Client Success Story
UC Berkeley—Creating Change Through Collaboration on Campus
UC Berkeley is making significant strides toward a waste-free campus. Since 2018, students have been collaborating with Fill it Forward to create lasting change and a more sustainable campus.
Using reusable Cupanion bottles and Fill it Forward Stickers, students, staff, and faculty have diverted 18,710 + single-use items from our landfills and oceans. Individual users are able to track their collective impact using a Private Group, which features a leaderboard and celebrates their growing impact.
Staff across campus are constantly working together to implement innovative and cost-effective solutions that make an impact and inspire reuse.
Cal Zero Waste
The Cal Zero Waste team has championed the reusable program, which is committed to advancing reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting programs while providing effective collection services. To operate these programs, Cal Zero Waste works with various other campus entities such as Custodial Services (for indoor waste, compost, and recycling collection), Landscape Services (for outdoor green waste and plant debris services), and Facilities Services Event Services (for events).
Cal Zero Waste rolled out their program during their Zero Waste October initiative, staffing tablings during basketball games where they engaged students and distributed Fill it Forward Stickers. Staff and students work together to support many zero-waste programs in different areas of campus to achieve their UC Zero Waste 2020 and Beyond goals.
Haas School of Business
The Haas School of Business has further elevated the initiative by distributing co-branded reusables, reinforcing their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint. The Haas Private Group within Fill it Forward strives for campus-wide sustainability and educates the community on the negative impact of single-use plastics.
“Berkeley Haas has committed to eliminating single-use plastic by 2025 and Fill it Forward is helping our community make this transition to reusables fun, interactive and impactful.
We especially love that while reducing waste, our Haas community can be a part of
Fill it Forward’s model of supporting non-profits who are working in the clean water, nutritious food, and reforestation space. ”
Danner Doud-Martin,
Director of Haas Campus Sustainability
These efforts highlight UC Berkeley as a beacon of sustainability in higher education, showcasing the power of unified goals and collaborative initiatives. The Fill it Forward reuse programs are a testament to the impact achieved when various departments unite to inspire a culture of reuse. As UC Berkeley continues to lead the way, their success becomes a model for campuses nationwide striving for a more sustainable future.
UC Berkeley received the Fill it Forward GroundBreaker Award in 2019 and the 2023 Changemaker Award, which recognizes them for their community leadership. This award honors organizations that showcase a genuine enthusiasm for engaging and uplifting their community and commends organizations that demonstrate leadership in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
