Sustainability Initiatives
We don’t just talk about sustainability - we take action. Check out some of the ways we're reducing our environmental impact and creating a positive impact on our community.
Working Toward Zero Waste
We proudly support the sustainability of Earth. Here are a few active initiatives.
Robust Recycling
While Samford leads broader campus recycling efforts, Dining supports these initiatives by offering properly labeled bins for bottles, cans, and paper goods in our facilities. Every small action, like recycling your drink container after a meal, helps reduce waste and keeps our campus beautiful.
Feeding More, Wasting Less
Through our partnership with Grace Klein Kitchen, we recover leftover food at the end of each day and redistribute it to those facing food insecurity in the Birmingham area. It’s one more way Samford Dining helps extend our impact beyond campus while reducing food waste.
Proactive Prevention
By tracking swipe data and meal patterns in real time, we’re able to forecast demand and adjust food prep accordingly. This helps us prevent overproduction, reduce waste, and support a more sustainable dining experience.
Your Choices Can Make a Daily Impact
Our goal is to make it easy to offer you nutritious, environmentally, and socially conscious options wherever possible.
More Ways to Go Green with Samford University Dining
Sip Smarter
We’re working to reduce single-use waste by encouraging more mindful beverage choices across campus. From efficient fountain drink systems to refill-friendly options, every small step helps create a more sustainable dining experience.
Choose to Reuse
Our Green To-Go program makes it easy to take your meal with you, without creating single-use waste. Just grab a reusable container, return it when you're done, and help reduce landfill trash.
Green Cleaning
We source our cleaning supplies through trusted partners who prioritize environmentally safe and sustainable products. It’s our way of maintaining a clean dining space while protecting the health of our guests and the planet.
Responsibly Sourced
We partner with suppliers who prioritize ethical and sustainable sourcing practices. From fair-trade coffee to sustainably raised proteins, your meals support better choices for the planet.
Food Donation
Through our Swipe Out Hunger program, you can donate unused meal swipes to help fight student food insecurity. Every swipe given supports a peer in need right here on campus.
Every Swipe Counts
Your meal swipe does more than grant access, it helps us track how many meals to prepare each day. By monitoring swipes in real time, we can reduce overproduction, limit food waste, and create a more sustainable dining program.
