Sustainability

TRU Food Services is focused on reducing the environmental impact of all its operations and partners, working closely with the TRU Sustainability Office on several initiatives. Here are some of the ways we make our campus greener:

Waste minimization and recycling

•   All of our organic food waste is composted from each location
•   We ensure that all of our packaging and materials are properly recycled
•   All of our food waste is measured and tracked to provide data to assist in reducing future waste
•   Zero-waste stations can be found at all our locations to promote proper waste disposal
•   100 percent of our fryer oil is recycled
•   Our napkins are biodegradable and made from 100 percent recycled content
•   Our to-go cutlery is BPI compostable
•   Our to-go packaging is either 100 percent recyclable, biodegradable or BPI compostable
•   Jan 22, 2018 we went strawless in the Den
•  Fall 2018 remove plastic straws from retail locations and catering
•  TRU Fill it Forward
•  Fall 2019 introduction of Eco-Container Program
•  Lug-a-Mug discount

Energy savings and efficient operations

•   The hot water used in our kitchen is supplied by a solar hot water system on the roof of the Campus Activity Centre
•   Our kitchen uses a state-of-the-art ventilation demand system to reduce heated air escaping through the exhaust fans when not in use
•   Plugged-in equipment is unplugged if not in use
•   Lights are turned off in locations when they are not in use
•   Many of the vending machines on campus are motion-censored so the mechanical components and lights only work when people are near the machine

Local suppliers and responsible sourcing

•   We source food from local farmers, growers and distributors when possible. We have increased our BC local sourcing by 26% over the last year, and are proud to offer local products from TRU Honey, Twisted Goat, Tega Tea, Fresh Is Best, Wise Bites, Harbite, Chocxo, English Bay, Mark-Crest Foods, Hallmark Poultry, Sun-Rype, Windset Farms, Original Cakerie, Earth's Own, Gambell Farms, Vanderpol's Eggs and several Okanagan farms 
•   We serve HOWL Coffee, TRU's own 100% organic and fair trade blends
•  We serve Tega Tea's Organic Fair Trade and Kosher Tea line from Vancouver, BC
•  We serve Twisted Goat Coffee, 100% organic and fair trade coffee roasted in Kamloops
•   We proudly offer vegetarian and vegan food options
•   We carry fair-trade-certified chocolate at all of our retail locations
•  We are the first and only food service provider in Canada to become a member of the National Farm Animal Care Council