At Boise Sunrise, we take environmental sustainability seriously. A recent effort to quantify the carbon footprint associated with the weekly club meetings yielded some encouraging results. At those meetings, there are almost no single use items deployed associated with breakfast. Details like cloth napkins, washable plates and silverware and reusable coffee cups contribute to this result. Additionally, food gleaners come in at the latter part of the meeting and collect the leftover food to be distributed at local shelters so there is almost no food waste. Finally, almost all of the food is sourced locally and thus minimizing transportation costs and impacts.
These efforts have been recognized by our District 5400 peers and the club is now a known leader in this space. We will continue to look for ways to minimize our carbon footprint. Many members carpool, some ride bikes to the meeting in the warm months, and a number of members drive EVs as a way to bring down our environmental impact and promote sustainability in a conscious and tangible manner. We are pleased by this focus on sustainability and reduced carbon footprint and proud that the state of the art carbon modelling indicates that we are on an effective path towards that desired sustainability. The article below was shared with all of Rotary’s District 5400 clubs recently.
Want to make your Rotary Club more sustainable? District 5400’s Environmental Sustainability Action Team (ESAT) has a simple tool to measure and track your club’s carbon footprint. From food to transportation, you’ll see where your biggest emissions come from—and how to reduce them.
Boise Sunrise Club member John Lodal tested the tool and found the biggest impact came from breakfast (65%) and driving (24%). Thanks to reusable tableware and donations of leftover food to a local shelter, waste was reduced to under 1%—a model for other clubs.
There’s a lot we can do to build resilience and prepare for emergencies. ESAT leads efforts like the annual Idaho Youth Eco Film Contest and this year’s battery and e-waste collection drive.
Ready to take action with your club or share your own idea? To join ESAT’s monthly meetings email us at EsatRotary5400@gmail.com. Let’s build a more resilient future together.