Keep Eckerd green with our sustainability programs
Our campus teaches and inspires us every day. It’s only natural for us to nurture it through conservation efforts like:
- a living shoreline,
- a “Break Free from Plastics” pledge,
- a fedderal grant and app to reduce single-use plastics,
- two bike share programs for on- and off-campus use.
Farm to table
In our cafeterias, seasonal ingredients come from our one-acre community farm as well as local, owner-operated farms and ranches. Meat and dairy from animals raised with artificial hormones or routine antibiotics are avoided.
Building green
Our Green College ranking also affects construction:
- The Center for Visual Arts is oriented to minimize heat load created by intense sunlight.
- We cool the James Center with wastewater rather than toxic coolants; it holds a coveted LEED Platinum certification.
- The Environmental Science building is powered by a solar array.
- Iota residence hall is LEED-certified.
What you can do
- Take a shift collecting campus recycling
- Help promote the Environmental Film Festival
- Submit a story to Planet Forward
- Minor in Sustainability
- Join a club below to foster sustainable behavior
Campus Groups
Fostering sustainable behavior at Eckerd College
COMMUNITY FARM
Contributing to the well-being of students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding ecosystem.
ECO-REPS
Working towards solving environmental problems on campus through the Office of Sustainability.
GARDEN CLUB
Running an organic vegetable garden with environmental principles to connect us to our food.
MARINE LIFE ADVENTURE SOCIETY
Experiencing marine life environments and facilities with short adventure trips around Florida.
ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
An Audubon Campus Chapter to introduce students to birding. Eckerd has the highest number of bird species recorded per acre of any college in the U.S.!
REDUCE SINGLE-USE PROJECT
Raising awareness, conducting science and taking action to reduce single-use plastic consumption on campus.
SAVE OUR SEABIRDS
Protecting and understanding our local seabirds and other wildlife through rescue and education.
SCUBI JEW: EC ENVIROMENTAL DIVERS
Educating students and actively doing our part to repair the damage done to our oceans, rivers and lakes, and the creatures that live in them.
Initiatives
Waste
Eckerd College promotes waste reduction with recycling and composting programs, water bottle filling stations, reusable Eco-Clamshells at the cafeteria, fishing line recycling containers and an annual Trash to Treasure project.
Energy
In 2007, our president signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In 2013, solar panels were installed as part of the 50 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array on top of our Environmental Studies building.
Sustainability news at Eckerd
- Eckerd College reaches ‘milestone’ at recent Gulf Scholars annual conference - April 10, 2025
- Eckerd College offers new Bachelor of Science in environmental studies - March 28, 2025
- Eckerd College Community Farm offers vegetable subscription service, free campus harvest stand weekly - March 27, 2025
- Eckerd College welcomes 10 chickens to its community farm to help with learning, composting - March 11, 2025
- Eckerd College Gulf Scholars mentor high school students for environmental art show - February 28, 2025
Green Campus
Our campus is home to over 1,200 trees, of which over 90% are native, providing countless benefits to campus residents—including humans, pets and wildlife! Many have tags which you can look up for identification in this map.
Green Campus
Our campus is home to over 1,200 trees, of which over 90% are native, providing countless benefits to campus residents—including humans, pets and wildlife! Many have tags which you can look up for identification in this map.
More Sustainability at Eckerd
- Reducing single-use plastic consumption at Eckerd
- Questions? Contact our Director of Sustainability, Evan Bollier ’11, at bollieea@eckerd.edu or 727.864.8908
