Sustainability
Our Commitment
Your 513 Culinary Group is dedicated to sustainability. We know we can all work together to make a positive impact right here at University of Cincinnati.
On the Green Dining Center is a 4 Star Certified Green Restaurant
On the Green is proud to be a 4 Star Certified Green Restaurant! All of our sustainable practices are verified by the Green Restaurant Association, a national non-profit helping restaurants become more sustainable.
On the Green earned 365.5 GreenPoints and has earned a 4-star certification under the Green Restaurant Association's rigorous standards in categories like water efficiency, waste reduction, sustainable food, and chemical and pollution reduction. We also recycle and we do not use any polystyrene foam products in our dining center.
513 Green Certified
Sustainability is a core component of On the Green Dining’s operations at the University of Cincinnati. Operated by Sodexo, the program supports UC’s commitment to environmental stewardship through a variety of initiatives designed to reduce its environmental footprint and promote responsible dining practices. Efforts include reducing food waste through donation and recovery programs, expanding recycling and composting opportunities, and sourcing ingredients responsibly with an emphasis on local and regional suppliers whenever possible. On the Green Dining also participates in sustainability programs that encourage resource conservation, waste diversion, and sustainable purchasing. Dining locations utilize reusable and recyclable materials where feasible, and educational campaigns help students make informed choices about food consumption and waste reduction. Through partnerships with campus and community organizations, the program works to divert surplus food, support local agriculture, and advance UC’s broader sustainability goals. These initiatives help create a more environmentally responsible dining experience while fostering a culture of sustainability across the University of Cincinnati community.
OZZI Reusable To-Go Containers
OZZI offers innovative technology that eliminates the need for traditional disposable take-out containers, making it a perfect fit for the University of Cincinnati. By promoting sustainable and ecologically-minded reusable containers, OZZI is creating an environmetally counscious, user-friendly, and 100% effective system that eliminates disposable products generated from dining on campus. In 2024, UC collected an outstanding 165,000 OZZI containers to reduce the use of paper products on campus.
Participating locations include CenterCourt, MarketPointe, On The Green, and Stadium View where guests can request one OZZI To-Go container per meal period. All meal plan holders are automatically enrolled in the OZZI carry-out program, with the first box included in their meal plan. If a reusable box is lost or not exchanged for a token, it is $5 to purchase an additional container.
Sustainable and Plant-Forward Options
There are several vegetarian, plant-based, and vegan oprtions available at each dining center. Items that are vegetarian, plant-based, or vegan will be indicated via icons on the menu boards at each station, on the location's web page, and on the Everyday App. Stop by MarketPointe's Good Vibes station for an entirely plant-based menu every day of the week, or CenterCourt's baked potato bar that offers several plant-based proteins as well. In addition to these, each dining center always offers a plant-based burger at the grill station, a plant-based protein soup, plant-based or vegan side dishes available at Simple Servings stations, and several other entrees and side dishes available at other stations.
Our goal is to offer 50% plant-based entrees on menus by 2025.
Local Suppliers
We work closely with local distributors to maximize the fruits and vegetables purchased from local farms. We proudly work with 80 Acres Farms to provide fresh, delicious foods to campus. We also purchase from local dairies, and participate in farm to school initiatives. Tracking local purchases helps us to meet our Better Tomorrow Plan commitment of 20% local purchase. Good news about your morning (okay, all day) cup of coffee. We proudly partner with Rooted Grounds to provide premium coffee in our residential dining locations and catering.
Reusable Cup
58 billion paper cups are thrown away each year; most of which are non-compostable. By using recycled cups across campus, we're decreasing our waste and minimizing our carbon footprint.
Our Partners
Through our partnerships with local and global organizations including Last Mile Food Rescue, 80 Acres Farms, Lean Path, and OZZI, we are working to create a more sustainable dining experience on campus.