{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Sustainability Annual Report 2025","provider_url":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2025","author_name":"sarah","author_url":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2025\/author\/sarah\/","title":"UC Merced - Sustainability Annual Report 2025","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"pgXacZ25fT\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2025\/locations\/uc-merced\/\">UC Merced<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2025\/locations\/uc-merced\/embed\/#?secret=pgXacZ25fT\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;UC Merced&#8221; &#8212; Sustainability Annual Report 2025\" data-secret=\"pgXacZ25fT\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/sec-1127-sustainabilityreport-multi.pantheonsite.io\/2025\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2020\/10\/2025_UC_Merced_Greenhouse.jpg","thumbnail_width":2000,"thumbnail_height":1340,"description":"University of California Merced works at the forefront of innovation as it continues to deliver on its mission to provide experiential opportunities in the sustainability discipline to help enhance the social mobility of its students. Through hands-on, real-world opportunities combined with academic preparation, UC Merced students receive professional tools to enhance their post-graduation opportunities. For example, financial support to help initiate UC Merced\u2019s living lab pilot was provided by the University&#8217;s Global Climate Leadership Council. Additionally, students gain invaluable experience through internships, fellowships and research opportunities. FOOD UC Merced\u2019s sustainable and plant-based food spend dropped significantly this year, reaching only about 11% each of total purchases. This means roughly one in every 10 dining dollars went toward sustainable or plant-based options \u2014 well below the 25% target. The decline was largely due to the Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Center operating at only 60% capacity because of a hood system failure and the temporary pause of the campus food recovery program. Green building The number of electric and LEED buildings has not increased since last year. There are two buildings, Medical Education and Promise Housing, currently under construction at UC Merced. These buildings will be brought online in 2026 and 2027. 19 Platinum, 11 Gold and 2 Silver procurement Green spend is defined as meeting preferred or minimum criteria&nbsp;in UC&#8217;s Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.Suppliers reporting: Electronics (8), Furniture (5), Cleaning supplies (4), Office supplies (3). UC Systemwide Spend Analytics category data provided by CalUSource. The University reports on green spend, as defined in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, and reached out to suppliers for spend data in four product categories for this year\u2019s report. Sustainable Building &amp; Laboratory Operations The UC Merced Green Labs and Operations program was not active due to staff vacancies and leaves. The program will be reactivated in the 2025\u201326 academic year. Transportation Sustainable vehicles are defined as electric (zero-emission), plug-in hybrid or clean transportation fuel Additional electric carts were added to the fleet. The gas-powered fleet is still significant, and the campus is working on increasing electric light-duty vehicles. Single-Use Plastics Phase-Out Complete Phase-out* Partial Phase-out Starting Soon *Complete phase-out of single-use plastics may include exemptions where reasonable alternatives to plastic do not exist. UC Merced continues to make strong progress in eliminating single-use plastics from campus operations. Plastic bags and beverage containers in dining facilities have been fully phased out, meaning students and staff no longer receive these items on campus. Foodware has been partially phased out, with many locations transitioning to compostable or reusable options. These changes reflect UC\u2019s single-use plastics policy and demonstrate the campus\u2019s commitment to reducing landfill waste and supporting a culture of reuse. Awards UC Merced\u2019s Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education STARS Platinum ranking expired in May 2025, marking the end of its most recent certification cycle. While the expiration means UC Merced is no longer listed as Platinum, the campus remains committed to sustainability excellence. With greater staff capacity, UC Merced will begin preparing its next STARS submission in early 2026, ensuring that its achievements in waste diversion, sustainable food and related programs are fully documented and recognized. A full list of awards is featured on the UC Office of the President\u2019s website."}