Before the idea of UWSP was conceived, students who were interested in campaigning for the environment at UW became members of the Student WATgreen Network. This network was associated with an Environment and Resource Studies course, Greening the Campus, and with the WATgreen Advisory Committee, which functioned as an administrative environmental committee with representation from staff, students and members of all faculties. In 1998, the Student WATgreen Network became the Federation of Students -- (Feds) Environment Commission. Housing the network under the student government helped to ensure its continuity.

Further changes were to come following the 2000 SYC Sustainable Campuses National Conference held at the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University. Environment Commission volunteers who attended came back wanting to model the University of Victoria Sustainability Project at UW. In 2002, they acquired office space with the support of the Waterloo Environmental Studies Endowment Fund. The Environment Commission now had office space full of environmental resources for students to access. The office was known as the University of Waterloo Sustainability Project.

UWSP became very active and garnered many volunteers. Following the Feds -- AGM in the winter term of 2004, a decision was made to eliminate the Environment Commission and completely replace it with UWSP as a Feds service. The difference meant a secured annual budget for UWSP. Its volunteers had already hosted the 2002 SYC conference and a number of other events promoting sustainability at UW. Becoming a Feds service has only allowed UWSP to further advance sustainability at UW.