ABOUT CTSF
Our Sustainability Fund is available to any student-led venture or project with the intention to operate responsibly. Our aim is to remove the financial barriers associated with sustainability and help launch innovative ventures. We hope the grant will reach beyond environmental groups and assist students with diverse interests to implement and execute projects with a sustainable mindset.
Applications are welcome during the academic year.
FAQ
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Any student-led organization or group with the intention to operate responsibly. The grant is not limited to environmental groups as we hope to extend to a variety of different initiatives.
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Award size will be determined on a case by case basis. You will be required to submit a proposed budget before funds are granted.
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Applicants will be notified of their final standing within four weeks of submitting initial applications.
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You will be required to have recurring meetings with CT co-chairs to update us on the progress of your project. Frequency of meetings will depend on the timeline of the proposed project.
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Email carolinathriftunc@gmail.com with any further questions.
PAST FUNDED PROJECTS
UNC-Chapel Hill student Emily Pierce is leading an initiative with UNC-CH’s Environmental Honors Fraternity, Epsilon Eta, to pick up litter while running across campus, an activity known as plogging. So far, Emily has picked up over 35 pounds of trash and hopes to collect more throughout the year.
Pierce said, “the fund allows our group to make a larger social media campaign and to see our efforts through to the disposal stage.”
The fund has helped to ensure that certain materials are recycled rather than sent to a landfill.
PLOGGING AROUND UNC-CHAPEL HILL
ACCELERATING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY CONFERENCE
A circular economy aims to eliminate waste and continually reuse products, as opposed to a linear approach that takes, makes and disposes items. In September, Carolina Thrift sponsored the UNC Institute for Environment and Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Fraternity co-hosted event, Accelerating the Circular Economy conference. On Sept. 13, the Accelerating the Circular Economy conference discussed with panelists and speakers, both from the private and public sector, how circular economy practices address real business needs in the U.S. and around the world. Senior Manager of Global Product Sustainability for Levi Strauss & Co., Liza B. Schillo, gave a keynote address that emphasized the importance of circularity beyond physical product content at the conference. The UNC Institute for Environment and Ep Eta expect for this conference to take place annually.
MEANTIME COFFEE CO.
The Meantime Coffee Co., UNC’s only student-run coffee shop, was selected to pilot Carolina Thrift’s Sustainability Fund in January to begin industrially composting. Compost Now is a company that’s mission is to “close the loop on food waste by empowering community members and local businesses to divert their compostables from the landfill and, instead, use those nutrients to build nutrient-rich soil”. Each week, The Meantime’s compostables are collected by Compost Now to produce nutrient rich soil, eliminating the need for herbicides and fertilizers.
