Sustainability Impact Report

Introduction to an Inspiring Year

When I arrived at Bryn Mawr College, I was struck by something that cannot easily be captured in a sustainability metric or annual report: the extraordinary commitment of this community to purpose, learning, and positive change.

This ethos guided sustainability progress for many years before the College established the Office of Sustainability in July 2025, to leverage the campus-wide enthusiasm for positive change. This past year has marked a transformative leap in the Bryn Mawr community’s commitment to sustainability. We launched our first Sustainability Seed Grant Program, created new opportunities for students to engage in applied learning, and brought together colleagues from across campus to reduce waste, improve operational practices, measure impact, and advance climate action. The greatest lesson I have (re)learned this year is that sustainability efforts succeed when they are community-driven. Some of our most exciting projects - from reducing food waste in dining halls to revitalizing the community garden and exploring new pathways for ecological restoration - are a testament to the creativity and leadership of Bryn Mawr students, faculty, and staff.

Today, we stand at the precipice of possibilities. I am often asked about my “vision” for a sustainable future, which invokes several feelings ranging from hope and excitement to uncertainty and anxiety. I alone can’t answer this question, so I am compelled to ask - What is our vision? Will we continue to approach our work with a spirit of collaboration? How can we better use principles of social responsibility and environmental justice to guide our actions? Will we build a community where every member feels empowered to contribute in the ways they are able? During times of heightened polarization, can we approach each other with kindness and empathy as we navigate collective challenges?

The challenges facing our world can feel overwhelming, but sustainability work gives us something powerful: Agency. It reminds us about the power of collective impact, and that meaningful change happens, in small ways and big, when people rally around a shared purpose and take action. The accomplishments highlighted in this report are a celebration of the inspiring progress we have made together in one year, and an invitation to continue building a better future together.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Neha Sood
Director of Sustainability and Environmental Action
Bryn Mawr College

Campus as a Living Laboratory

Two applied learning projects this year leveraged faculty expertise and student enthusiasm to create a roadmap for a “campus as a living laboratory” program. 

• A Living Lab Fellowship in partnership with the President’s Office supported two faculty members and four paid interns who developed a roadmap for achieving arboretum status and a restoration plan for Lake Vickers. Students presented their findings to President Cadge in May.
• A Praxis class titled “Living Our Values - Applied Sustainability at Bryn Mawr College”. Five students previously enrolled in the Climate Change 360° program worked on three projects - partnering with Erdman Dining Hall to deploy Leanpath technology for food waste reduction; conducting an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions at Bryn Mawr College; engaging students in environmental restoration on campus through invasive species removal and native pollinator plantings.

Waste Reduction and Diversion Efforts

The best type of waste is the one that isn’t produced. Waste evaluation, reduction, and diversion from the landfill has been a key focus area this year. In addition to the efforts by seed grant recipients, we assessed opportunities to improve practices and piloted new initiatives highlighted below.

Dispatch Goods: Choosing to Re-Use!

One of the most striking changes on campus this year is a new reusable container initiative in partnership with Dispatch Goods. In January 2026, the College’s popular Uncommon Grounds café transitioned entirely to reusable cups, bowls, and takeout containers. Soon after, this program was scaled to include catering and “zero waste” events such as the Earth Day picnic, May Day celebration, and reunion, accelerating a campus-wide shift to
circular food service. You can use the orange reusable containers when you visit and they can be returned to orange bins for washing and reuse!

In one year, the College community has:

• Diverted over 2.4 tons of disposables from landfill and recycling streams
• Saved 19,200 gallons of water
• Avoided 19.1 tons of CO₂ emissions from this particular reuse initiative

Electrifying Our Fleet

Bryn Mawr and Haverford’s shared transportation system added a second electric bus, reducing tailpipe emissions and supporting cleaner mobility. 

In support of Lower Merion Township’s ordinance to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers, Bryn Mawr purchased new electric landscaping equipment, including backpack and handheld blowers, string trimmers, multi-use tools, a chainsaw, a water pump, and a robot lawn mower named Lawnda - cutting air pollution, noise, and maintenance emissions while improving worker safety.

Recognition from Lower Merion Township

In May 2026, our efforts were recognized by Lower Merion Township’s Environmental Advisory Committee. Bryn Mawr College was named the recipient of the 2026 “Go for the Green” award in the Education category, to recognize our contributions to environmental protection, resource conservation, and eco-conscious leadership within the broader township
community.

This recognition, and the metrics presented throughout this report mark significant progress and milestones from one year. Every achievement is built on the uncounted hours, fierce advocacy, and steadfast enthusiasm of countless students, faculty, staff, and community partners whose names are written in invisible ink between the lines of this report. Thank you to all who have helped champion a greener and more resilient future for Bryn Mawr!