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
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New Resources
Waste Management, Recycling, and Responsible Consumption
- Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Waste Management, Recycling, and Responsible Consumption
- Posted April 3, 2025
- Photographs
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Who's Afraid of Goods & Services? Prioritization in a Vast Scope 3 Category
- Yale University (CT)
Has your institution struggled with choosing which categories within “Purchased Goods and Services” and “Capital Goods” to focus your efforts on? This session aims to help you assess this, not …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Maximizing Resources: A Deep Dive into Surplus Management Strategies
- California State University, Sacramento (CA)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Explore the dynamic world of surplus property management in higher education with Laura and Lindsey as they present a comprehensive analysis of their initiatives at California State University, Sacramento, and …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Supplier Engagement: A Critical Step in Decarbonizing University Procurement
- Stanford University (CA)
This session will review Stanford's Climate-Friendly Supplier Engagement Program, which launched as a pilot in 2023 to collect precise sustainability data from top suppliers, develop supplier ratings using a detailed …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Tackling Scope 3 in any Universities Supply Chain
- American University (DC)
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Aramark (PA)
- Persefoni (AZ)
Scope 3 is a global blind spot for most universities, as well as most organizations. Scope 3 - Category 1 - Purchased Goods and Services - provides universities with a …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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So Local It Has an Accent: Vanderbilt University Campus Dining’s Local Suppliers Program
- Vanderbilt University (TN)
Vanderbilt University Campus Dining has long been a major advocate for increasing its local supplier purchasing. Officially beginning in 2010, VU Campus Dining has held partnerships with a wide variety …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
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The evolution of on-campus catering through single-use plastic reduction
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Aramark (PA)
Arizona State University (ASU), the largest public university in the United States, has reimagined its catering services to align with its ambitious sustainability goals. Anchored in service design methodology, this …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2025
- Case Studies
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The Seafood Shift: Making Tufts Dining More Sustainable
- Tufts University (MA)
Saskia Zimmerman, a Sustainable Solutions Fellow at Tufts University helped Tufts Dining find new ways to quantify their sustainable impact and further integrate sustainable food sourcing into their work. This …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
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TASTE Food: The Automated Scope 3 Tool for Tracking Emissions from Food
- Stanford University (CA)
TASTE Food was developed by Rebecca Grekin, a graduate student at Stanford University in the Benson Lab in the Energy Sciences Engineering department, as part of her Master’s work which …
- Posted Oct. 22, 2024
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Ontario Tech Purchasing Impact Data
- Ontario Tech University (ON)
Ontario Tech prioritizes sustainable purchasing choices by replacing aging fleet with electric vehicles and sustaining a Fairtrade campus.
- Posted July 16, 2024
- Photographs
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Introduction to Sustainable Procurement and a Strategic Program Approach
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
Become familiar with the basic definition and common approaches to purchasing more sustainable goods and services in your organization. Learn what it means to take a strategic program approach, begin …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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FRESH to Table: A Homegrown Dining Initiative
- Boston College (MA)
FRESH is a Boston College Dining Services (BCDS) initiative that stands for Fairly traded, Regional, Equitable, Sustainable, and Healthy. With these FRESH parameters, BCDS seeks to source food and food …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
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Just Purchasing Consortium: Networking and Mutual Education
- Georgetown University (DC)
Poultry processing is hazardous, horrific work. Processing lines move very fast, with some plants operating at a maximum speed of 175 birds per minute, and the working conditions are challenging …
- Posted Feb. 21, 2024
- Conference Presentations
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The Why and How Behind Aligning Your Institution’s Values With its Food Purchases
- Emory University (GA)
- Spelman College (GA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
- The Common Market
What is the impact of your purchases? Is your food service program taking steps to align its values—local sourcing, equity and diversity, climate, health, and beyond—with its purchases?
More and …
- Posted Oct. 19, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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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
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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
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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
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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 …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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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 typically takes …
- Posted May 17, 2023
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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
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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
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Webinar: Guidance for the Sustainable Procurement of Laboratory Supplies
- University of Georgia (GA)
- AASHE (MA)
- 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 these …
- Posted Dec. 2, 2022
- Videos & Webinars
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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
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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
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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 caterers based …
- 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
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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 has …
- Posted Jan. 21, 2022
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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
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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 work, …
- 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
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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 (AZ)
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 done …
- 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 in …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
- Conference Presentations
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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.
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.