South Bend Sustainability Office

09/03/2026

Join us tomorrow at Downtown South Bend's First Fridays to see the City of South Bend's new electric vehicle (among other EVs)!

Thanks to Michiana Area Council of Governments for organizing this event.

The EV Display event at South Bend's First Friday is this week, September 4, 2026!
Stop by from 5 - 7:30 pm in downtown South Bend to see a variety of plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles and talk to local electric vehicle drivers.

We appreciate all of the local vehicle drivers who volunteer their time to put on this educational event each year!
Please register if you are interested or would like to display your EV. https://driveelectricmonth.org/event-register?eventid=5368&t=educate

09/02/2026

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C remains a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement, yet under current policies and alternative near-term trajectories, exceedance of 1.5°C is now widely assessed as unavoidable.

09/02/2026

It was great to host River Montessori High School at Half-Moon Tree Nursery!

08/26/2026

Great training opportunity with St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District

🌊 Become a Hoosier Riverwatch Volunteer! 🌊

Interested in protecting Indiana’s waterways? Join us for an upcoming Hoosier Riverwatch Training, where you’ll learn how to monitor stream health, collect water quality data, and become part of a statewide effort to care for our rivers and streams.

Anyone can join! Hoosier Riverwatch is a citizen science program designed for educators, students, outdoor enthusiasts, and community members who want to make a difference.

To register visit https://www.stjosephswcd.org/events/hoosier-riverwatch-training.

08/26/2026

Super exciting!

08/06/2026

We are so grateful to our partners at St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District and Shirley Heinze Land Trust for leading this training for educators in our area!

07/30/2026

We're so glad to have Diana working with our office this summer! Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University Center for a Sustainable Future

Diana Zebroski has blazed her own unique trail to success at IU South Bend.

“I wanted to save the world in the first place, but I’ve learned through my studies that that’s obviously not possible,” she says. “What we can do is to make an impact in our own communities, so here I am."

After moving to the U.S. from the Netherlands as a teenager, Zebroski took an unconventional path to higher education, starting at IU South Bend at age 34. This December, she'll graduate with double majors in Sustainability Studies and Spanish while gaining hands-on experience with local environmental organizations as a McKinney Climate Fellow.

Read about Diana's story: https://news.iu.edu/southbend/live/news/51904-diana-zebroski-on-course-to-graduate-as-double

07/16/2026

Meet DeLo's Cafe, a family owned & operated business right here is South Bend. This mom-and-pop cafe is located inside the South Bend Farmer's Market where you can purchase freshly brewed coffee, bulk coffee beans, bulk loose-leaf teas, spices, popcorn, caramel apples, and more!

Purchasing whole coffee beans or loose-leaf tea is an excellent small step that can be taken to reduce plastic use in your daily life. When you wait to grind your coffee beans until you are ready to brew, you ensure freshness and the best flavor!

They're one of the local businesses featured in our Plastic, Reconsidered series, where we explore practical ways to reduce plastic in everyday life while supporting local businesses that make a positive impact in our community.

Read the article to learn more about DeLo's Cafe and how small changes at home can have a lasting effect.
https://medium.com/sustainsb/plastic-reconsidered-practical-kitchen-swaps-b7a6ec224240?sharedUserId=atharp_1262

07/15/2026

Meet Root + River Refillery Co., a grassroots, self-funded business, right here is South Bend! Founded by Allen Stenberg and Joel Lytle, they handcraft refillable household and personal care products from their home with one simple goal: reduce plastic waste, one refill at a time.

Every refill means one less single-use plastic container headed to a landfill. It's a simple change that adds up to a meaningful difference.

They're one of the local businesses featured in our Plastic, Reconsidered series, where we explore practical ways to reduce plastic in everyday life while supporting local businesses that make a positive impact in our community.

Read the article to learn more about Root & River Refillery, why refill systems matter, and how small changes at home can have a lasting effect.

https://medium.com/sustainsb/plastic-reconsidered-practical-kitchen-swaps-b7a6ec224240?sharedUserId=atharp_1262

07/14/2026

From food storage to cooking utensils, many everyday items can be replaced with simple, longer-lasting alternatives that reduce plastic waste and your exposure to microplastics.

Our latest Plastic, Reconsidered article explores practical kitchen swaps you can start making today with the help of local businesses.

Read the article here:
https://medium.com/sustainsb/plastic-reconsidered-practical-kitchen-swaps-b7a6ec224240