Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
By promoting sustainable and efficient use of resources, reduction of waste generation and encouraging responsible consumption patterns, Wilfrid Laurier University is contributing to a more sustainable and responsible society.
The work that Laurier completed in 2024 to advance SDG 12.
Five new student and staff-led projects will come to life on Laurier’s campuses thanks to funding from the Sustainable Hawk Fund. The Community Closet received funds to support its clothing rental service designed to assist university students in curating stylish outfits without the need to buy new clothing. Built on principles of the circular economy, Community Closet seeks to breathe new life into garments sitting idle in closets, providing students with a diverse range of affordable and sustainable clothing choices.
For the sixth ear in row, Laurier was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. The national recognition reflects Laurier’s dedication to its sustainability-focused programs and initiatives, progress in reducing its carbon footprint, and the degree to which sustainability has become a part of Laurier’s workplace culture, spanning operations, academics and community partnerships.
Every year, the university receives a waste diversion report from Waste Management (WM) - the waste hauler on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. As hightlighted in Laurier's 2024/25 Sustainability Report the Waterloo campus' diversion rate was 27%, up from 23% from 2022. This means that there was a higher proportion of landfill waste that was diverted to the recycling stream.
Laurier research centres advancing SDG 12.
The Co-operators Centre for Business and Sustainability facilitates and coordinates research related to business and environmental sustainability. The centre ensures regular communication between researchers and practitioners, including strategic decision-makers in the local sustainability community. Located in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Laurier, the centre hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables to discuss relevant topics aligned with practitioner needs and assists in disseminating research findings in a timely fashion to those who can use them.
The Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) is an interdisciplinary and community-engaged research centre striving to be a catalyst and nexus for the transition toward strong cultures of sustainability. The centre understands cultures of sustainability “as characterized by shared values, symbols, rituals and practices grounded in sustainability principles leading to individual and societal choices that promote environmental protection, social justice and well-being, and a supportive economy." A culture of sustainability may exist within an organization, a building with multiple organizations or a community.
Laurier initiatives in 2023 that advanced SDG 12.
Laurier’s Sustainability Office works hard to implement waste reduction programs to help the Laurier community practice sustainability. Programs include reusable products at the Laurier Bookstore; food and drink discounts by Food Services, including a $0.40 discount for bringing your own mug to any food vendor location; and a Waste Management initiative to provide organics and commingled recycling waste streams to allow proper waste disposal.
Laurier’s Sustainability Office created its Action Plan to correspond with the SDGs. Through teaching and research, Laurier plays a critical role in preparing the next generation of leaders who can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. Universities also play a vital part in finding solutions to increasingly complex global problems and pioneering technological innovations through their own operations to set an example for others.
Discover how Laurier is contributing to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal targets.
