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Sustainability 2022 Progress Report highlights new TMU initiatives and ongoing work

May 16, 2023
The green wall at the Student Learning Centre

The progress report looks back on the 2021/2022 academic year and summarizes projects, programs and initiatives across a wide range of TMU areas that support our integration of sustainability principles and practices in all facets of campus activities and operations.

Highlights from the 2022 progress report include:

Improved resource recovery

The TMU Free Store was launched during Orientation Week as a two-week pop-up event that rehomed 2,540 items, diverting over 574 kilograms of materials from landfill! Gently-used items like office supplies, electronics and kitchen supplies are made available to students at no cost to disrupt throwaway culture and put useful resources back into service.

TMU’s Furniture Rehome Program has been steadily growing. During the 2021/2022 year, 126 furniture items were successfully redistributed for a second life within the university. Our goal for the upcoming year is continued expansion with more options for reusing surplus furniture.

Buildings, grounds and infrastructure

In 2022 TMU published its first set of  (google doc) Sustainability Building Guidelines (external link)  that require all new buildings and renovations to meet ambitious energy performance targets, waste reduction goals and fulfill other requirements that promote sustainable building design.

Additionally, Facilities Management and Development continually evaluates our facilities to plan renewal projects and find opportunities for sustainability improvements. The 2021/2022 year yielded preparations for lighting and ventilation upgrades to improve capacity and energy efficiency in various buildings.

Green labs for greener studies and research

Lab spaces are among the most resource-intensive spaces at universities (energy, water and waste). TMU’s Green Labs Program was piloted in the Fall Term of the 2021/2022 year with four labs implementing practices to reduce their environmental footprints.

Ecological food services

The Pitman Dining Hall received a Three-Star Certified Green Restaurant distinction — one of the highest scores of any Canadian post-secondary food service provider — by the Green Restaurant Association (external link)  for embedding sustainable practices throughout their operations.

Statistics from TMU Eats’ OZZI reusable takeout container program (launched in 2020) also found that hundreds of thousands of single-use containers were diverted from waste streams over the 2021/22 academic year!

Promoting environmental education and stewardship

In addition to 16 new, sustainability-focused courses added to TMU course offerings for 2021/2022, the Sustainability Ambassador Program officially became part of Level-Up, TMU’s official co-curricular program. The Sustainability Office also collaborated with TMU’s Leadership Lab (external link)  to support Generation Climate (external link) .

Twenty-one Sustainability Ambassadors and 1,200 students participated in training events on how to stimulate discussions on climate change to drive action and awareness.

How the progress report shapes our decision-making

As we move forward with our planning, the Sustainability Progress Report helps to inform our planning and hone in on our objectives for each coming year. Upcoming goals for the next cycle include refining and publishing TMU’s Sustainability Action Plan and using lessons learned to expand effective and successful programs.

As we pursue our objective to fully integrate sustainability across all areas of the university, this progress report continues to play a critical role in the university’s environmental stewardship.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Sustainability Progress Report or how you can participate in initiatives like the Student Ambassador or Green Labs programs, please contact the Sustainability Office at sustainability@torontomu.ca.