The FreeStore, a once-a-month event run by the Planet Blue Student Leaders (PBSL), is an ongoing effort to reduce waste, promote reuse, and build a more resilient campus community. The PBSLs collect and sort items from donation partners, the student move-out program, and unclaimed lost & found items. Using these materials, they create the event and curate an incredible, free … Read More
Our Mission: by Saanvi Kalia As a Business major and Sustainability minor, I was drawn to ENVIRON 361: The Psychology of Environmental Stewardship for its applications on how we can influence both business leaders and consumers to adopt sustainable practices. When the course professor, Tara-Sky Woodward, introduced a semester-long group project to develop a sustainability initiative with assistance from Student … Read More
Last February, I had the opportunity to help host a tote bag screen-printing event through the Plant Blue Ambassador Program, where I serve as a Communications and Outreach Intern at the University of Michigan. What began as a creative crafting session quickly became something much deeper. Surrounded by students printing their tote bags, laughing over paint mishaps, and carefully pressing … Read More
Whether it’s a hole in your jeans or an accessory that needs sprucing up, there is a lot that a needle, thread, and some concentrated effort can accomplish. Although it may be seen as “old fashioned”, mending and other fiber arts are essential in extending the use of our already limited resources and being mindful of our consumption. Mending, as … Read More
Sustainable living habits are often misconstrued as an ‘all-or-nothing’ mindset, where positive impact can only occur through perfection in every area of action. But in a recent conversation with Dr. Peter Oelkers, an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Biochemistry at University of Michigan-Dearborn, he emphasized that sustainability can be more than just a box to check. For him, it’s … Read More
As the new year begins to unfold, I’m sure many of you have made a commitment to a New Year’s resolution, whether it’s to save money or lead a more sustainable lifestyle. Well, I am happy to tell you that thrift shopping is one of the easiest ways to do both! Opting to go to a second-hand or thrift store … Read More
Last month, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the University of Michigan’s Campus Move-Out Donation sorting—a behind-the-scenes space that quietly holds stories of excess, care, and possibility. As I sifted through the things students had chosen to part with, I found myself pausing: a half-used journal with a single, powerful quote on the first page—“You are becoming the person … Read More
John Berger has been working as a custodian at the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus for 14 years, and in that time, he’s gained a reputation for always going the extra mile when it comes to proper waste disposal— literally. In his own words, “I’ve been known to carry a banana peel all the way from the other side of the … Read More
In 2016, the University of Michigan set an ambitious goal to achieve zero waste at home football games and divert 90% of game day waste from the landfill. The Zero Waste Stadium Program launched in the 2017 season as a collaboration among Athletics, the Office of Campus Sustainability, U-M Waste Management Services, campus sustainability partners, volunteers, and stadium concessions. Now … Read More
Back in February, I had the opportunity to chat with Alison Richardson and Anya Dale from the Office of Campus Sustainability about a large-scale waste audit they were organizing. Check out Part 1 of this blog post series to read what we talked about in terms of the set up and purpose for the audit. Since that time, Resource Recycling … Read More
