Sustainability

Waste Sorting Initiative at BVC

Over the past year we have transitioned to a campus with full waste sorting in all areas. Sodexo partnered with BVCGreen Committee on this initiative. In all our food outlets we sort all waste into four streams (Landfill, Compost, Recyclable, and Container deposit). Additionally, we provide training to all our staff, and we volunteer as waste sorting educators at student orientation and first week of school.

We conduct waste sorting education multiple times throughout the school year. Currently, Sodexo staff are at education tables teaching sorting, as well as at key waste stations during meal periods educating students on the proper way to sort here at BVC. In September, we partnered with BVCGreen to create waste station sample stations for key areas, where we filled them with sample waste items that we use here in BVC to give the students additional information. (Pictures of the waste sorting station and clear container on top and our kitchen waste sorting stations are included below).

Choose to ReUse at BVC - Ongoing

Sodexo partners with BVCGreen and BVCSA (Students Association) to provide Choose to ReUse containers. Students and staff can opt in for $4. They get a wallet card that they use when ordering food. They then exchange the wallet card and their food is provided in a washable Green plastic container. Upon return of the container, they get the wallet card back. Every September we push to sell more, and gift some of the containers on campus to increase awareness of the initiative. Material runs on video screens and through an emailer to students that the BVCSA provides.

BVC Straw Elimination

Partnership with BVCGreen Committee, we removed straws from our food court area. We could not remove straws from our Tim Hortons or Starbucks, but with Starbucks we negotiated them allowing us to replace their green straw with a plant-based straw. Signage was created in The Market, and on BVC Video screens, as well as student emails.

BVC Plastic Bag Elimination

BVCGreen was part of this one as well. We discontinued using plastic bags in The Market. Guests now can only use a good old fashioned brown paper grocery bag if they need a bag. We charge 5 cents for the bag, so not only have we greatly reduced the number of bags we use, the ones we do use are fully compostable paper. Signage was created in The Market, and on BVC Video screens, as well as student emails.

BVC Latex Glove Recycling

Sodexo and BVCGreen Comittee partner with an outside vendor who recycles all latex gloves used at BVC. This encompasses Sodexo, the Janitors and the Nursing students. All gloves are collected on site and send away to be recycled.

Community Initiatives & Good Will

BVC Used Cooking Oil Disposal

Sodexo donates all used cooking oil to an engineer at the City of Calgary who used this oil to drive his Mercedes. This has been an ongoing initiative since 2013.

Smile Cookie Campaign

Sodexo and Tim Hortons partnered with BVC’s 1000 Women Rising initiative and raised $1419 over 1 week by selling smile cookies. All proceeds were donated to BVC 1000 Women Rising. Large signage was placed at both Tim Hortons locations, and on BVC video screens. Emails were sent to all students, and information was included in an e-bulletin. Sodexo got the ball rolling by donating 20 cookie trays throughout the BVC Campus, to increase awareness of both Smile Cookies and 1000 Women Rising

Rescuefood.ca

Each Friday rescuefood.ca sends a volunteer to pick up any packaged food we would otherwise dispose of. These donations are typically quite small, 20 pieces or less. They bring these to local food banks.

CRTP Program

Sodexo partners with the BVC Corporate Readiness Training Program to assist new immigrants to Canada on gaining valuable workplace experience. CRTP runs a 12 week program, and at the conclusion, students are partnered with local businesses for a 4-6 week internship.

Bike to Work Day

Sodexo donated simple grab n go breakfast items to provide at no cost to all faculty and staff who rode a bicycle to BVC that day. In addition, Sodexo volunteered outside to repair and service bikes in need of minor adjustment. Over 50 tune-ups were completed. BVC Created Signage, Video screen content, and emails.