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UW Athletics: Committed to a Sustainable Future
The University of Washington Department of Athletics is committed to sustainability through innovative programs, student-athlete and community engagement, and waste diversion. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as reducing food waste in student-athlete dining facilities through improved sourcing, portion control, and composting practices. Additionally, the department is reinforcing its environmental leadership by constructing a new athletics building designed to meet LEED Silver certification, demonstrating a strong focus on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and sustainable design. These efforts underscore UW Athletics’ dedication to building a more sustainable future both on and off the field.
Featured Student-Athlete
Sally Jones, UW Women's Rowing
Hometown: Victoria, Canada
Degree: Bachelors of Oceanography from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada
Q: What Does Sustainability Mean to you?
A: To me, sustainability is about balancing the needs of the biosphere on Earth today with the future health of the planet. It’s treating everything around us whether it’s nature, our homes, or our training spaces with care and respect for what they give us. Sustainability is being mindful of the future while appreciating what we have in the present.
Q: How do you practice sustainability as a student-athlete?
A: I practice sustainability by being mindful of my choices and looking after my training environment. I try to reduce my waste by using reusable water bottles and shopping second hand to furnish my spaces. I take care of my training environment by helping keep it clean and turning off lights and fans when not in use. For me, sustainability isn’t about big gestures but about making small, intentional choices that reduce my impact and ensure that the resources I depend on are there for future generations.
Q: Where could Husky Athletics improve and where do we succeed sustainably?
A: I have been impressed with the sustainability initiatives by Husky Athletics. There are compost, garbage, and recycling bins in the Don James Center (DJC) and around athletics facilities. In the DJC, it is nice to see student-athletes filling up reusable water bottles at the drink station. In addition, it is exciting to hear about the new sustainability initiative of reusable cups at basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics events. Something we could work to reduce is the use of single-use take out boxes from the DJC and single-use plastics from the PNC.
Q: What other hobbies or interests do you have?
A: In my free time I enjoy biking, painting, hiking, and reading. I love trying new things and am learning Swedish this year while studying at the UW.
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