Top five ways Sheridan is a sustainability star

While Earth Month is recognized in April each year, Sheridan has curated a year-round culture centred around sustainability and conservation. 

Here are five of the top ways that Sheridan is a sustainability star. 

Mission Zero

Mission Zero (MZ) is leading the charge to make sustainability a part of the culture at Sheridan. MZ is Sheridan's commitment to environmental sustainability, aiming to eliminate waste and work with campus partners to reduce our overall carbon footprint. It’s a guiding framework for campus-wide initiatives focused on energy efficiency, zero waste, reuse, and responsible resource management. MZ empowers the Sheridan community to take collective action toward a greener future.  

Why you should volunteer with Mission Zero: 

• Support community events and workshops which promote climate action. 
• Inform and educate students, faculty and staff about Mission Zero and how to support sustainability and waste reduction initiatives. 
• Make new friends with shared values. 
• Volunteer hours count towards your Co-curricular Record (CCR), a record of your personal growth and professional development activities (separate from your academics) which look great to future employers. 
• Help recognize and celebrate our Mission Zero Heroes – members of our community who live sustainably, and are passionate about making a positive change for their environment and community, in small or large ways. 

“This hands-on involvement (with Mission Zero) has given me a tangible understanding of how collective efforts, even with minimal contributions, can have a significant and positive impact on the world around us,” says Rohan Gounder, first-year student in the Community and Justice Services Diploma program. “The Mission Zero team also educated me about inflation and the importance of maintaining an eco-friendly environment. They emphasized the importance of working together to give back to our community.” 

Art Hive

Art Hive is a creative space, held weekly during the fall and winter terms, where students and staff can take a break from their studies or work, and participate in activities such as beading, felting and other art projects. It's a safe, welcoming space which promotes and supports sustainability and well-being. 

Why you should visit the Art Hive: 

• Enjoy creating a new work of art from recycled materials. 
• Feel part of a welcoming, creative community. 
• Share your knowledge in a free exchange of ideas with others while taking a break from your studies. 

“It’s magical to watch how folks look through the assorted variety of materials we put out each week and come up with the most amazing ideas for creating things with it,” says Kirsten Abrahamson, Art Fundamentals professor and Art Hive coordinator. 

Bike Hub

Sheridan’s Bike Hub is the go-to spot for the Sheridan community’s cycling enthusiasts, encouraging active transportation and creating a culture of community and inclusivity. “The support I’ve received from the Bike Hub has been amazing. I’ve been able to save money while I reduce my carbon footprint,” says Juan Camil Lopez, a first-year student in the Marketing Management program. 

Check out the Bike Hub for: 

• Renting a bike. 
• DIY bike repairs for students to gain essential skills. 
• Basic repairs for staff and members of the public. 
• Meeting new people with common interests. 
• Joining the annual Tour de Sheridan, where cyclists from all three campuses ride to a central meeting point for a celebration of cycling. 

“The Bike Hub has been really important to me, because it’s helping me learn to ride a bike. Thanks to the Bike Hub, I can be more adaptable in where I live in this housing crisis,” says David Nijjar, a second-year student in the Visual and Creative Arts program. 

Clothing swaps

Sheridan EDGE, an on-campus hub which supports the growth of sustainable businesses in collaboration with Mission Zero and Campus Thrift, a social enterprise which champions sustainable fashion practices through swap events, advocacy and education, hosts an annual clothing swap at the Hazel McCallion Campus. This popular event promotes sustainable fashion on campus – attendees bring in gently used clothing and a reusable bag and exchange for new-to-them items at no cost. Throughout each term, there are also weekly Freeuse Pop-up Shops held at each campus, where the community can donate gently used items as well as shop for free. 

Why it’s important: 

• Sharing gently used clothing or other household items that you no longer need helps others while keeping useful items out of landfills. 
• Finding trendy and vintage fashions for all genders and styles at no cost. 
• Learning more about sustainable practices through extending the life of useful goods. 

 

“I loved the idea of being able to thrift clothes and accessories while also giving away items that had been sitting unused in my closet...the event made sustainable fashion accessible – in terms of prices and accessibility,” says Sanjana Rao, Project Management ‘23 and Business Analysis and Process Management ‘22. 

Art studios

If you’re passionate about both art and sustainability, Sheridan’s Art and Art History programs are finding creative ways to create less waste in the studios, by repurposing materials and making new art from old art – giving second lives to all kinds of art materials, including paper, cardboard and wood. 

Why this is important: 

• Have the chance to discover how art can be more sustainable. 
• Take advantage of repurposed art materials and save money. 
• Expand your creativity by finding new and innovative ways to create sustainably and reduce your environmental footprint. 

“Our goal is to try to give life to as much of that material as possible by finding ways to reuse it in other classes,” says Stephen Mazza, Program Technologist in the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design. 

Discover how being part of Sheridan’s sustainability initiatives can help you grow and make your time at Sheridan enriching.