Lean and green: Transact leads the way in earth-friendly products and initiatives

Earth Day, an annual celebration honoring the achievements of the environmental movement, is on April 22 this year. Since 1970, we’ve been recognizing Earth Day to raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. And although it’s only celebrated once annually, Transact Campus and its business partners are committed to supporting this movement every day of the year.

“Transact is exploring partnerships with different organizations to reduce our carbon footprint and improve sustainability,” said Mechelle King, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility.

One such initiative, called the Race to Zero Campaign, is a United Nations-backed global campaign rallying companies, cities, regions, financial, and educational institutions to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030.

“We’re donating to this cause and are partnering with food service organizations to apply for federal grants to fund R&D for solutions for global food service providers to universities,” King said.

Other ways Transact is implementing earth-friendly practices:

We’re actively investing in green initiatives focused on climate change, energy efficiency, and water management.
We’re reducing carbon emissions through our largely remote workforce which also promotes a digital/paperless environment.
Green offices: Our Ireland and Arizona offices are LEED-certified, meaning they are endorsed for their commitment to sustainability and leadership, and recognized as “green” buildings.

Transact partners make a “greener” impact by transitioning to Mobile Credential

In today’s world, sustainability is an important issue for universities to address. Our university clients who have swapped out plastic student ID cards for our Mobile Credential solution are helping make our environment more sustainable. Here’s how:

Reduces plastic waste. One of the most significant sustainability benefits of transitioning to mobile credentials is the reduction in plastic waste. Plastic ID cards are typically made from PVC, which is non-biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose. This means that discarded ID cards can contribute to the growing problem of plastic waste in landfills and oceans. In contrast, mobile credentials are stored electronically and do not require physical plastic cards, which can significantly reduce plastic waste.
Increases energy efficiency. Another key sustainability benefit of mobile credentials is their energy efficiency. Traditional plastic card ID systems require significant amounts of energy to produce, transport, and dispose of the cards. In comparison, mobile credentials are entirely electronic and require minimal energy to create and distribute. Additionally, NFC technology allows for more efficient and streamlined access control, which can further reduce energy consumption on campus.
Maximizes resources. By transitioning to mobile credentials, universities can also improve their resource management. Plastic ID card systems require significant resources to create and manage, including materials, equipment, and personnel. In contrast, mobile credentials require fewer resources, which can be reallocated towards more sustainable initiatives. For example, universities can use the savings from mobile credential systems to invest in energy-efficient lighting or renewable energy sources, which can further reduce their carbon footprint.

Enhances user experience. Finally, mobile credentials can provide an enhanced user experience for students and staff, which can promote sustainability. By using mobile credentials, students and staff can access campus services more efficiently and conveniently, reducing the need for paper-based systems or physical plastic cards. Additionally, NFC technology allows for more precise tracking of access control, which can help universities identify and reduce instances of waste or inefficient resource use.

In summary, transitioning from plastic card ID systems to NFC-based mobile credentials can offer significant sustainability benefits for universities. By reducing plastic waste, improving energy efficiency, enhancing resource management, and providing an improved user experience, mobile credentials can play a crucial role in a university's green initiative. As universities continue to prioritize sustainability, mobile credentials offer a practical and effective solution for promoting a more sustainable future.

Tree planting excursion planned for Limerick team members

In addition to supporting sustainable initiatives, Transact is making the earth a greener place, literally. On April 20, 2023, Limerick team members are going on a day trip to Ennis Tymon, Co Clare to plant trees, explore nature, gain knowledge, and bond as part of a joint venture with Hometree. Hometree’s mission is to establish and conserve permanent native woodland Ireland, and encourage land regeneration and biodiversity through afforestation, restoration, and education. Barry Larkin, Senior Manager, Software Engineering at Transact, helped organize the outing, which will include tree planting and maintenance; an organic veggie lunch; and a workshop featuring the history of the Irish woodlands with compelling guest speakers.

“I think it’s important to organize this event for the team as a good reason to get people together, to have some fun, to get out in the countryside, to help the environment. Plus, it will allow our team to:

Learn more about sowing trees, the benefits to the planet and about things like the wild Atlantic rainforest initiative and why it’s best to sow native trees

Enjoy a day out to reward them for all the hard work and get a break from the home offices with a nice lunch, with team building and some fun.

“By planting and reforesting trees, it’s a community effort to reconnect with nature and assume responsibility to protect the land we live on,” said Matt Smith, founder and ambassador of Hometree.

“Preserving and protecting the environment is one Transact’s key pillars of Corporate Social Responsibility. We want to truly be impactful with our goals in this space,” King said.

To learn more about how you can make a difference on Earth Day (and every day), visit www.earthday.org.

Transact’s partners: Fostering a culture of sustainability and social responsibility

Transact is proud to work with partners who care about the environment as much as we do. Many of our higher ed clients are actively seeking ways to reduce waste and promote sustainability on campus. Here are just a few of their green initiatives:

Fordham University

Increased sustainability energy sources by using on- and off- campus solar arrays.
Recycles more than 280,000 pounds of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal annually.

University’s Department of Transportation has converted its entire vehicle fleet of vans (50+) to biofuel.

University of Cincinnati

15 campus buildings are LEED-certified
Recently awarded $30K in grant funding from the Ohio EPA to build a connected landfill and recycling stations throughout their buildings, making it easier for people to recycle,
UC Sustainability Awards are given to students and staff/faculty with innovation, impact, practicality, inclusion and for building a culture of sustainability.

University of San Diego

Annual Earth Month features “Green Talks,” craft demonstrations on recycled home décor, a “Climate Conversations Camping Trip,” and an “Earth Plaza Palooza” Sustainability Fair, featuring environmentally friendly demonstrations, products, and activities.
Climate Action Dashboard tracks progress toward Climate Action Plan goals in greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, waste, education, and transportation.

University of Toronto

Elevate Earth Day Celebration is a free virtual event featuring five leading startup founders who will share how they are driving the world to a net-zero emissions future.

U of T named among Canada’s Greenest Employers eight years consecutively.
Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 37% by 2030.
Sustainability Citizen Program allows U of T students to receive official recognition for their sustainability related extracurricular activities.

Wake Forest University

Holds an annual Earth Month celebration from mid-March to late April with events including a plant-based burger tasting; seminar on landing a job in the environmental space; and an Earth Day fair with food, music, activities, and earth-friendly exhibitors.

Wayne State University

Office of Campus Sustainability provides a framework that guides environmental initiatives on campus.

Goals include reducing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, increasing sustainable food service practices including local sourcing, and increasing awareness of alternative transportation options.