The Peter Robinson Dining Hall in Gzowski College dishes up ample side orders of “green” with every meal, extending far beyond the salad bar.

The on-campus restaurant proudly serves as a culinary reflection of Trent University’s dedication to the environment and is now leading the way forward with certified recognition from the respected Green Restaurant Association (GRA).

“Being the first facility in the greater Peterborough area and the first retail dining room in the Canadian higher education sector to earn the Green Restaurant certification demonstrates Trent's leadership as a progressive University, committed to improving its sustainability practices,” states Mark Murdoch, director of Food Services at Trent.

The GRA, is an international non-profit organization that encourages restaurants to green their operations using transparent, science-based certification standards. To prepare for certification, Mr. Murdoch worked with Chartwells Food Services, the Sustainability Office and the Facilities Management departments at Trent to fine tune the already environmentally conscious Gzowski Dining Hall. A self-assessment of practices such as water and energy consumption, waste disposal and chemical use was also conducted.

“The process confirmed that we are on the right track to reduce environmental impact,” said Mr. Murdoch. “Trent and its students are passionate about the environment.  The community can be confident that the Gzowski Dining Hall is being operated in a manner that aligns with its values and principles.”

The team is planning to seek higher levels of certification over the next two years and to apply their learning to other food service facilities on Trent campuses.  Other Trent initiatives include increased use of refillable travel mugs and reusable take out containers, which have eliminated 95% of single-use containers.