Business Services

While solar energy and recycling programs often hog the sustainability spotlight, LMU's Auxiliary Management and Business Affairs continues to work with campus departments, vendors, suppliers and partner businesses to incorporate environmentally and socially responsible business practices. To operate a fully functional institution, LMU enters contracts with companies that provide services such as food, construction, janitorial, apparel, paper products and coffee. The university has been educating our contractors of the standards they must comply with such as paying a fair living wage, practicing environmental stewardship and providing sweatshop free apparel. All of the companies that we have worked with have adapted to our higher standard and the effect is not only felt on campus but in the larger global business community as socially just practices are becoming more widely accepted. Below are several examples these commitments. (For more detailed information on Social Responsibility, click here)

Bookstore

Run by Follett Higher Education Group, the campus bookstore has partnered with the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to help ensure that the products sold in our campus bookstores are manufactured under ethical working conditions. In addition to providing 100% sweatshop-free apparel, Follett was instrumental in procuring 100% recycled product Green Examination Books to replace the traditional 'blue books.' The books continue to display the university mission statement while carrying a larger message regarding LMU's commitment to sustainable practices.

As a corporation, Follett has also made tremendous commitments regarding their physical stores in the areas of lighting, energy, flooring, shipping cartons and other relevant areas of interest. For further information regarding these initiatives, click here.

Coffee

Since 2004, all coffee served on campus is Fair Trade Certified. Sodexho has partnered with Seattle's Best to offer Fair Trade Certified Organic Coffees. For more details on Seattle's Best Coffee, click here.

The Lion's Den, a student-run coffee shop located in Malone Student Center, purchases a large portion of their coffee from Grounds for Change. You can read more details on Grounds for Change and the Lion's Den here.

Additional Programs

• Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank installed eco-friendly ATM machines on campus. These machines utilize the latest scanning technology and do not require the use of envelopes for deposits.
• The entire LMU campus has switched its paper supply to Boise ASPEN 30: multipurpose paper with a 30% post-consumer recycled content. ASPEN 30 is also processed chlorine free (PCF), acid free and is FSC Certified. 
• All campus washing machines were replaced with Maytag's highest-rated Energy Star efficient models, using 1.5 gallons less than current models. In addition to water and energy savings, clothes don't require extended dry time.
  Now, you can save time and hassle by checking washing machine availability online with Laundry Alert, or have a text message sent to you when your washing is finished or a machine becomes available!
• LMU's Distribution Center has partnered with Catalog Choice, a free service that lets you decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive. You select the catalogs you no longer wish to receive, and Catalog Choice will contact the appropriate businesses. For more information, go to the Auxiliary Business Services website or contact distributioncenterhelpdesk@lmu.edu.
• Campus Graphics offers business cards printed on recycled paper, complete with the recycling logo.
• Business Services is working closely with Office Max to highlight availability of environmentally preferable office products, and developing a paper purchasing policy for the university to increase use of post-consumer waste recycled paper across the campus.
• Recycled toner cartridges are now in standard use for all campus printers.
• Ricoh multi-function copiers are equipped with energy-saving settings allowing them to power down at night, conserving more energy than traditional desktop printers.
• C-Store has now gone bagless! Plastic bags, which account for 60-80% of marine debris, have now been eliminated, and students can purchase an eco-friendly reusable bag or bring their own.
• LMU recently signed a contract with Sparklett's to install water filtration systems across the entire system in an effort to reduce the amount of bottled water being trucked onto campus and the harmful emissions associated with the transportation of water: 2,000 reusable aluminum bottles will be distributed to faculty and staff to encourage reduction of bottled water consumption and excessive use of plastics.
• LMU has worked with Pepsi Bottling Group to promote environmental responsibility. Click here for an overview of Pepsi's Sustainability efforts.