Hanley Sustainability Institute

By Cassie Austin and Anne Majka

Every small step counts in the journey to developing more sustainable habits. This is why Flyer Enterprises has teamed up with the Hanley Sustainability Institute to launch a reusable cup initiative at Heritage Coffeehouse.

This has been an ongoing partnership through Flyer Enterprises Sustainability Consulting (FESC), where students from the Hanley Sustainability Institute Student Leaders Program provide sustainability education and project recommendations to Flyer Enterprises locations, such as Heritage Coffeehouse. 

In 2023, FESC assisted in the project implementation of “for here” hot drinks and the rewards punch card system. For every nine “for here” drinks that customers purchase, they get one for free. This initiative and punch card system incentivized customers to order their drink “for here,” which reduces single-use plastic and paper waste. 

In addition to the punch card reward system, Heritage Coffeehouse is also offering a 10% discount for customers who order their drink “for here.” Extending this initiative to offering “for here” cold cups as well provides customers who prefer cold drinks the option and incentive to choose a sustainable alternative.

The reusable cup initiative was the first project funded by HSI’s new Sustainability Projects Fund. The fund, established at the start of the 2024-25 academic year, was created to support sustainability initiatives on campus that align with the University’s sustainability goals in areas such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, ethical purchasing, local food systems and more.

The goal of this fund is to provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff or departments to pursue projects or initiatives that enhance the sustainability and environmental wellbeing of our campus community. 

By launching the Sustainability Projects Fund, we are encouraging others to explore innovative ways that sustainability can be integrated into their daily lives and workspaces. Projects can range from small to large, with examples such as a one time sustainability speaker series, zero waste event kits or a pilot project to reduce water use on campus. 

Applications are submitted by filling out the full application form and budget sheet and emailing sustainabilityprojects@udayton.edu. If you have an idea for a project but need help further developing it, please contact the fund’s coordinator, Cassie Austin. 

Learn more about the new Sustainability Projects Fund at our website.