UMass Amherst continues its mission to be a leader in sustainability for the community, state, and nation.
UMass Amherst has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation since 2018 as a Tree Campus USA for its commitment to effective urban forest management. UMass Amherst Earns Tree Campus USA Designation, April 2017 Press Release
UMass Amherst has earned a STARS Gold rating for 12 straight years since 2011 in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. UMass Amherst Again Earns STARS Gold Rating for Sustainability Efforts, April 20, 2023 Press Release
UMass Amherst continues to be among the nation’s most environmentally responsible higher educational institutions, according to The Princeton Review’s 2023 Guide to Green Colleges, landing at #28 in their Top 50 Green Colleges List, out of 455 schools. UMass Amherst Makes Princeton Review’s ‘Green Colleges’ List for Seventh Consecutive Year, October 31, 2022 Press Release
UMass Amherst participates in this national competition that helps colleges and universities advance campus recycling, food waste diversion, and waste reduction efforts. In 2023 UMass Amherst placed 2nd nationally in waste diversion category among large schools. Campus Race To Zero Waste
UMass Amherst has completed Stage 1 zero waste assessment of the Atlas program with the Post Landfill Action Network. Stage 1: Atlas Zero Waste Certification
In 2022 UMass Amherst became one of only eight universities in Massachusetts to receive the commendation for providing safe, accessible biking on campus by the League of American Bicyclists (BFU). UMass Amherst Named a Bike Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists, November 9, 2022 Press Release
In November 2023 UMass Amherst became one of the first nine institutions to sign on to the Plastic Reduction Partner Pledge. This commitment recognizes the many negative impacts single-use plastics have on our environment and communities and provides a framework and certification process for reducing our plastic use through awareness, behavior change, operations, and institutional leadership. Sustainable UMass will be working with students and campus stakeholders to gather data and documentation this semester to submit for certification Fall 2024. For more information on plastic reduction efforts including the Plastic Reduction Partnership Certification, visit: PRPC
