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
Reusable Goods Used at Student Run Coffee Shop
- Tufts University (MA)
The Sink, a student-run coffee shop, implements reusable dishware and fair trade coffee when serving beverages at the Tufts University campus center.
- Posted Sept. 7, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Acadia Receives Organic Campus Designation
- Acadia University (NS)
Acadia University receives its Organic Campus Certificate from the Canada Organic Trade Association making it the first university in Canada to earn the national designation.
- Posted Aug. 28, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
FRESH to Table: A Homegrown Dining Initiative
- Boston College (MA)
Boston College (BC) seeks to foster the ethical and personal formation of its students to prepare them for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society. In addition, as a ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
USC’s Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy
- University of Southern California (CA)
The University of Southern California (USC) established the Single-use Plastics Elimination – Beverage Bottles Policy in July 2022, prohibiting the purchase or use of single-use plastic beverage products across the university ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
USC Trojan Shop Local Initiative
- University of Southern California (CA)
Certainly, since the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and the pandemic years through recent months, the focus upon opportunities to close racial economic wealth gaps has heightened throughout Los ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Supplier Diversification program: Increasing procurement spending with diverse businesses
- Seattle University (WA)
Seattle University wants to lead a paradigm shift in how local, large institutions do business. The university specifically intends to address the gap between businesses in the local Black community ...
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Air Travel Offset Program
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
In 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 impacts ...
- Posted May 23, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Strategies to Decrease the Environmental Impact of Office Printing
- Clover Imaging Group (IL)
In this session, you will learn about the different kinds of office printer cartridges, their environmental impact, and how the sustainability footprint of imaging devices can be improved by implementing ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Understanding your University's Emissions from Purchasing and Investments (Scope 3)
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
- Persefoni (AZ)
This session will focus on providing universities information on understanding their own Scope 3 as it relates to their purchasing practices and supply chains. The panel will feature ASU to ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Student-Led Initiatives Increasing Sustainable Purchasing
- Butler University (IN)
- University of Oregon (OR)
The combined purchasing power of colleges and universities is staggering, touching on everything from pens to consultants to multi-million dollar buildings. Because of this consumer power, colleges and universities can ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Tackling Single-Use Plastics on Campus - What’s Working and What’s Not
- George Mason University (VA)
- National Wildlife Federation (VA)
Plastic pollution has been a problem for decades and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated it. A University of California, Santa Barbara, study concluded that between 2002 and 2015 the ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Using the STARS Electronics Purchasing Credit to Drive Safer Chemicals in IT
- TCO Certified (TX)
Learn how to use the STARS Electronics Purchasing Credit to drive safer chemical content in IT products! Electronics contain a number of chemicals and substances that are hazardous to people ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Lightning Talks: Campus Operations (Group 4)
- Rochester Institute of Technology (NY)
- State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (NY)
- Farm to Institution New England (VT)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to campus operations. The Lightning Talks are: Innovations in Sustainable Procurement: A Campus Green Purchasing Guide - This session introduces a ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Augsburg University’s Local Food Initiative: Student-Designed, Locally-Sourced
- Augsburg University (MN)
In 2020, Augsburg University’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship launched Augsburg Local, a campaign to leverage Augsburg University’s purchasing power to support local businesses. Purchasing at Augsburg ...
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Working Farms Fund: Partnership to Build a Sustainable Local Food System and Support a Diverse New Generation of Farmers
- Emory University (GA)
- The Conservation Fund (GA)
Emory University has partnering with the national non-profit The Conservation Fund (TCF) to support a diverse new generation of farmers in rural Georgia and help build the local food supply ...
- Posted May 16, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Specifying Residential Upholstered Furniture to Safeguard Human Health and Well-Being: A Toolkit for Reducing Fires and Chemical Risks
- Chemical Insights (GA)
This toolkit can be applied by sustainability professionals and procurement staff at higher education institutions looking to acquire environmentally sustainable and healthy furniture materials for residence halls and other campus ...
- Posted Jan. 31, 2023
- Tools
- View more
Webinar: Guidance for the Sustainable Procurement of Laboratory Supplies
- University of Georgia (GA)
- AASHE (PA)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
Laboratories often represent a “hot spot” within organizations for environmental waste, toxins, and even supply chain labor issues. Until now, comprehensive guidance wasn’t available for purchasers seeking to address ...
- Posted Dec. 2, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 11: Sustainable Procurement
- Institution-wide policies, guidelines or directives (upload)
- Institution-wide policies, guidelines or directives (description)
- LCCA policy and/or practices
- Published standards for chemically intensive products and services
- Published sustainability criteria for consumable office products
- Published standards for furniture and furnishings
- Published standards Information Technology (IT) and equipment
- Published standards for food service providers
- Published standards for garments and linens
- Published standards for professional service providers
- Published standards for transportation and fuels
- Sustainable procurement website URL
OP 12: Electronics Purchasing
OP 13: Cleaning & Janitorial Purchasing
- Percentage of expenditures on third party certified cleaning and janitorial products
- Website URL - cleaning & janitorial purchasing
OP 14: Office Paper Purchasing
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.