Plymouth, N.H. – Plymouth State University’s dining services partner, Sodexo, has been certified by the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association (NHLRA) as an “Environmental Champion,” which is the highest rating on a sustainability scale introduced to recognize sustainable restaurants in New Hampshire. The rating is achieved through a lengthy application process and a follow-up inspection by NHLRA to certify the rating.
Sodexo’s PSU manager, Chris Mongeon, said the rating confirms the organization’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.
“I am proud to say that we are the first college food service in New Hampshire to receive this honor and one of just a handful of restaurants in the state to meet the necessary criteria to become certified by the NHLRA,” said Mongeon. “This award also illustrates how well Sodexo and PSU partner together to improve the quality of life for our students and our community.”
Sodexo’s commitment to sustainability is in unison with PSU’s award winning sustainability practices. Some examples of Sodexo’s sustainable practices include:
- Air pollution reduction practices
- Hybrid delivery vehicle used on campus
- Ecological building construction and renovation designs
- Energy conservation practices
- Purchasing, whenever possible, from environmentally and socially responsible companies
- Paperless billing
- Waste reduction practices
- PSU goes trayless in efforts towards a sustainable campus
- Local farmers provide their products to our main supplier to maximize delivery efforts and cut down on greenhouse emissions
- We work with local farmers to reduce food-waste
- Some of our waste oil is being used as bio-diesel
- Recycling of solid waste
- Rendering practices
- Water conservation and waste water practices
- Many of our coffees, teas and hot chocolate are Fair Trade
- Use of local coffee roasters
- Use of local cage-free organic eggs
- Purchasing from companies that give back a percentage of their profits to environmentally responsible projects
- Introduction of the Opti-Rinse™ System. Opti-Rinse™ rinse nozzles use less than half the water of traditional nozzles
- Elimination of disposable service ware that does not support an environmentally friendly environment
Plymouth State University has an impressive record of environmentally sustainability achievements. Earlier this year, PSU was included in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges.
For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu
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