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University Commitment

The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ has a rich history of proactive care for the environment, which it works to instill in students. Currently, University buildings are designed to LEED certification standards and comply with state and federal energy codes. Other sustainable initiatives include retrofitting campus buildings with LED lighting, maintaining the 382-acre Sawmill Slough Preserve, operating two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, cultivating the Ogier Organic Gardens, and engaging in academic and community-based environmental programs through the Institute of Environmental Research and Education. In concert with supplier partners, the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Bookstore no longer uses plastic bags, the Osprey Café donates café leftovers to the local community in need, and sustainable purchasing options have been made on select supplier websites like unfpromos.com. This statement is set forth to enhance how we work and provide education.

Scope

This guideline applies to all items procured and contracts negotiated by the University. Sustainability is a comprehensive cycle involving purchase as well as use, disposal, and reuse of materials. The collaborative process of sustainability involves all employees, suppliers, and students.

The University realizes the economic, environmental, social, and ethical dynamics of sustainability. As such, the total cost of ownership, encompassing these impacts, shall set the standard for procurement.

Current Initiatives 

• Carbon commitment: The University strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with University procurement and operations, with the long-term goals of reaching carbon neutrality.
• Conservation: Protect the native flora and fauna in their natural communities while promoting biological diversity in the Sawmill Slough Preserve.
• Dining practices: The Osprey Café incorporates source reduction, food recovery and composting strategies to reduce waste to landfill. Other initiatives include tray-less dining, reusable to-go containers, plant-based options, and obtaining animal products from cage-free chickens, non-rBGH cows, and poultry raised with restricted use of additives.
• Energy efficiency via light-emitting diode (LED) lighting: The University has replaced incandescent lighting along all streets, parking lots, athletic fields, and the majority of buildings on campus with LEDs, reducing energy usage and saving on utility costs.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings: LEED certification is an international rating standard for buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The University constructed its last 11 buildings to comply with LEED certification requirements.,  The University continues to promote LEED certification standards in all new construction.
• Post-consumer paper: Contracted office supply supplier offers copy paper with 30% to 100% post-consumer content.
• Recycling: Recycling bins for mixed paper, plastics, and cans are available in every academic and office building across campus.
• Supplier management: Procurement Services meets annually with holders of higher-dollar, term contracts. Suppliers are asked to provide ‘green’ activity totals and industry updates.
• Water refill stations: Numerous water refill stations have been installed across campus to encourage the use of refillable bottles and cut down on plastic pollution.
• Paper reduction: Most personal printers on campus have been replaced with communal printers and electronic signatures have largely replaced the physical printing and signing of documents.

Future Opportunities

Three key commodity types for sustainable action are durable goods, ongoing consumables, and on-campus services. Durable goods are higher-cost-per-unit materials that are replaced infrequently and/or may require capital outlays to purchase. These products may include but are not limited to office equipment (such as computers, monitors, printers, copiers, fax machines), appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, water coolers), external power adaptors, televisions, and furniture. Ongoing consumables refer to low-cost-per-unit materials that are regularly used and replaced through the course of daily business operations. These products may include, but are not limited to printing and copying paper, notebooks, envelopes, business cards, sticky notes, paper clips, toner cartridges, and batteries. On-campus services including, but not limited to, landscaping, custodial, construction, maintenance, and transportation activities may involve the use of chemicals, machinery, materials, energy, and water. In buying for or servicing the University, consider:

• Energy efficient products use relatively less electricity, gas, or water when compared to similar products in the industry.
• Fair Trade is a third-party verified system of trade that provides better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
• Packaging includes plastics, paper, cardboard, and other materials used to ship product to campus, which the University aims to minimize in partnership with suppliers.
• Recycled content refers, but is not limited to post-consumer, salvaged, and renewable materials, which the University aims to maximize in partnership with suppliers.
• Toxins and pollutants may be minimized by selecting biodegradable, phosphate-free and citrus-based solvents when the quality of service will not be compromised by their use.
• Water may be conserved with the use of water efficient appliances, which may include, but are not limited to high performance fixtures such as toilets, low flow faucets and aerators.

Responsibility of Suppliers