class of 2027. Image designed by student associate, MC Ramirez Gomez, class of 2027. This article was inspired by Sarah Lazarovic’s Buyerarchy of Needs model. What does it mean for us as a WashU community to structure our material needs through a sustainability lens? The WashU “buyerarchy […]
WashU Now Hosts Glass Collection Site
This February, WashU officially became the host of a Ripple Glass collection site. This exciting new addition offers WashU and the surrounding community a new and high-impact option to recycle their glass bottles and jars. Glass is a 100% recyclable material, and it can be endlessly recycled without loss in quality or purity. However, hundreds […]
Applications Open: Summer WashU EnviroCorps
In September 2024, WashU launched the WashU EnviroCorps, part of the Campus Compact EnviroCorps (CCEC), the first nationwide AmeriCorps program solely dedicated to campus-based, community-led environmental action. The summer term of the WashU EnviroCorps will run from May or June 2025 through the end of July 2025 and will build on the foundation of the program established over the […]
Green Cup ResCollege Competition 2025
What is Green Cup? Every spring since 2011, WashU’s Residential Colleges compete to reduce energy use and adopt more sustainable lifestyles, preventing hundreds of metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere and helping the university save money on electricity costs. The Green Cup competition will kick off this year on Friday, February 7th and conclude […]
Minimizing Waste During WashU’s Brand Transition
In August 2024, Washington University in St. Louis unveiled a new brand aimed to “bring WashU to the world.” The change happened as the new school year began with updated websites, signage, and merchandise. While rebrands provide opportunities to advance institutional identity, the material impact can be significant. To limit financial and environmental impacts, the […]
Exploring WashU’s Danforth Campus Shuttles
Written by Office of Sustainability student associates, Wissal Boudaoud and Cate Young, Class of 2025. We celebrated Active Transportation Month on the WashU shuttles this October. Students who rode the shuttles and entered our raffle won exciting prizes from businesses along the routes, including Schnucks movie theater popcorn, Fitz’s root beer, and a Crema Coffee […]
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
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 […]