Drexel University achieves Green Grounds Certification at the Silver level.

Drexel recognized by Re:wild Your Campus for efforts to reduce toxic pesticide use and improve sustainability of campus grounds

Drexel University recently received the Green Grounds Certification at the Silver level, awarded by advocacy group Re:wild Your Campus. This certification recognizes campuses that are eliminating the use of toxic pesticides, increasing organic land care, fostering biodiversity and promoting soil health. The awards at Silver level is recognition of Drexel's efforts to eliminate synthetic pesticide use on over 70% of campus.

“We created the Green Grounds Certification to incentivize schools to protect both the workers and student populations and highlight their commitment to biodiversity, proving that managing grounds without chemicals is practical and achievable,” said Mackenzie Feldman, co-director of Re:wild Your Campus. “We are working with schools across the nation to close the knowledge gap that exists when it comes to organic land care principles and implementation. This certification will help us recognize the work being done at Drexel and beyond to ditch synthetic pesticides and go organic.” 

The work towards this achievement began in 2022 when students began advocating for the Drexel grounds team to pilot organic land care. Last spring, after a year long organic trial on Drexel Park, Drexel announced that they would be phasing out synthetic herbicides and fertilizers across campus green spaces. Their evolving approach centers on improving soil health through organic amendments, bi-annual aeration and overseeding, and strategic irrigation to naturally outcompete weeds. A year after the announcement, Drexel sought recognition for these efforts through the Green Grounds Certification.

“I think it’s important to show that we are not just giving lip service when we show our acceptance of going organic but are holding ourselves accountable by certifying.  This seemed a good way to ‘make it official’ and keep us on track and in position to continue over the coming years as we look to recertify.” said Scott Dunham, Director of Grounds at Drexel University. 

In addition to eliminating synthetic pesticides on over 70% grounds, Drexel has committed to meeting several other criteria related to student collaboration, record keeping and using more sustainable products and equipment. Drexel has also committed to procuring new electric landscape maintenance equipment to begin phasing out those dependent on fossil fuels, and is reducing synthetic fertilizer use and transitioning to Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certified organic fertilizers. Drexel will also track and record fertilizer and pesticide usage, including the occasional use of more aggressive (but still organically based and OMRI-listed) herbicides, while eliminating glyphosate-based herbicides entirely.

The Green Grounds Certification has three levels in addition to Silver. To receive certification, Bronze level schools must manage 50% of campus managed area without synthetic pesticides, Silver level schools must manage 70% of campus managed area without synthetic pesticides, Gold level schools must manage 90% of campus managed area without synthetic pesticides, and Platinum schools must manage a fully organic campus without the use of any synthetic pesticides. Campuses must also meet other requirements which include submitting pesticide usage reports, notifying the campus community when pesticides are used and replacing fossil fuel-powered campus maintenance equipment with electric ones. The certification is currently available for institutions of education, including k-12 schools, and Re:wild Your Campus is working to expand the program to begin certifying hospitals, corporate campuses, hotels, places of worship, and beyond.

# # #

Re:wild Your Campus:
Founded by a group of passionate students, Re:wild Your Campus is transforming the land care paradigm and is on a mission to eliminate synthetic pesticides from all college campuses in the U.S. by 2030. Through working closely with campus administrators, groundskeepers, students, faculty, and local organizations, Re:wild Your Campus eliminates synthetic pesticides, implements organic land care, and increases biodiversity and native plants through education and projects tailored to each campus's unique needs and goals. Re:wild Your Campus is a fiscally sponsored project of Re:wild. Learn more at: rewildyourcampus.org/

Contact:
Sheina Crystal
Co-Director
Re:wild Your Campus
scrystal@rewild.org
202-469-2674