Purchasing
Introduction
Collectively, institutions spend many billions of dollars on goods and services annually. Each purchasing decision represents an opportunity for institutions to choose environmentally and socially preferable products and services and support companies with strong commitments to sustainability.
Featured Resources
New Resources
Diverse Business Training Showcase hosted by Supplier Diversity Department for WashU buyers (detail)
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
St. Louis Anchor Action Network - The St. Louis Anchor Action Network (STLAAN) comprises organizations committed to reducing inequities through increased employment, health and wealth-building opportunities. The University of Missouri–St ...
- Posted Aug. 8, 2022
- Photographs
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Diverse Business Training Showcase hosted by Supplier Diversity Department for WashU buyers (overhead)
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
St. Louis Anchor Action Network - The St. Louis Anchor Action Network (STLAAN) comprises organizations committed to reducing inequities through increased employment, health and wealth-building opportunities. The University of Missouri–St ...
- Posted Aug. 8, 2022
- Photographs
- View more
Sustainable Catering@Penn
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
Sustainable Catering@Penn - A newly designed webpage at University of Pennsylvania provides search functionality for information about Penn’s Preferred Contract Caterers. Through Catering@Penn, users can now search for ...
- Posted Aug. 1, 2022
- Photographs
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Climate Impact Offset Charge (CLIO) for University of Pennsylvania Air Travel
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
As of July, 2021, the University of Pennsylvania enacted a University-wide travel sustainability policy that created the Climate Impact Offset (CLIO) charge to pay for projects that offset the carbon ...
- Posted May 19, 2022
- Case Studies
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A proposal of personal competencies for sustainable consumption
- Leuphana University of Lüneburg
Despite advances in Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE) scholarship and practice, ESE has not yet contributed to mitigate the sustainability-related problems it is meant to remedy. As part of an ...
- Posted May 11, 2022
- Publications
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Paper Steps on Campus
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
Campuses across North America play a pivotal role in creating and demonstrating successful sustainability programs to be emulated across society. When it comes to recycling of vital resources, which is ...
- Posted April 28, 2022
- Publications
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Atlas Zero Waste Certification as a Tool for Changemakers
- University of South Dakota (SD)
Atlas is a certification program that assesses campuses' progress toward zero waste. It looks at the whole materials management system, including purchasing, reusing, and discarding. The Atlas assessment will be ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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How Fair Trade Campuses are Collaborating to Amplify Their Impact
- University at Albany (NY)
- University of California, Riverside (CA)
- Fair Trade Colleges & Universities
Fair Trade Campaigns is a powerful grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of conscious consumers and Fair Trade advocates on campuses and in communities across the U.S. Our Fair Trade Colleges ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Influencing Sustainability Decision-Making: A "Simple" Triple Bottom Line Cost Benefit Analysis Tool
- Ohio University (OH)
Making the business case argument for sustainability initiatives can be the most difficult part of a sustainability leader's job. A group of faculty, staff and students at Ohio University ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Implementation of a Single-Use Plastics Ban: Navigating Contracts, Procurement, and Outreach
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
In 2020, the UC system passed a single-use plastics policy that aims to greatly reduce plastics on campuses and health systems. The policy went into effect in 2021, starting with ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Simplifying Sustainable Procurement: EPA's Recommendations of Standards and Ecolabels
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program harnesses the power of the over 650 billon dollar federal pocketbook to catalyze a more sustainable marketplace for all - reducing climate impacts, improving ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Expanding Sustainability: Using Food Procurement to Help Poultry Workers (through a new consortium)
- Georgetown University (DC)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of Michigan (MI)
Many colleges and universities are working on sustainable procurement goals, but how many of us have looked at social sustainability and the impact of our procurement on workers? During the ...
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
- Conference Presentations
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Food at the University of Michigan: A Report Developed for and Supported by the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality
- University of Michigan (MI)
This report was compiled during the academic year of 2019-2020 for the University of Michigan (U-M) President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality by the Food Internal Analysis Team. Through its ...
- Posted Nov. 17, 2021
- Publications
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Zero-Waste Philosophy Implementation at a University: Initial Steps in Addressing Student Perception
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (WI)
Zero waste is a conceptual philosophy that provides a holistic, sustainable approach to addressing and remedying the consequences of a throw-away mentality. The main goal of the zero-waste philosophy is ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Keys to Safer Disinfection in a COVID Environment
- University of Virginia (VA)
- Healthy Schools Campaign (IL)
Sustainability in higher education often follows a top-down approach, focusing on student enrichment and project-based solutions. What has been missing is the willingness to consider who has been left out ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Leveraging the Buying Power of Universities for Sustainable Procurement and Market Transformation
- Boston University (MA)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
College campuses are seeking to use purchasing power to drive sustainability goals, yet lack the leverage, as single institutions, to shift supplier behaviors. This session will begin with the compelling ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Using the Real Food Database in Food Procurement
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
What food products are Real? Which vendors are verified as fair, ecological, and/or humane? Now, institutions can find out through the Real Food Database! Compiled from years of research ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Who Made Your T-Shirt & Why Should You Care? What You Need to Know About University Ethical Sourcing
- Sumerra (OR)
You wear the same mascot-clad t-shirt to every home football game. It's a valuable good luck charm, but what value did the factory worker who made your t-shirt get ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Looking ahead to 2030: Updating the University of California Sustainable Food Policy
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
In 2009, the University of California (UC) developed a goal to meet 20% sustainable food by 2020, asking each UC campus to integrate sustainable food into their menus while remaining ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Product Selection and Design that Prioritize People and Planet
- Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (CA)
Green and healthy buildings require selecting products that are safe for humans and the environment. As we transition from our current take-make-waste linear systems into models that enable greater cycling ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Resilient Recycling- Build a Strong Recycling Program Against Market Forces and Beyond Good Behavior
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
Contamination, 'wish-cycling', and global market changes are shaking the very foundation of recycling. The barriers to recycling and zero-waste are not just in marketing & campus behavior, but rather they ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Innovation in Food System Funding - The New England Food Vision Prize for New England Campuses
- Sodexo USA (MD)
- Henry P. Kendall Foundation
In order to challenge and empower campus dining programs to become instruments of change in farm to institution, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation launched a new type of food system ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Achieving University Circularity in 2050
- Ayers Saint Gross (MD)
- CannonDesign (NY)
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation
It's 2050 and the world's civilizations have successfully implemented 100% recycled materials, 100% material waste diversion, 100% renewable energy-fueled systems and perpetual environmental regeneration. Within the design field ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Transforming Your Supply Chain for a Sustainable Future
- Aramark (PA)
- Better Food Foundation (DC)
- Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)
Developing a resilient food system is a crucial task for de-escalating and reversing the interrelated social and ecological crises unfolding as a result of industrial scale animal agriculture. Universities and ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Good Food, Good Data, Big Impact: Innovative Approaches to Capturing Farm to Institution Impact
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Interest in purchasing and serving local foods in campus dining continues to grow, but documenting and quantifying the benefits and impacts of these purchases, including for local producers, is challenging ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Just Transition: To a Circular Economy
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Moving from our current extractive economy to a regenerative economy is no longer a question of how but a question of how quickly'. Learn ways to help your institution transition ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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How the University of California is Evaluating the Sustainability of Supplier Supply Chains
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
What is the best way to measure the social and environmental sustainability of suppliers and their long supply chains that are located in and across multiple countries? This panel will ...
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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Comparison of Single-Use and Reusable Food Packaging Using a Life Cycle Assessment Approach
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
This report was prepared by students at Michigan Technological University as part of the Consumer Product Manufacturing and Green Campus Enterprises to illustrate life cycle and sustabnibility by comparing single-use ...
- Posted Oct. 22, 2021
- Publications
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Water Bottle Refill Station, McGill, Downtown Campus
- McGill University (QC)
As part of the 2019 Refill McGill campaign, the sale of water bottles was banned on campus. During the course of the campaign, over 30 water fountains were installed or ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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SCI 2021: University of Utah Geothermal Contract
- University of Utah (UT)
Long-Term 20 MW Geothermal Power Purchase and Rate Tariff Leadership: The long-term 20 MW Geothermal Power Purchase and Rate Tariff Leadership project began supplying the University of Utah with 20 ...
- Posted Aug. 30, 2021
- Photographs
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Managed Print Program at American University
- American University (DC)
SCI 2021 Feature: Ditching Desktop Printers
A campus-wide Managed Print Program at American University is streamlining the print process and reducing costs associated with energy usage and waste. Since this ...
- Posted Aug. 23, 2021
- Photographs
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Lehigh, Lafayette, Muhlenberg and Dickinson Join Forces for Unprecedented Renewable Energy Project
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Lehigh University (PA)
- Muhlenberg College (PA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
In February 2020, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Muhlenberg College and Dickinson College announced a partnership to purchase renewable energy as a collective. Together, the four schools will purchase the largest ...
- Posted July 15, 2021
- Publications
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Higher Education’s Crucial Role: Building a Sustainable and Circular Economy
- Barnard College (NY)
- Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (OH)
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
- Society for College and University Planning (MI)
- AASHE (PA)
- Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (IN)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
- U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
- Rheaply, Inc (IL)
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Join this webinar to learn how the circular economy* can help shape better procurement decisions and ways in which you manage your campus, facilities and supply of goods and services ...
- Posted July 1, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Closing Keynote Speaker George Bandy: AASHE 2013
- Interface, Inc (GA)
George Bandy, VIce President for Sustainability at Interface provides closing remarks at the AASHE 2013 Conference in Nashville, TN.
- Posted June 4, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Climate Friendly Cooling Pledge and New Regulations Affecting Universities: Opportunities and Implications
- Bard College (NY)
- Yale University (CT)
- AASHE (PA)
- Project Drawdown (CA)
- The Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (DC)
Action is needed now by college staff in facilities, EHS, sustainability, student life, business offices, auxiliary services, housing, dining, planning, and procurement. Changes within all these staff areas to manage ...
- Posted June 3, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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20 MW Solar Energy Purchase
- University of Utah (UT)
The University of Utah has made a PPA of 20 MW of off-site solar energy in Huntington, UT, set to begin delivery in early 2022. The University of Utah’s ...
- Posted May 25, 2021
- Case Studies
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20MW Geothermal Power Purchase
- University of Utah (UT)
The University of Utah, through a partnership with Cyrq Energy and Rocky Mountain Power, has made a groundbreaking geothermal energy purchase. This contract will supply the University of Utah with ...
- Posted May 25, 2021
- Case Studies
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What's in Your Paper? Organizational Fiber Consumption and the Purchasing Decisions that Drive it
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Institutions of higher education (HEI) today often pursue sustainability in a holistic manner, integrating sustainability into their day to day operations as well as their long-term strategic plans. One challenge ...
- Posted May 25, 2021
- Publications
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Durham Tech Break Free From Plastics
- Durham Technical Community College (NC)
- The Student PIRGs (OR)
Student leaders at Durham Tech Community College, worked with the Student PIRGs in NC to run and win a campus campaign to Break Free From Plastics in order to protect ...
- Posted May 21, 2021
- Case Studies
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How Brandeis reduced our food carbon footprint over 20% in its first sustainable dining program
- Brandeis University (MA)
This case study reviews how Brandeis harnessed the RFP and contracting process for a new dining vendor in 2019-2021 to make huge and first-ever strides in sustainability in our dining ...
- Posted May 18, 2021
- Case Studies
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Webinar: Cleaning for Health: Using Natural Aqueous Ozone as an Alternative to Traditional Cleaning Chemicals
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
- AASHE (PA)
Please join us for this informative, lively discussion on the benefits of using natural aqueous ozone to clean higher education facilities instead of traditional chemical-based cleaners. Three highly knowledgable presenters ...
- Posted April 29, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Behavioral Strategies To Ditch Desktop Printers
- AASHE (PA)
- Root Solutions (CA)
Replacing individual desktop printers with shared ‘multi-function’ printers (MFPs) is one of the most impactful ways campuses can reduce paper use. It also generates a suite of other benefits, including ...
- Posted March 26, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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SUNY New Paltz Pivots from Plastic Bottles to Aluminum Cans to Move Beyond Plastics
- State University of New York at New Paltz (NY)
In the fall of 2020, Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), which contracts on behalf of SUNY New Paltz for beverages to be distributed through vending machines and the dining services contractor ...
- Posted Feb. 24, 2021
- Case Studies
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3D Printer Safety: A Guide for Institutions of Higher Education to Support Indoor Air Quality & Human Health
- Chemical Insights (GA)
Thanks to the development of affordable, compact, and user-friendly 3D printers, consumer use is booming, particularly in institutions of higher education. 3D printers have become a valuable tool in classrooms ...
- Posted Jan. 28, 2021
- Tools
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Reducing Dining Emissions: An Analysis of Beef and Milk Substitutions
- Smith College (MA)
- AASHE (PA)
The life cycle of food is responsible for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through production, processing, distribution, and waste. The environmental impact of specific foods varies ...
- Posted Jan. 28, 2021
- Videos & Webinars
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Desktop Printer Removal and the Transition to Managed Multi-Function Printers: Benefits and Case Studies
- Root Solutions (CA)
This document was designed to introduce higher ed staff to the topic of printer consolidation, with an emphasis on the many sustainability and other benefits (especially cost savings) of replacing ...
- Posted Dec. 29, 2020
- Publications
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Urban and Metropolitan Universities: The Transformative Power of Anchor Institutions
- Democracy Collaborative (DC)
'Urban and Metropolitan Universities: The Transformative Power of Anchor Institutions' focuses on the role of urban and metropolitan universities as anchor institutions in their community to address long standing inequities ...
- Posted Oct. 23, 2020
- Publications
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Ontario Tech University - Solar Panels
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology (ON)
Ontario Tech University’s long-established reputation as a post-secondary leader in conservation and green community-building has achieved a Gold rating from AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS ...
- Posted Oct. 19, 2020
- Photographs
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Cal State East Bay Embraces System-wide Single-use Plastics Policy
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
The California State University system passed a new system-wide policy in 2019 that applies to all 23 CSU campuses in banning the institutional purchase of all single-use plastics. Plastic straws ...
- Posted Oct. 14, 2020
- Photographs
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community. Additional content and advanced benchmarking tools will be added to this tab over time.
Programs and Initiatives
The following links connect to specific Content Displays on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).
- Electronics purchasing policies, guidelines and directives
- Green cleaning product purchasing policies, guidelines and directives
- Paper purchasing policies, guidelines and directives
- Life Cycle Cost Analysis policies and practices
Scores
The following link connects to the Score Display on the STARS website (AASHE membership and log-in required).