Sustainability: Priorities and Practices

There are many reasons to adopt sustainable practices, but here at Laker Food Company, we aspire to put people and planet first during our operations. We do this by dedicating time to our local community, reducing our plastic use, minimizing food waste, and purchasing responsibly. We work passionately to improve our operations and hold ourselves accountable to continuously improve.

GVSU - Farm to Table

Community Outreach
Laker Food Co. staff weeding at the SAP garden

We dedicate time to those we serve and the community in which we work. To provide for those around us, we combat food insecurity, donate to local food pantries, and volunteer in our community. 

We have pledged to donate our time to the SAP. We also participate in a meal exchange program where students can donate unused meals to other students who need them.


Reducing Plastic Waste
Compostable items including utensils, napkins, cups, and containers

Plastic use and production is the leading cause of physical pollution around the globe. We place priority on eliminating as much plastic from our operation as we can – with a goal to achieve no plastic use. 

We have gotten rid of plastic utensils across campus, investing in compostable ones instead. Our retail locations also have reusable bags and water bottles available for purchase.


Minimizing Food Waste
Hands holding a salad at Fresh Food Co.

Food waste in landfills contributes to major amounts of greenhouse gases each year. By reducing, reusing, and composting, we can eliminate the amount of food found in landfills and minimize our carbon footprint. 

Menu planning and controlling our purchasing helps reduce the amount of leftover food each day. There is also a campus-wide initiative to compost allowing students to place their uneaten food in a waste bin to be composted. 


Purchasing Responsibly
Catering staff receiving bins of fresh produce from the Sustainable Agriculture Project

We only source products aligning with our mission goals to the planet. Those are: 

  • Animal Welfare – purchasing cage free eggs, and products that guarantee the ethical and humane treatment of animals. 
  • No Deforestation – Sourcing products that come from areas with no deforestation risk. Coffee and tea purchased on campus is Rainforest Alliance Certified. 
  • Locally Sourcing – getting products as locally as possible helps keep money in our communities. It also ensures that our products are ethically sourced and produced.

At Laker Food Company, we strive to keep evolving and continuing our efforts to be environmentally conscious. 
Doing so helps us benefit our community, our client, and the world we live in. 

See What We’re Doing on Campus to spread our message and awareness.



Page last modified May 8, 2024