MSU has been ranked as one of the top 5 most sustainable schools in the U.S., and for good reason. From growing our own food on campus, to utilizing geothermal energy, to collecting recycling in hundreds of buildings, MSU makes it easy to be environmentally conscious. As a passionate environmentalist, I’m proud to call our campus home.
Our culinary services are integral to MSU’s mission of sustainability, as they serve tens of thousands of students each day.
The National Association of College and University Food Services presented MSU Culinary Services with a well-deserved Sustainability Award to recognize all the good Culinary Services does, including sourcing local ingredients, conserving water and reducing waste. Everything MSU and our dining services does for the planet is certainly praiseworthy, but one thing we do not seem to take into as much consideration is the amount of animal products we consume.
The United Nations claims animal agriculture is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, so it is vital that we make the choice to consume more sustainable products to reduce our environmental impact.
MSU has provided countless outlets for environmentally-minded students to live sustainably, but we can do more in regards to reducing our dependence on animal agriculture.
Hundreds of other universities have shifted their mayonnaise and cookie dough suppliers to Hampton Creek, producers of the popular products Just Mayo and Just Cookies. Hampton Creek, a popular food technology startup, has created delicious egg-free mayonnaise and cookie products that leave a much smaller carbon footprint than their standard counterparts. Many universities, including Rutgers, the University of Connecticut and Harvard have reduced carbon emissions by millions of grams each year by simply switching to these egg-free products.
Hampton Creek products are perfectly suited within MSU’s sustainability goals. A partnership between MSU and Hampton Creek would be a fitting move that provides quality, delicious food to our students while strengthening MSU’s legacy as being one of the most eco-friendly universities in the country.
McKenzie Mak is a political science sophomore.
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