Sustainability Initiatives

We don’t just talk about sustainability - we take action. Check out some of the ways we're reducing our environmental impact and creating a positive impact on our community.

More Ways to Go Green with Drexel Campus Dining

Meal Swipe Donation
The Feed A Dragon meal swipe donation program was established in fall 2019 to ensure that registered students experiencing acute food insecurity have access to meals through partnership with Aramark and the Drexel Campus Dining Program. Meal assistance can be offered up to two times maximum during a student's time at Drexel.
Food Donation
At the end of each academic term, we proudly partner with Philabundance to donate surplus food and help fight hunger in our region. This initiative reflects our commitment to sustainability and community care, ensuring that good food reaches those who need it most.
Food Waste Diversion
We’ve teamed up with Too Good To Go to help reduce food waste at The Market by offering surplus items at a discount through their app. This partnership allows us to make delicious food more accessible while supporting sustainability and minimizing our environmental impact.

Working Toward Zero Waste

We proudly support the sustainability goals of the Drexel University. Here are a few active initiatives.

Collaborative Composting
We work with Bennett and Circle Composting to collect organic materials—including food waste and compostable service items such as napkins and wooden stir sticks—to be composted into useable, nutrient-rich soil amendments.
Proactive Prevention
We use tracking and forecasting tools to proactively identify food waste trends in order to alter our preparation accordingly.

Your Choices Can Make a Daily Impact

Our goal is to make it easy to offer you nutritious, environmentally, and socially conscious options wherever possible.

Showcasing Our Local Partner Relationships

Drexel Campus Dining sources food from many local farmers, growers, and distributors. Our partners change throughout the year depending on seasonality and availability.

Common Market
We source local food in partnership with The Common Market.

The Common Market is a mission-driven distributor of local food from our region’s sustainable family farms. Through their partnerships with producers and institutions in the Mid-Atlantic, they work to improve food security, farm viability, and community and ecological health.
The Gehman Family - TELFORD, PA
In 2005 Tim Gehman and his wife tried an experiment - expanding the 25 year old family farming business by adding hydroponic growing systems. They began very small and in 7 years have grown it into a highly efficient operation producing thousands of live lettuce and basil plants every week all year round. The Gehman family is very proud to be conserving resources by using waste wood to heat their greenhouses and rainwater to grow their crops.
Mother Earth Mushrooms - LANDENBERG, PA
Since 1921 mushrooms have been grown on the property of the Yeatman family in southeastern PA. Today they run a Certified Organic operation that encompasses all aspects of production from spawn to harvest which ensures high quality, flavorful fungi. Mother Earth Mushrooms recycles waste materials from their operation: the trimmed stumps and used peat becomes excellent organic compost for local gardeners and farmers.
Evergreen Orchard - HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ
Since 1921 mushrooms have been grown on the property of the Yeatman family in southeastern PA. Today they run a Certified Organic operation that encompasses all aspects of production from spawn to harvest which ensures high quality, flavorful fungi. Mother Earth Mushrooms recycles waste materials from their operation: the trimmed stumps and used peat becomes excellent organic compost for local gardeners and farmers.