Plastic Free Engineering
The Engineering Center is the first building on the CU Boulder campus to become 100% plastic-free for single-use beverage containers. The College of Engineering and Applied Science strives to lead the way in all that we do. With your help alongside our standing partnerships, we can make an impact in the world we are living in.
Gravity Cafe Coffee Shops
Gravity Cafe, which operates two coffee shops located within the Engineering Center, is partnering with the college to lead this effort. Owner Ari Wolfe, explains the coffee shops as being based on "the belief that each small action, such as making someone's day a little better over a nice cup of coffee, has a positive effect that extends beyond the coffee shops." Gravity Cafe is excited to team up with the college in going plastic free, further helping people see the effects of accumulated action. As part of this initiative Gravity Cafe will offer all compostable cups, lids, straws, plates and silverware.
Approved Vendors and Caterers
We have been working hard with restaurants and caterers around Boulder to compile a list of vendors who pledge not to use single-use plasticware. We will be adding to this list as more vendors come on board. Ask the caterers you normally work with if they would be willing to replace single-use plastic and beverage containers with compostable, glass or aluminum items. If they are willing, and they are not on this list, email engineering@colorado.edu and we will add them.
Point of contact: Emily Sussman
Phone Number: (303) 443-4049
Food Containers:
- Compostable.
Beverage Containers:
- They recently removed single use plastic water bottles from their menu.
Utensils + Service ware:
- Plastic buy utensils from Gravity café for $0.10/piece, or provide own.
- Request non plastic accommodation to silverware, or provide own.
Phone Number: 303-492-8833
Can accommodate all plastic free needs upon request. This includes food/beverage containers as well as silverware and utensils.
Store Number: (303) 543-1525
Catering: 1-800-BAGELME
Food Containers:
- Call one week in advance to request cardboard only / non-plastic containers.
Beverage Containers:
- Call one week in advance to request a change in beverage containers.
- Beverages will be switched from plastic jugs to the cardboard coffee containers.
Utensils + Service ware:
- Plastic; buy utensils from Gravity café for $0.10/piece, or provide own.
- Request non plastic accommodation to silverware, or provide own.
Phone number: (303) 449-1981
Food Containers:
- Compliant.
Beverage Containers:
- They can provide cans and bottles for drinks upon request.
- Other option is beverage jugs for dispensing drinks and compostable cups.
Utensils + Service ware
- Depending on size of event, can request non-plastic. Otherwise provide own.
Point of contact:
Phone number: (303) 772-2247
Food Containers:
- Compostable/recyclable.
Beverage Containers:
- Request recyclable and/or compostable cups.
- Can serve drinks out of large coolers to avoid plastic containers.
- Depending on event, they can rent glass cups upon request if it is requested far enough in advance (at least one week).
Utensils + Service ware
Request compostable utensils, service ware will need to be self-provided.
Phone number: (720) 213-7266
Food Containers:
- Cardboard (compliant).
Beverage Containers:
- Cups can be recyclable/compostable.
- With enough advance notice, they can do canned beverages.
Utensils + Service ware
- Plastic buy utensils from Gravity café for $0.10/piece, or provide own.
Point of contact: Jeff Meredith
Phone number: (720) 212-9398
With enough advance notice (1-2 weeks), Jeff can accommodate any request. However, requesting plastic-free on short-notice will required ordered to provide beverages, cups and utensils.
Food Containers:
- Cardboard (compliant).
Beverage Containers:
- Recyclable + compostable.
- In most cases, they can provide canned drinks.
Utensils + Service ware
- All service ware is compostable, request compostable utensils.
The following commonly used vendors do not accommodate plastic-free requests:
- Chipotle
- Jimmy Johns
FAQ
How will this affect life in the engineering center?
This will only make things better. All the beverages you enjoyed in the engineering center will still be available in new modified packaging.
Am I still able to bring plastic beverage containers into the engineering center?
Of course! Our vendors will be held to a strict no-plastics policy, but that does not mean plastics will be restricted from use in the building.
Why have we chosen now to go plastic free?
The College of Engineering and Applied Science strives to lead the way in all that we do, and we are excited to be the first building on campus to be plastic-free for beverages. With your help alongside our standing partnerships, we can make an impact in the world we are living in.
When will other engineering-affiliated buildings be going plastic free?
Below is a timeline of when we aim to convert the other buildings into plastic-free zones.
Timeline for the future
Fall 2019
Eliminate all single-use beverage plastic waste in the Engineering Center, Gallogly Discovery Learning Center, Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory. This includes:
- Gravity Espresso cafes
- Vending machines
- All catered events within these facilities. A guide to plastic-free catering options will be provided to the college.
- Adding compostable bins to these facilities for non-plastics.
We will be taking our plastic free initative to other engineering-affiliated buildings in the future.