Foods

The Student Center food court.

Georgia Tech strives to create a dining experience that reflects the Institute's commitment to environmental sustainability. Through efforts led by students and Georgia Tech Dining Services, members of the Tech community are able to participate in the sustainability effort simply by eating on campus. Local produce and food accounts for 40 percent of food served in dining halls. In addition, the campus community can obtain local, organic, and fair-trade food options on campus through the student-established and operated Georgia Tech Sustainable Food Project.

Dining Services strives to minimize leftovers by donating them locally. In recent years, more than 4,500 pounds of food were donated as a result of the Office of Solid Waste Management and Recycling's Student Move-out Program. Used cooking oils are also collected by an organization that manufactures biodiesel. In addition, Dining Services has reduced the use of packaging and Styrofoam takeout containers by 85 percent.

In the area of research, the Sustainable Design and Manufacturing Center within Georgia Tech's Manufacturing Research Center examines supply chains and manufacturing within the food industry to reduce the use of resources. Within the Food Processing Technology Division of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, researchers are focused on automation, information technology, food safety, worker safety and environmental technology.