Office of Sustainability

SDG12 SDG14 SDG15 SDG2 SDG3 STARS

Food & Dining Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Bella Wright Food is essential to the survival of all living beings on our planet. How this food is grown, processed, and distributed significantly impacts the environment. Auburn University has extensive dining services across campus, offering a variety of choices for nutrition and dining. Where food on campus is…

ContributorApril 17, 2024

SDG11 SDG12 SDG14 SDG3 SDG6 STARS

Waste Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Hannah Schwartz Reducing waste is a cornerstone of sustainable practice for universities worldwide. By minimizing their ecological footprint, institutions not only contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment but also demonstrate a commitment to responsible stewardship. From conserving natural resources to saving costs and inspiring future generations, waste reduction in…

ContributorApril 15, 2024

SDG11 SDG13 SDG16 SDG17 SDG5 STARS

Coordination & Planning Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Randy Martin & Bella Wright A quick look at the top public colleges reveals that in each of their strategic plans, sustainability is taken seriously and given a prominent seat in the future of their institutions. This isn’t for show. Beyond the “good citizen” reasons, it's a smart business…

ContributorApril 13, 2024

SDG11 SDG12 SDG3 SDG6 SDG7 SDG9 STARS

Buildings Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Bella Wright Building and innovation are pivotal to advancing society. However, how we build can have significant impacts on our planet and our future. To ensure the health and well-being of our planet, it is important to practice sustainable building of infrastructure and sustainable operations management. The STARS* assessment…

ContributorApril 6, 2024

SDG11 SDG14 SDG6 STARS

Water Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Hannah Schwartz Conserving water is crucial for the health of our planet and future generations. With water scarcity continuing to be a pressing global issue, every drop saved makes a difference. By reducing water usage, we protect ecosystems, wildlife, and agricultural lands that rely on this precious resource. With…

ContributorApril 6, 2024

STARS

2023 Executive Summary

Download the screenreader version or the printable pdf of the 2023 Executive Summary.

ContributorJanuary 16, 2024

SDG16 SDG9 STARS

Research Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Randy MartinAs we face a future that hasn’t looked like our past, research will play a key role in helping us chart our course. The work of researchers has already alerted us to our current woes, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Going forward, it is essential that…

ContributorSeptember 13, 2023

SDG1 SDG3 SDG8 STARS

Employee Wellness Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

Human behavior is influenced by the environment in which it resides. The average worker spends the most amount of time every day at work. That accumulates to 90,000 hours in the workplace over the course of their life. Therefore, the workplace environment is a significant factor in the lifetime well-being…

ContributorJune 5, 2023

SDG11 SDG13 SDG3 SDG7 STARS Updates

Emissions Assessment: Auburn University’s STARS Report

By Randy Martin, Office of Sustainability The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently released its latest report assessing the current status and trends of climate change, future risks and the long- and near-term responses. This report contained a sentence that has stuck with me since I first read it: …

ContributorApril 6, 2023

SDG1 SDG10 SDG4 SDG5 SDG8 STARS Updates

DIVERSITY & AFFORDABILITY Assessment: AUBURN UNIVERSITY’S STARS REPORT

by Randy Martin, Office of Sustainability As I begin, I feel as though most are familiar with the moral cases for diversity, so I want to draw attention to this tweet from Adam Grant, a leader in Organizational Psychology and award-winning author. As he states, a recent paper titled Gender-diverse…

ContributorJanuary 23, 2023