About
The U Market Services team received a sustainability award with the process of improvement surrounding the custodial Periodic Auto Replenishment (PAR) system! This was a national award given by University Logistics and Supply Chain Association (ULSCA)!
The 2022 ULSCA Sustainability Award is presented to a member organization for a project or initiative that demonstrates a sincere commitment to applied sustainability best practices on campus or in the community. The U Market Services Package Waste Reduction project received this award!
In 2020, U Market Services (UMS) hired an intern, Hope, from the University’s Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP). MnTAP is aimed at “Strengthening MN businesses by improving efficiency while saving money, through energy, water, and waste reduction”. Hope recognized an opportunity to reduce cardboard box use by using reusable plastic totes for their “Par Level” deliveries. For Par Level orders, UMS staff use hundreds of custodial closets on campus and systematically place orders to bring the items up to set par levels. After the order is filled and packaged at the UMS Warehouse, drivers deliver them to the end locations, stock the shelves, and leave the cardboard boxes for custodians to dispose of. Hope saw that UMS staff had 100% start to finish control over this process and could easily make changes. She suggested a better process would be to package these orders in reusable totes to be easily stacked (“nested”) in the trucks and reused for the next orders, reducing the reliance on cardboard boxes.
Impact
Using reusable totes for the Par Level program reduces about 13,000 lbs of campus waste annually, maximizes the use of salvaged boxes, and reduces the flow of single-use packaging into the waste stream! Full implementation of this new process only cost $2,307 in materials and saved around $15,000 annually in packaging costs and materials!
Hope also identified opportunities for the implementation of recyclable labels and packing slips, and replacing stamps with stickers where applicable. These changes reduce another 1,740 lbs of materials into the waste stream annually, with the greatest reduction in using labels with liners that get disposed of. The total project is estimated to reduce approximately 15,000 lbs of waste every year!
Creativity
This new process redesigns how the order filling team views orders and packages. Prior to the new solution, the order filling team saw an order as an order, regardless of whether it was being delivered to a customer or placed in a Par Level closet. Now, UMN has recognized and utilized the control they have over the packaging and what happens with it, with the unique Par Level service they provide. They now have control over packaging post-delivery, which is where they lost control of the package prior to the new process.
Importance
This project, which is focused on reducing packaging waste, aligns more closely with the supply chain in inventory management, order fulfillment, and packaging process components. With the help of area supervisors, Hope conducted trials of the project and made adjustments to incorporate staff feedback prior to full implementation.
The project required input from the logistics operations team because any changes in packaging directly affects the staff who complete the deliveries. These ‘consequences’ in logistics meant engaging the logistics team, resulting in modifications and improvements to incorporate their feedback.
However, with the cooperation and engagement of Hope, the supervisors, frontline staff, and the support of management, UMN was able to implement these improvements for both cost saving and more sustainable operations!
Do you have input regarding the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program?
"Illicit discharges are considered 'illicit' because MS4s are not designed to accept, process, or discharge such non-stormwater wastes." (EPA) As water runs down the street into storm drains, contaminated with illicit discharge (such as cigarette butts, trash, salt, vehicle fluids, or yard waste) from the street, it flows back down through the stormwater system and back into the river. Learn how you can help or report illicit discharge on campus.
Facilities Management’s Landcare team is the primary snow removal service provider for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, responsible for clearing nearly 100 miles of streets and walkways, and over 100 acres of parking surfaces. Learn more:
Thursday, 11/14 from 11am-2pm: The Climate Literacy 101 interactive workshop is designed to interpret the science and impacts of climate change for broad action, on campus and beyond.
We will be joined by special guests Melvin Carter, Mayor of St. Paul, and Dr. Heidi Roop, Assistant Director for Climate Services, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and UMN Climate Adaptation Partnership.
Thursday, November 14th, 11am-2pm. Coffman Union, Mississippi Room (3rd floor). M Food Co is providing a "Climate Cool" lunch.
Register
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities continues to show its leadership in sustainability, earning recognition in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition. UMN Twin Cities received a perfect Green Rating score of 99, making it one of the top eco-friendly institutions. This rating evaluates universities based on campus sustainability, student life, and how well schools prepare students for careers in the clean-energy economy. This achievement emphasizes UMN's dedication to creating an environmentally conscious campus and providing students with a sustainable future. Discover how UMN Twin Cities is making a positive impact on campus and our planet!
The University of Minnesota's upcoming Climate Literacy Teach-In event is on November 14th from 11am-2pm. This events aims to engage students and faculty in meaningful discussions about climate change. With interactive activities, expert-led discussions, and a kickoff breakfast hosted by the Learning Abroad Center, participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of climate issues and learn practical actions they can take. Additionally, a self-guided climate conversation activity allows individuals to facilitate discussions anywhere and anytime, emphasizing the importance of personal climate stories to drive climate awareness and change.
Are you interested in learning more about lab sustainability efforts on campus and the new UMN Green Labs Certification Program and how to green your lab? Have you wondered how you could save energy in your lab and lower costs? Join one of two upcoming Green Labs Open House events co-hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the College of Biological Sciences. Learn more
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This fall, the University of Minnesota’s FM Landcare team is planting 105 climate-adaptable trees across campus to diversify the landscape and increase resilience against pests. The trees being planted include a mix of borderline hardy species, new varieties for the campus, and reliable or native trees. Sourced from the campus gravel bed nursery, these trees are easy to plant and acclimate quickly to their environment. Learn more about the tree varieties and discover climate-resilient options for your own yard in this story map publication from the UMN Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
This fall, the University of Minnesota’s Office of Sustainability is hosting a series of educational and engaging events to help deepen your knowledge of sustainability, climate change, and actions you can take on campus and beyond. With insightful Coffee Chats featuring experts and a hands-on Climate Literacy Teach-In, these events provide a great opportunity to connect with professionals, learn from your peers, and take steps toward a greener future. From ice core research to food security on campus, each session provides a new insight on different sustainability topics.
All events are free and open to the anyone that attends the University of Minnesota. Don’t miss out—mark your calendars, grab your coffee, and join us in working toward a more sustainable campus!
The Climate Resilience Plan, addendum to the 2023 Climate Action Plan, is now available.