Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Responsible consumption and production introduces accountability towards both the producer and consumer by promoting more environmental and social methods to achieve sustainability.
Taking Action
Initiatives at Brock University
Responsible Energy Production
Brock is upgrading their power generation systems in the Campus Utility Building, which will create new ways to reduce unnecessary energy expenditures. Alongside the new lighting upgrades – a part of the SPARK Initiative – Brock’s campus is stepping up their efforts to become a leader in the sustainability field!
Local Food Sourcing for Campus Food options
The main cafeteria on campus uses local food to serve the students, staff, and faculty of Brock.
Installation of Refillable Water Stations
The installation of Refillable Water Stations at Brock promotes the use of reusable water bottles and discourages the use of single-use plastics. The stations can be found all across campus, making it easy to do your part to help Brock become more sustainable.
Organic Waste Disposal, Composting and Waste Diversion
To help reduce waste to landfills, Brock University diligently sorts waste after students put items on the conveyor belt in their main cafeteria. They also provide compost bins throughout main food locations in the school.
Recycling at Brock university comes in a variety of forms, along with more common forms of recycling Brock also has areas to recycle more concerning items like ink cartridges and batteries. They additionally identify common items that were wrongly thrown in the garbage and used this to promote proper waste management. Brock is proud to have a pulper which separates biodegradable and compostable items, that can be pulped and placed in organic bins. The success accounts for an equivalent of 10 garbage bags reduced to 1. Click here to learn more about Brock’s waste diversion initiatives.
Support Local and Shop in Season
Supporting local farmers and shopping for seasonal produce also proves to have many benefits, as well can be easy to do with so many fruits largely produced in the Niagara Peninsula. This allows people to support food systems that will better the community and contributes to lower environmental impact.
Initiatives in the Niagara Region
Niagara Region Waste Strategy
In 2025, Niagara Region released the updated Niagara Region Waste Strategy document. It outlines the plans and goals for the next 25 years, including strategies to boost participation and optimise reuse capabilities for a variety of waste types.
Niagara Economic Development
Niagara Canada recognizes the well adapted land in the Niagara region for agriculture and works to promote sustainable agri-business. They look to create innovative methods to improve the industry and have partnered with Brock University and Niagara College to increase research opportunities in the area.
Shop at Local Farmers Markets
Niagara Region has several Farmers Markets where community members can support their local farmers and receive the freshest products. Locations and times are available through the Niagara Region’s Farmers Markets page.
Niagara Local Food Action Plan
Niagara Local Food Action Plan accounts for the huge importance agriculture represents for the local economy. They focus on creating ways to improve sustainable measures in the industry and promote responsible food production.
THE Evidence
Brock University maintains a comprehensive policy on ethical sourcing of food and supplies that prioritizes sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. The university’s Procurement Policy establishes clear guidelines ensuring that all purchases of goods and services meet current legislative requirements while giving preference to ethically sourced and environmentally friendly products. This policy provides step-by-step instructions for purchasing on behalf of the university.
Brock demonstrates its dedication to ethical sourcing by actively partnering with vendors and suppliers who offer employment and economic growth opportunities to socially and economically disadvantaged groups. The university’s Information for Vendors webpage explicitly outlines social and environmental considerations in procurement decisions, connecting stakeholders to Brock’s broader sustainability initiatives. Notably, Brock holds Fair Trade Campus certification, offering Fair Trade and organic coffee at multiple campus outlets, demonstrating tangible commitment to ethical supply chains.
Brock University’s dining services, operated by Aramark, further reinforces sustainable sourcing practices through its food service operations. This integrated approach ensures that ethical considerations permeate all levels of procurement, from office supplies to dining hall ingredients.
Yes, Brock University has established comprehensive policies and practices on waste disposal covering hazardous materials. In compliance with Ontario Regulation 461/05, the institution follows detailed Chemical Hazardous Waste Generation, Collection and Disposal Procedures, most recently updated in 2024. These procedures outline specific instructions for the proper collection, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, explicitly prohibiting disposal through normal drainage systems. The framework engages the entire campus community—students, staff, and faculty—in responsible waste management, providing clear safety instructions to all participants.
Central to Brock’s approach is the Hazardous Waste Management System (HWMS), a collaborative initiative between the Health, Safety & Wellness department and Science Stores. This partnership systematically identifies, separates, and packages hazardous waste to meet regulatory guidelines, ensuring materials are handled according to proper classification protocols. The system addresses various waste streams including chemical, biological, and radiological materials, while maintaining rigorous documentation and tracking procedures.
Brock University has established comprehensive policies on waste disposal to measure the amount of waste sent to landfill and recycled, demonstrating a strong institutional commitment to responsible waste management. The University complies with all waste diversion requirements set under O.Reg. 391/21 – Blue Box Regulation, and as an educational institution with over 350 students enrolled per year, adheres to O.Reg 102/94 by conducting annual waste audits that systematically measure waste streams across campus.
The 2024 waste audit revealed that approximately 59% of waste had been diverted from landfills through materials being recycled, composted, reused, and reduced. Through these audited results, Brock can make informed decisions on waste reduction strategies by tracking its progress and identify improvement opportunities.
To meet these regulations and continue to improve its waste reduction on campus, Brock has implemented several recycling programs designed to capture diverse waste streams. Some initiatives, such as the coffee cup recycling program, are particularly unique and reflect innovative thinking about campus-specific waste challenges. The University maintains an open approach to new diversion initiatives, actively encouraging proposals that could further reduce landfill-bound waste.
These policies and practices align with Brock’s broader sustainability commitments, including targets around responsible consumption and environmental stewardship. By systematically measuring, reporting, and acting on waste data, Brock demonstrates accountability in its waste management practices while creating opportunities for continuous improvement in achieving higher diversion rates and minimizing its environmental footprint.
Brock University has formal policies and operational practices in place, such as the Sustainability Policy that support the minimization of plastic use across campus. Complementing this, the Procurement Policy and Supplier Code of Conduct guide purchasing decisions to consider environmental impacts alongside cost and performance. Together, these policies establish a framework that discourages unnecessary plastic use and promotes responsible procurement and waste reduction.
In practice, Brock reduces plastic consumption through initiatives coordinated by the Office of Sustainability, including the installation of water-refill stations across campus to eliminate single-use bottles, the diversion of disposable coffee cups through the BUSU recycling program, and the adoption of reusable or compostable materials in campus operations and events. These measures reflect a pro-active institutional approach to reducing plastic waste and promoting circular economy principles, aligning with the University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Brock University demonstrates its commitment to responsible consumption through comprehensive waste reduction initiatives and policies that promote minimizing of the disposal of items across campus. The Sustainability Policy establishes the University’s responsibility to integrate sustainable practices into its operational decision-making and to be accountable for its environmental performance. This policy provides the institutional framework for waste reduction, resource conservation, and responsible consumption. Complementary documents such as the Procurement Policy and the Supplier Code of Conduct encourage the selection of products and services that reduce waste and avoid unnecessary disposables in order to support ongoing sustainability efforts.
Brock University ensures that its sustainability policies extend to out-sourced services and its supply chain to promote responsible consumption and production. The Carbon Reduction Plan and Procurement Policy advise on how these expectations extend to purchasing and supplier practices
Brock Dining Services actively promotes zero-waste practices. All-you-care-to-eat facilities operate as closed-loop systems using only reusable dishware, eliminating disposable plates and utensils entirely.
The intention at Brock is to continue to develop and strengthen policies that encourage the campus community to choose reusable over disposable options, whether through procurement standards, event planning guidelines, or campus dining protocols. This approach reflects the university’s understanding that effective waste minimization requires systematic policy frameworks that guide decision-making at all levels of campus operations.
Brock University ensures that its policies and practices on minimizing plastic and disposable items extend across its supply chain and to all outsourced suppliers. The Procurement Policy mandates that all purchasing decisions consider social and environmental impacts alongside cost and performance. Complementing this, the Supplier Code of Conduct establishes minimum expectations for vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers, including environmental responsibility, ethical sourcing, and waste reduction practices.
In practice, these commitments are reflected through initiatives such as the university’s Custodial & Grounds Services, which employ environmentally friendly cleaning products across campus. Brock continues to advance sustainable procurement by developing frameworks that:
- Require suppliers to demonstrate environmental compliance and ethical sourcing;
- Implement vendor assessment protocols that evaluate sustainability performance; and
- Extend waste minimization and responsible consumption standards to all contracted service providers.
Together, these measures ensure that sustainability principles are embedded throughout Brock’s purchasing and supplier relationships, supporting the university’s broader commitment to responsible consumption and production.
Brock University systematically measures waste generation and recycling across the entire university through comprehensive annual waste audits. These audits capture data from all campus buildings and operations over a 24-hour collection period, followed by detailed composition analysis. This process provides an accurate measure of total waste produced, diversion rates by stream, and trends over time.
In 2024, Brock generated 1,510 MT of waste and achieved a 59% waste diversion rate, with the remainder directed to landfill, reflecting significant progress toward its long-term sustainability goals and its commitment to responsible consumption and production. Waste tracking is coordinated by Facilities Management and the Office of Sustainability, ensuring a consistent and evidence-based approach to monitoring campus-wide material flows.
Brock University publishes comprehensive sustainability reports that demonstrate the institution’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and accountability. The university’s approach to sustainability reporting reflects a dedication to transparency and continuous improvement in environmental performance.
Brock’s sustainability progress is formally reported annually to the Board of Trustees through the Capital & Infrastructure Committee, where members of the Brock community engage in meaningful dialogue about sustainability initiatives, review supporting documentation, and provide strategic direction for future environmental efforts. This institutional governance structure ensures that sustainability remains a priority at the highest levels of university decision-making.
Brock University also engages in external sustainability initiatives, such as its voluntarily participation in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The university submitted its inaugural STARS report in 2020, earning a Silver rating that recognized its substantial sustainability achievements. Brock maintained its Silver rating in 2024 while achieving improved scores across several performance areas, reflecting the university’s evolving sustainability practices and enhanced environmental initiatives.
