Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
By promoting sustainable and efficient use of resources, reduction of waste generation and encouraging responsible consumption patterns, Wilfrid Laurier University is contributing to a more sustainable and responsible society.
The work that Laurier completed in 2023 to advance SDG 12.
The Annual Sustainability Report is an opportunity to illustrate how the university’s operations and initiatives help achieve short and long-term goals in the Sustainability Action Plan. By evaluating progress across the university each year, the Sustainability Office and its partners can prioritize certain programs and projects.
The Laurier Freestore has opened its doors at Laurier’s Brantford campus after an overwhelming response from student shoppers at the Waterloo campus.
Eight new student and staff-led projects will come to life on Laurier’s campuses thanks to funding from the Sustainable Hawk Fund. As one example, the 3 Cycle project aims to recycle scrap materials and plastic waste created by 3D printers at Laurier and within the local community. The recycled waste will be processed into new materials to introduce a circular supply chain.
For the fifth year in row, Laurier was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. The national recognition reflects Laurier’s continued commitment to its sustainability-focused programs and initiatives including:
Laurier research centres advancing SDG 12.
The Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability facilitates and coordinates research related to business and environmental sustainability. The centre ensures regular communication between researchers and practitioners, including strategic decision-makers in the local sustainability community. Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier, the centre hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables to discuss relevant topics aligned with practitioner needs and assists in disseminating research findings in a timely fashion to those who can use them.
The Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) is an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research centre striving to be a catalyst and nexus for the transition toward strong cultures of sustainability. The centre understands cultures of sustainability “as characterized by shared values, symbols, rituals and practices grounded in sustainability principles leading to individual and societal choices that promote environmental protection, social justice and well-being, and a supportive economy." A culture of sustainability may exist within an organization, a building with multiple organizations or a community.
Laurier initiatives in 2023 that advanced SDG 12.
Laurier’s Sustainability Office works hard to implement waste reduction programs to help the Laurier community practice sustainability. Programs include reusable products at the Laurier Bookstore; food and drink discounts by Food Services, including a $0.40 discount for bringing your own mug to any food vendor location; and a Waste Management initiative to provide organics and commingled recycling waste streams to allow proper waste disposal.
Laurier’s Sustainability Office created its Action Plan to correspond with the SDGs. Through teaching and research, Laurier plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of leaders who can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. Universities also play a vital part in finding solutions to increasingly complex global problems and pioneering technological innovations through their own operations to set an example for others.
Discover how Laurier is contributing to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets.
