Sustainability Action Plan Progress

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Integrate program-level sustainability learning outcomes into the curriculum, aiming for a minimum of 25% of students graduating from these programs.

Underway 

Evaluation of existing program-level sustainability learning outcomes is underway. 

2

Administer the sustainability literacy assessment to all (100%) students.

Underway

In September 2023, the Sustainability Office conducted a baseline Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessment. With over 1,000 responses from the TMU community, the data will inform future sustainability programming aligned with the needs and interests of TMU students, faculty and staff.

3

Establish a formal program that supports academic staff to develop new sustainability courses and/or incorporate sustainability into existing courses.

Not started 

4

Explore methods to make sustainability education easier to identify and access for all students (undergraduate and graduate).

Underway

A sustainability course inventory list has been added to the Sustainability at TMU website. 

In April 2024, TMU launched the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) microsite, highlighting courses, research and initiatives that support these goals. 

5

Explore transdisciplinary sustainability courses and modules to support future needs of industry, business and government. 

Underway

In alignment with TMU’s Academic Plan, the university is currently in the planning phase for the establishment of interdisciplinary sustainability courses and modules.

6

Develop a climate literacy module tailored for TMU community members upon their arrival at TMU.

Underway

The Sustainability Office has begun internal discussions for the development of the module.

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Create a working group for campus as a living lab project and transdisciplinary sustainability. 

Not started

2

Set up an intake process for campus as a living lab research requests. 

Not started

3

Use the intake process to create and track KPIs related to campus research collaboration.

Not started 

4

Provide on-going support for the Urban Farm Living Lab. 

Underway

The Sustainability Office serves as a member of the Living Lab Management Committee, participating in research proposal reviews and providing sustainability guidance as required.

5

Develop tracking mechanism for research related to Sustainable Development Goals. 

Underway

TMU’s new United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) microsite outlines research and innovation projects that directly support each of the SDGs.

6

Increase institutional research capacity on green transitions.

Underway

Work is underway to identify gaps and opportunities in TMU’s green transitions research capacity.

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Develop Sustainable Building Guidelines with energy and emissions performance requirements including embodied carbon considerations.

Completed 

TMU developed and published the Sustainable Building Guidelines. Work is underway to implement and promote a project intake tool to allow for easier adoption of the guidelines into campus development projects. 

2

Improve energy and emissions performance of campus operations by developing efficiency standards for operations and maintenance, conducting building retro-commissioning/renewals, and implementing infrastructure upgrades.

Underway

TRS and ENG have been selected to serve as pilot buildings in the development of efficiency standards for operations and maintenance. The investigation phase of a retro-commissioning project for CUI and TRS has been completed. 

3

Have a list of shovel-ready decarbonization projects scoped out to utilize funding opportunities.

Underway

Campus-wide decarbonization feasibility studies were completed in 2024, with 136 decarbonization/energy efficiency measures identified. The studies also included estimates for costs, savings and GHG reductions. 

4

Assess options to reduce or eliminate dependence on the district steam system.

Underway

TMU is working with external partners to develop an optimal pathway to decarbonize the district’s steam system. 

5

Complete third-party verification of GHG emissions inventory.

Underway

TMU is building a Scope 3 emissions inventory to support plans for third-party verification.

6

Increase the percentage of low-carbon energy sources on campus.

Underway 

Progress is linked to ongoing efforts to decarbonize the district steam system through feasibility studies and external partnerships.

7

Enable funding mechanism and resource allocation to achieve decarbonization targets (i.e. Green Revolving Fund).

Underway

TMU's Green Revolving Fund is scheduled for launch in January 2025, with the first round of projects in planning and initiation phases. 

8

Create a publicly accessible campus energy and emissions dashboard using a submetering system.

Underway

TMU has procured a new Energy Management Information System (EMIS), with its dashboard being configured for public display on the Sustainability at TMU website. 

9

Integrate health, wellbeing and accessibility considerations into the existing building guidelines to align with the WELL Building Standard or equivalent certifications.

Completed

In compliance with TMU’s new Sustainable Building Guidelines, the upcoming construction of the new Student Wellbeing Centre has been designed to receive Fitwel Certification. 

10

Employ full life-cycle costing in capital planning, including the consideration of carbon emissions, demolition waste and materials reuse in evaluating redevelopment or renovation options. 

Underway 

11

Raise the visibility of sustainable building features through communications such as interpretive signage and experiential learning activities in courses.

Underway

Upcoming capital projects like the School of Medicine and Student Wellbeing Centre include signage highlighting sustainability-related features included in each building. 

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Leverage TMU’s Campus Master Plan into a roadmap for landscape and storm water management.

Not started

2

Invite engagement with nature and the outdoors through building and landscape design strategies and coordinate with various campus health and wellness programs.

Underway

In 2023, the Urban Farm transformed a 500 sq. ft. plot into a cut-flower farm, offering monthly programming and supporting local ecosystems.

The Urban Farm’s pollinator garden expanded the number of native Ontario wildflowers grown on campus. 

A collaboration between the Sustainability Office, the Urban Farm, Groundskeeping and Custodial Services and Plant Futures at TMU, work is underway to break ground on the new Native Pollinator Garden on Nelson Mandela Walk during the 2024-2025 academic year.

3

Promote unoccupied green roofs on buildings where rooftop alternative-energy generation is not feasible or viable to mitigate the heat-island effect.

Underway 

The Urban Farm is collaborating with the City of Toronto to develop guidelines for urban agriculture on green roofs to supplement the Green Roof By-law. 

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

Campus infrastructure

1

Improve campus-wide waste tracking and monitoring for major waste streams.

Underway

A waste audit was conducted across 20+ buildings in 2024, and 250 new Waste Wizard signs will be strategically placed in high traffic locations in Winter 2025 to improve waste sorting and reduce waste stream contamination.

Work is underway to conduct a waste stream flow study to better understand the gaps and opportunities within our campus waste infrastructure.

2

Continue to improve waste infrastructure to support recycling and composting rates.

Underway

Installation of Waste Wizard signage at four-stream waste receptacles in October 2023 allowed for improved waste sorting and waste-stream contamination reduction.

3

Complete campus-wide rollout of centralized waste system.

Completed 

TMU’s rollout of its four-stream centralized waste system was completed in 2024, helping standardize waste collection and disposal across campus.

Campus waste reduction

4

Elevate awareness of the university’s waste diversion goal and engage the campus community in ambition to become a “zero-waste” campus.

Underway

Zero-waste messaging was included in Waste Wizard program launch materials and waste reductions campaigns.

The Sustainability Office launched the weekly Waste Wizard Wednesday campaign on Instagram.

5

Identify and implement source-reduction strategies to reduce campus waste.

Underway 

6

Create a dedicated working group for Housing & Residence in recognition of its high-impact potential.

Underway 

The Sustainability Office and Housing and Residence Life collaborated on the end of winter term Eco Residence Move Out program, encouraging students moving out of residence to donate unwanted items to the TMU Free Store.

Planning is underway for the Sustainability Office and Housing and Residence Life to hold monthly meetings and Housing and Residence Life has been invited to join the Zero Waste and Circularity Subcommittee.

7

Expand campus reuse programs (FreeStore, TMU Furniture Rehome Program).

Underway 

The TMU Free Store expanded from a one-time pop-up event to a monthly initiative, diverting 6,428 lbs of waste from landfills in 2023-2024.

The Furniture Rehome Program rehomed 14,692 items and diverted them from landfills in 2023-2024.

Work is underway to launch a Repair Workshop with the TMU Libraries’ Digital Media Experience Lab (DME), further promoting a culture of reuse and circularity at TMU.

8

Improve incentives for reducing waste and encouraging reuse to minimize single-use disposable items.

Underway

TMU Eats increased the discount for reusable coffee cups at the Hub Café, DCC Market and The Footnote from $0.10 to $0.25 to incentivize sustainable behavior.

9

Engage event-planning staff to develop guidelines for waste management at major events and ceremonies.

Underway

Event planning employees from across TMU were invited to join the Zero Waste and Circularity Subcommittee. 

Work is underway developing a waste management event guideline for the university.

10

Develop and implement a Sustainable Swag Policy.

Underway

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines provide guidance on sustainable swag best practices.

Initial discussions for the development of a Sustainable Swag Guideline have taken place.

11

Decrease the overall generation of electronic waste on campus through initiatives such as promoting electronic device repair and refurbishment.

Underway

The Electronics Waste Recycling Program, launched in Summer 2024, diverting 14,793 lbs of electronic waste from landfills through responsible recycling and refurbishment in partnership with the Electronics Recycling Association (ERA).

Construction and demolition waste

12

Embed construction and demolition waste diversion and reuse targets in Sustainable Buildings Guidelines.

Completed 

Construction and demolition waste diversion and reuse targets have been included in the Sustainable Building Guidelines, with plans underway to develop supporting materials to raise awareness to ensure they’re implemented in future capital projects.

13

Track materials generated by projects from start of construction through completion to determine total waste generation.

Underway

The Sustainability Office is engaging in ongoing consultations with the Project Management Office to ensure waste generation is tracked in future capital projects.

14

Develop zero-waste procurement policy, guidelines and processes for campus construction projects. Integrate into purchasing RFP language as part of campus procurement.

Underway 

Draft guidelines are currently in development, with discussions taking place to integrate zero-waste language into requests for proposal (RFP) and procurement processes.

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

Reduce food waste

1

Implement a Leanpath (or equivalent) program to minimize food waste.

Not started 

2

Enhance training opportunities for employees on proper sorting techniques for all kitchen waste.

Not started

3

Launch a zero-waste catering strategy.

Underway 

The Sustainability Office has conducted initial research on zero-waste catering and will present findings to TMU Eats for further discussion and planning.

Increase sustainable food options and access

4

Increase the percentage of plant-based food and beverages by 15%.

Underway

Initial conversations with TMU Eats have occurred, laying the groundwork to achieve  this goal. The Sustainability Office plans to meet with TMU Eats and Compass Group to establish an accurate baseline to inform targeted efforts.

5

Develop an awareness campaign on healthy and sustainable food choices.

Underway 

Initial discussions have been held with TMU Eats for future campaigns.

6

Support and promote food insecurity-related initiatives across campus.

Underway 

Through Connecting through Food, TMU has raised $1,252 and collected 142 non-perishable food items for the Good Food Centre. The Free Soup Initiative served up to 750 free cups of soup to students at their monthly events. 

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Update Procurement Policy with sustainable purchasing language and requirements.

Not started 

2

Create a guideline for sustainable purchasing practices promoting social and environmental benefits.

Completed

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines were launched and shared with the TMU community in March 2024.

3

Conduct workshops to support adoption of the campus Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines. Supplement this with web content.

Not started

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Develop and refine methods for tracking student and staff commuting footprint.

Underway

TMU community members were invited to complete the Sustainability Literacy and Cultural Assessment, revealing that 97% of student respondents used sustainable modes of transportation to get to campus.

2

Determine methodology for accurately tracking staff business-travel carbon footprint. Establish reduction targets.

Not started

3

By 2025, TMU will create a mitigation program to reduce emissions from business-related air travel. This will include a pilot for a subset of departments.

Not started

4

Expand the number of campus charging stations for electric vehicles.

Not started 

5

Increase the quantity of secure campus bike-parking infrastructure.

Not started 

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Establish a Sustainability Action Fund.

Not started 

2

Enhance employee sustainability literacy.

Underway

Work was completed to restructure the Employee Sustainability Ambassador Program, empowering committee members to implement sustainability literacy programming across their departments. The revamped program will launch in February 2025.

3

Develop interactive D2L training modules.

Not started

4

Enhance digital presence and visibility.

Underway 

Launched the Sustainability at TMU microsite and the Sustainability Office’s Instagram account in March 2024, expanding our reach and engagement.

5

Continue to expand Sustainability Ambassador Program.

Underway 

In 2024, work was completed to restructure the Student Sustainability Ambassador Program, with new leadership opportunities and industry expert training to be added to the 2025 program.

6

Continue sustainability-focused orientation events.

Underway 

Orientation Week 2023 included multiple sustainability-focused events and initiatives, including:

• Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
• Sustainability Campus Tour
• Free Store pop-up
• Take the Sustainability Pledge

7

Expand Housing & Residence Sustainability Leaders Program.

Not started 

8

Develop strategies to promote sustainable behaviors.

Underway 

The Sustainability Office conducted its first Sustainability Literacy and Culture Assessment in September 2023 to assess the sustainability knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of the TMU community. With over 1,000 responses, the Assessment’s findings will be used to tailor future sustainability strategies.

9

Develop a Sustainable Events Guideline.

Not started 

10

Establish a Green Office Program.

Underway 

The work completed in 2024 to restructure the Employee Sustainability Ambassador Program will support the future launch of the Green Office Program, with employee ambassadors championing program initiatives within their individual departments in 2025.

11

Embed sustainability in new employee orientation.

Underway

Sustainability content has been added to new employee orientation materials, ensuring all TMU employees are aware of their role in advancing sustainability initiatives at the university. Work is ongoing to further integrate sustainability into other programs supporting new employees.

12

Develop eco-allied solutions (e.g., community garden access).

Underway 

In March 2024, the Sustainability Office partnered with the Urban Farm to host a seed ball making workshop. Participants toured TMU’s two rooftop farms—including spaces dedicated to Indigenous Foodways and Black Food Sovereignty—before learning about and creating wildflower seed balls to support biodiversity.

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Include equity, diversity and inclusion goals as themes in existing and new sustainability programming and service offerings.

Underway

Work continues to further integrate equity, diversity and inclusion elements into TMU’s sustainability programming. Programming like Climate Week 2024 made clear connections between sustainability, social justice and climate action, engaging students in critical conversations about both environmental and social sustainability.

2

Advance equity, diversity and inclusion in the value chain by tracking progress toward internal targets to increase the proportion of contracts with historically underrepresented business enterprises.

Underway

In October 2023, TMU implemented the Social Purchasing Policy, which aims to reduce systemic barriers for businesses owned by Indigenous and equity-deserving groups. This policy creates opportunities for smaller businesses to compete in the university’s procurement process. Since its introduction, the policy has shown promising results in diversifying the vendor base, and TMU is actively tracking its impact to ensure our procurement decisions align with TMU’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

3

Promote dialogue about sustainability, inclusion and justice on campus and in the surrounding community. This includes building dialogue with Indigenous communities within and outside the university.

Underway 

The planning phase for the creation of a new pollinator garden was completed in Summer 2024. The garden will integrate Indigenous knowledge and provide a space for dialogue around sustainability, justice and inclusion. It will also serve as a living example of TMU’s efforts to foster community engagement and promote educational programming. The groundbreaking is set for October 2024.

4

Develop and implement education, support, and resilience-building initiatives to empower our students in mental health and wellbeing.

Underway

Events hosted during Climate Week 2024 empowered students to take part in climate action while also addressing resilience-building and mental health challenges related to climate change.

No.

Proposed Actions

Status

Progress Updates

1

Create a university Sustainability Policy approved by the Board of Governors to set strategic directions, guide outcomes and aid decision makers.

Not started

2

Include sustainability-related content in the Board of Governors and Senate orientation material.

Underway 

In June 2024, the Sustainability Action Plan was presented to the Board of Governors. This presentation solidified the university’s commitment to sustainability and ensured that sustainability is integrated into the university’s long-term governance and decision-making processes.

3

Add sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) to the Board of Governors’ reporting framework.

Not started

4

Advance evidence-based greenhouse gas emissions-reduction solutions by continuing to actively engage students and faculty to serve on advisory committees.

Underway

To further engage with the TMU community and promote climate action on campus, the Climate Change and Sustainability Advisory Committee (CCSAC) formed four new subcommittees that will identify and leverage new engagement areas across four dedicated areas of focus.