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Sustainability

Creating Better Food Through Better Practices

UNT cares about managing resources effectively, and UNT Dining is no different. Our sustainability initiatives highlight our focus on:

  • Minimizing food waste
  • Utilizing scraps efficiently
  • Sourcing ingredients locally
  • Reducing environmental impact through bulk purchasing and energy efficiency
  • Implementing thoughtful menu design planning.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION

Menus of Change University Research Collaborative logo

The Menus of change Research Collective (MCRUC) is a Collaboration of forward-thinking
scholars, food service leaders, executive chefs, and administrators for colleges and
universities who are accelerating efforts to move people toward healthier, more sustainable,
and delicious foods using evidence-based research, education, and innovation.

Here’s a list of key MCURC / UNT Projects :

Mean Green Acres

Mean Green Acres’ state-of-the-art, controlled environment shipping container hydroponic farm
makes it possible to grow delicious food 365 days a year in just 320 sq. feet per unit. Greens are
regularly served at Mean Greens Café, and other locations around campus.

2

Units
on campus

5

Total Gallons of
water
per day

1,400

Total heads of Leafy
Greens per week

20+

Root vegetables
also grown

Across Our Operations

In 2010, Dining Services signed an agreement with local food distributor, Ben E. Keith. This partnership allows us to receive food shipments from on campus rather than having numerous trucks from various vendors.

This streamlined approach improves operational efficiency, drastically reduces fuel consumption and transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

Residential Dining
Retail Dining
Clark Bakery
Verde Catering

We use eco-friendly packaging to minimize the environmental impact
while maintaining product quality and food safety standards.

Our culinary team includes expert chefs specializing in plant-based cuisine,
allowing us to deliver exceptional plant-forward catering services.