University Sustainability Practices
Green Devil Guidebook
This guidebook empowers employees to explore and engage with ASU’s diverse sustainability practices and programs.
Discover educational resources and hands-on opportunities that employees can engage with alone or with colleagues.
These resources and programs support ASU’s campus sustainability goals from making simple changes in the workplace to staff-focused programs such as the Green Devil Ambassador Program, Staff Council Sustainability Program and the Seeds of Sustainability training.
Through bold, personal and collective action, we drive ASU’s leadership in sustainability, inspiring our students and enriching the communities we serve.
Let’s get started!
Get to know ASU’s sustainability goals.
Circular resource system
Promote reuse and avoid landfill waste.
Climate positive
Achieve a net positive impact on the climate.
Collaborative action
Leverage departmental efforts for sustainability solutions.
Food reconnection
Support a holistic food system.
Optimized water
Apply a systems approach for optimal water use.
Personal action
Engage ASU community members in sustainable practices.
Resilience and regeneration
Enhance university-wide resilience in response to climate change.
Be mindful
Explore these ASU sustainability programs:
Dine at Engrained Cafe
A fast-casual, full-service restaurant designed to be an educational dining experience supporting sustainable food purchasing, like local, seasonal and Fair Trade: sundevilhospitality.asu.edu/ sustainability/engrained-cafe
Fair Trade at ASU
ASU is the largest fair trade-certified university in the country. Sun Devil Dining offers fair trade snacks at on-campus POD Markets and purchases fair trade products for dining halls.
Check out more details: fairtradecampaigns.org/campaign/ arizona-state-university
Shop the ASU Surplus store
Purchase upcycled items like used computers, laptops, furniture, bikes and laboratory equipment.
Visit cfo.asu.edu/surplus for more information.
Support Sun Devil Campus stores
Sun Devil Campus stores are 100% plastic bagfree and sell apparel from sustainable companies committed to ethical labor practices.
Email sundevil@bkstr.com to learn more.
Visit the ASU Seed Library
Pick up free seeds to help start and nurture your vegetable or pollinator garden.
Learn more at tours.asu.edu/sustainability/seed-library
Visit recycle.asu.edu and use the searchable Waste Directory tool.
Please email recycle-q@asu.edu for assistance.
Be knowledgeable
Use these resources:
Plan your events with sustainability in mind
Reference the Green Event Planner Checklist and align your university events with ASU’s sustainability goals to help promote a culture of sustainability.
Visit cfo.asu.edu/personal-action to reference the Green Event Planner Checklist.
Take the online Sustainable Event Planner training at any time on Workday Learning links.asu.edu/sustainableeventplannertraining
Read the Sustainability Impact Review
Read the annual Sustainability Impact Review for a comprehensive look at ASU’s sustainability progress across academics, operations and research.
Read the review here: globalfutures.asu.edu/about/about-asusustainability-impact-review
Sign up for the Sustainable Sun Devils newsletter
It’s an informative newsletter about campus-wide sustainability initiatives, being sustainable on campus or at home and ways you can get involved.
Visit cfo.asu.edu/personal-action to sign up for the Sustainable Sun Devils newsletter.
Take the Seeds of Sustainability training
A digital training course designed to teach individuals the sustainability basics and how they can contribute to ASU’s sustainability efforts, all in 20 minutes.
Take the Seeds of Sustainability training on Workday Learning. bit.ly/USP-Seeds-employee
Volunteer
Direct your effort:
Help divert waste
Volunteer with ASU Zero Waste to support the university’s circular resource goal through the Blue Bag program.
Email recycle-q@asu.edu to arrange a sorting event for your team or office.
Participate in Campus Sustainability Awareness months
Help raise awareness and inspire personal action in creating sustainable outcomes for ASU campuses. Each October for Campus Sustainability Month and Earth Day Every Day in April, ASU groups mobilize Sun Devils to deepen individual and campus engagement around sustainability.
Visit the Campus Sustainability Events webpage to learn more about awareness months and get connected to the events calendar.
Learn more: cfo.asu.edu/campus-sustainability-events
Tend the Garden Commons
The Garden Commons is ASU’s community urban garden space located on the ASU Polytechnic campus. As part of the University Sustainability Practices goals, the Garden Commons aims to alleviate food insecurity among ASU community members by growing and harvesting local, organic produce.
Visit cfo.asu.edu/Garden-commons for more information.
Be engaged
How you can make a difference:
Apply for SIRF Grants
The Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund supports campus sustainability engagement efforts, focusing on peer-to-peer engagement during events like Campus Sustainability Month, Earth Day Every Day in April and Sun Devil Athletics Green Games, as well as implementing approved sustainability projects on campus. Mini Grants of up to $500 and Tier 1 Grants of up to $5,000 are available.
Learn more about SIRF Grants at cfo.asu.edu/sirf
Join the Staff Council Sustainability Program
The Sustainability Program is responsible for understanding and addressing issues that impact environmental sustainability, identifying available programs and services, and recommending changes, enhancements or programs. Meetings are listed on the Staff Council calendar and may be attended virtually.
Visit the Staff Council webpage at staffcouncil.asu.edu for more information or email staffcouncil@asu.edu to join the staff council program.
Send someone a SUN Award
It is a thoughtful, positive way to honor an employee for supporting sustainability and university goals.
Find more information and submit an award at cfo.asu.edu/sun-award
Support Green Games
Each season, several Sun Devil Athletics events incorporate and promote sustainability practices within its operations.
Learn more at thesundevils.com/ sports/2018/2/6/green-games.aspx
Tour our sustainable points of pride
Tour ASU’s sustainability points of pride and see a top-performing sustainability university in action. Join a 60-minute in-person tour or take the online version.
Visit asuevents.asu.edu and search Sustainability Walking Tour to RSVP for an upcoming in-person tour.
Take the virtual tour: tours.asu.edu/sustainability/start
Use EV charging stations
Charge your electric vehicle on any ASU campus with a BreatheEV or ChargePoint station. Users pay charging costs and must display a valid ASU parking permit or pay applicable visitor parking fees.
Learn more about EV charging and the Shared Fleet program at cfo.asu.edu/ev-charging
Be committed
Take your advocacy to the next level:
Be a Green Devil every day
Green Devil Ambassadors are empowered faculty and staff who advocate for the integration and prioritization of sustainability practices into their unit’s operations. The Green Devil Ambassador Sustainability Conference is hosted biannually to welcome new and returning Green Devils and foster a space for shared sustainability advocacy.
Take the Green Devil training on Workday Learning. links.asu.edu/greendeviltraining
Sign up for upcoming conferences at asuevents.asu.edu and search Green Devil Ambassador Sustainability Conference
Recognize your sustainable actions
ASU’s Sustainability Recognition Program provides a platform to recognize and support students, faculty and staff in implementing sustainability practices across the university. Participants can be recognized for sustainability efforts present in their student organizations, events and lifestyle. The Recognition Program allows members of the ASU community to contribute to ASU’s sustainability goals.
Visit cfo.asu.edu/sustainability-recognition-program to learn more and enroll in the program.
Work, eat and shop sustainably
ASU has several resources aimed at promoting sustainable behaviors in your personal and professional life.
Access these trainings on Workday Learning to get started on your sustainability commitment:
▪ Sustainable Office training
Best practices, tips and resources for deeply embedding a culture of sustainability into your workplace.
links.asu.edu/sustainableofficetraining
▪ Sustainable Food Systems training
Designed to increase sustainable food system knowledge and assist faculty and staff when making decisions regarding food-based consumption.
links.asu.edu/sustainablefoodsystemstraining
▪ Sustainable Purchasing training
Self-paced training for employees. links.asu.edu/sustainablepurchasingtraining
For regular purchasers, encourage yourself and your department to reference the sustainable purchasing guide to support ASU’s goals.
View the guide at cfo.asu.edu/sustainable-purchasing
Email usp@asu.edu for more information.
To be a Sun Devil is to be sustainable.
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