Sustainability

At Knox, we're committed to creating and nurturing a culture of sustainability.

We believe such a culture includes:

1. Recognition that humans are part of nature and need to live in balance with Earth's ecosystems.
2. Reduced consumption of natural resources to a replenishable rate.
3. Reduced generation of waste to a rate at which the environment can assimilate it.
4. Decision-making that gives equal weight to natural, social, and economic systems.
5. Commitment to place, including conservation and equity in distribution of local resources.

The above definition of Sustainability was crafted in May of 2014, after a campus-wide survey aimed at understanding the priorities of students, staff, and faculty with regard to sustainability issues. Like this definition, the sustainability initiatives at Knox are creative, collaborative, and conscientious.

Memberships, Compacts, & Recognition

Knox College is involved in many local and national initiatives to increase the sustainability of our campus, community, and planet. A few recent and important ones include:

• Earned 1st place in RecycleMania's Food Organics category in 2018 and 2019
• Ranked #264 in SIERRA's Cool Schools 2020 ranking
• In 2018 became a Bicycle Friendly University at the Bronze level 
• Listed in Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2021 Edition
• Member of AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) since 2012 
• Earned a STARS Silver rating in 2021 
• 100% Green Power User in EPA's Green Power Partnership since 2014 
• Talloires Declaration Signatory since 2008 

For more information, view our recent annual sustainability reports:

• 2023-24 Campus Sustainability Report
• 2021-22 Campus Sustainability Report
• 2019-20 Campus Sustainability Report
• 2018-19 Campus Sustainability Report
• 2017-18 Campus Sustainability Report
• 2016-17 Campus Sustainability Report
• 2015-16 Campus Sustainability Report