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
Leveraging Institutional Buying Power for Sustainable Procurement: A Strategizing Session
- Boston University (MA)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
Many colleges and universities have separate conversations with the same suppliers. Imagine the impact we could have on the environment if higher ed coordinated sustainability requests of these companies and …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Outdoor Program Gear Purchasing: Applying Leave No Trace Ethics to Create a Circular Economy
- Auburn University (AL)
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This session will explore how outdoor programs can become more sustainable in regard to purchasing, maintenance, and transportation while effectively educating the student population on these topics. Presenters are two …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Improving Health in the Built Environment Through a Class-Based Approach to Chemicals of Concern
- Harvard University (MA)
- Center for Environmental Health
This panel introduces purchasers (and manufacturers) to the targeted chemical class-based approach to help provide clarity grounded in science about how to avoid the most common chemicals of concern in …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Can Buying Better Products Help Reverse Global Warming? Toward Circular, Carbon-Storing Procurement
- Interface, Inc (GA)
What does Procurement have to do with global warming? Research indicates that the embodied carbon (the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere from product supply chains, manufacturing and transport) purchased by …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Data-Driven Sustainability: How Universities Can Use Data to Make Ethical Licensing Decisions
- Sumerra (OR)
Poor working conditions at a factory in China that manufactures t-shirts bearing a university's logo aren't that university's problem, right? Wrong. Universities are increasingly called to account (in a very …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Turning Values Into Results: The Real Food Calculator and Real Food Procurement
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Through their purchasing power, institutions of higher education are in a position to create positive change in our food system that is currently dominated by industrial agriculture and exploitative, unsustainable …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Sustaining Local Producers Through University Purchasing
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Universities have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in their local economies by buying local. Through their large purchasing power in food procurement, universities can support a local food …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Local, Sustainable, Grassfed and Delicious: Harvest Table North Carolina Case Study
- Wake Forest University (NC)
- Changing Tastes (MA)
- Harvest Table Culinary Group (PA)
More than two decades of work to promote local, sustainable and real food in colleges has transformed what it means to succeed in foodservice. It's raised awareness of the carbon …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Going Beyond Local to Build Just and Sustainable Rural Economies
- University of Missouri (MO)
- Aramark (PA)
- Farm Forward (OR)
- Niman Ranch (CO)
Historically, the phrase 'sustainable food' focused exclusively on environmental impacts of food production, but to build a truly sustainable food system we must broaden the aperture to consider how the …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Supporting a Sustainable Economy Through Partnership With Local Food Hubs
- Gonzaga University (WA)
- Sodexo USA (MD)
- Puget Sound Food Hub (WA)
- LINC Foods (WA)
This session will showcase how to effectively collaborate with local producers to build a more sustainable economy through increased purchases of local products and to raise awareness about food systems …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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The Future of Real Food
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
The past ten years have seen a dramatic shift in real food purchasing on college and university campuses. Local food and sustainability are now common conversations in campus dining. Values …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Fair Trade Campus Advocacy for a Sustainable Economy
- Gonzaga University (WA)
- 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 Dec. 4, 2019
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Leveraging the Power of Institutional Purchasing to Create a Sustainable Economy through Fair Trade
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Aramark (PA)
- 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 Dec. 4, 2019
- Conference Presentations
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Broadening the Impact of Renewable Energy Purchases: A Case Study
- Low Impact Hydropower Institute (MA)
Current trends in the renewable energy market, particularly in the growing PPA procurement segment, have focused on energy usage and supporting new development. This limited focus has been directed primarily …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Lots of Watts: Building an Energy Cohort to Buy Big Renewables
- Lafayette College (PA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
As campuses face climate action targets, or seek to manage energy budgets, large-scale renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) have emerged as a practical and cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Easier Said Than Done: Developing a Replicable Framework for Implementing CAP's in Higher Ed
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
When beginning to execute a Climate Action Plan it becomes apparent that there isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' solution or a readily available replicable framework. Having to create your own tools can …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Student Governments as Platforms for Sustainability Efforts
- University of Denver (CO)
Many sustainability efforts on college campuses are student-driven, however, the majority of the students leading these efforts tend to be involved in sustainability-related organizations or employees of their university's sustainability …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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How 'Green' Can Green Cleaning Get? Strategies for Policy, Procurement, and Practice
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
- WAXIE Sanitary Supply (CA)
Waxie Sanitary Supply, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of California, Merced, are collaborating to build a more sustainable economy through green cleaning policies, procurement, and education. Implementing …
- Posted Dec. 4, 2019
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Turning the Page: A Behavior Change Toolkit for Reducing Paper Use
- Portland Community College (OR)
- AASHE (MA)
- Root Solutions (CA)
In 2017, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and Root Solutions, with funding from the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, created the Turning the Page …
- Posted Nov. 6, 2019
- Publications
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Turning the Page: A Behavior Change Toolkit for Reducing Paper Use
- AASHE (MA)
- Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
- Root Solutions (CA)
From 2017-2019, Root Solutions trained more than 20 higher education institutions in how to use behavioral insights to save paper. Based on real-world experiences at these institutions as well as …
- Posted Oct. 24, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Good Food Purchasing Program, University of Texas at Austin
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Good Food Purchasing Program - University of Texas at Austin is the first institution of higher education to participate in the Good Food Purchasing Program as a partner with the …
- Posted July 31, 2019
- Photographs
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RFQ for Large Scale Renewable Energy consultant
- Arizona State University (AZ)
This template will assist you in drafting a REquest for Qualifications for a consultant to assist in acquiring renewable energy via a Large Scale Renewable Energy (LSRE) project. Adapt at …
- Posted July 3, 2019
- Tools
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The Circular Economy Beneath Your Feet. Take Ownership of your Plastic Flooring Footprint.
- Interface, Inc (GA)
Colleges and universities around the world are committed to sustainability, climate change action and carbon footprint reduction. However, many of these same colleges and universities overlook two of the largest …
- Posted July 1, 2019
- Publications
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Those Wooden Shipping Pallets? Not So Innocent After All?
- AASHE (MA)
- Change the Pallet (OR)
Read about how cardboard pallet technology is the way of the future for its proven ability to reduce carbon emissions, waste, and worker injuries
- Posted May 20, 2019
- Publications
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UC Sustainable Procurement Program and Policy Overhaul
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
Purchasing departments, such as those of the University of California campuses, have embraced the responsibility and opportunity to leverage their purchasing power as a force for good. But assessing and …
- Posted May 20, 2019
- Case Studies
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Rheaply AxM: Making Assets Happy Again
- Rheaply, Inc (IL)
A one minute video depicting the state of resource management in academia, and how circular thinking can be applied to asset management with Rheaply's AxM.
Rheaply’s Asset Exchange Manager (AxM) …
- Posted May 20, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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A New Zero Waste Goal for Division 1 Football Games
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Lauren Lichterman, the Operations and Sustainability Coordinator for Intercollegiate Athletics at The University of Texas at Austin, is not one to stop and rest on her laurels. She used a …
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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The Good Store
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
- Prince George Public Interest Research Group (BC)
The Good Store is a low waste shop established on the UNBC campus to provide all members of the community with access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food options. The …
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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Fostering a Straw-Conscious University
- Boston University (MA)
Our initiative worked to make Boston University a straw-conscious environment.
Since most recycling facilities are not equipped with the proper machinery to recycle plastic straws, we focused our campaign on …
- Posted May 17, 2019
- Case Studies
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The Rise of H2Ottawa
- University of Ottawa (ON)
In 2010, the University of Ottawa (hereafter, UO) banned the sale of single-use water bottles. UO decided that the sale of this product ran contrary to their commitments to environmental, …
- Posted May 15, 2019
- Publications
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Recycolution Fashion Show
- California State University, East Bay (CA)
An Earth Week fashion show in partnership with Pioneers for H.O.P.E, raising awareness on the impacts of fast fashion, conscious consumerism, and resources for clothing needs. All outfits and clothing …
- Posted May 5, 2019
- Photographs
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Aggregating Higher Education Demand for Renewables
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
Cohorts of colleges and universities are aggregating energy loads to achieve economies of scale when sourcing renewable energy. This article highlights the benefits of this aggregated approach by examining several …
- Posted April 4, 2019
- Publications
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Impact of environmental knowledge and product quality on student attitude toward products with recycled/remanufactured content: Implications for environmental education and green manufacturing
- City University of Hong Kong
- University of Sheffield
- Monash University Malaysia
This study investigates the impact of environmental knowledge and perceived product quality on purchasing intention and purchasing behavior of recycled products: A4 paper, mobile phones and printers. The intent is …
- Posted March 31, 2019
- Publications
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Harvard's Challenge: Institutional Green Power
- Harvard University (MA)
This case study examines the options that Harvard University has for complying with one aspect of its Climate Action Plan, which was announced in February 2018. It specifically focuses on …
- Posted March 1, 2019
- Case Studies
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Campus Energy and Sustainability Podcast Episode 16: Reducing Waste and Increasing Reuse in Labs at Northwestern University
- Northwestern University (IL)
- Rheaply, Inc (IL)
Julie Cahillane, Sustainability Associate Director at Northwestern University and Dr. Garry Cooper, adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and CEO/Co-founder of Rheaply, Inc..
In this conversation, learn …
- Posted Feb. 14, 2019
- Videos & Webinars
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Green Supply Chain Professional Certificate
- Loyola Marymount University (CA)
The Certified Green Supply Chain Professional Online Training Program will give you the specialized knowledge to enable a company to achieve its environmental sustainability goals through global sourcing, materials management, …
- Posted Jan. 25, 2019
- Academic Programs
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University of Vermont Dining Services Vendor RFP
- University of Vermont (VT)
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Request for Proposals for the University of Vermont's dining services provider, specifying ways that the Real Food Challenge and other sustainability measures are to be incorporated into the vendor's services.
- Posted Jan. 11, 2019
- Tools
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Transitioning to Renewables
- Dallas County Community College District System Office (TX)
Each year, a transition to all-renewable sources of energy seems more feasible for colleges and universities. The Texas Higher Education Renewable Energy Consortium is a coalition of colleges committed to …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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The Real Impact of Real Food: 8 Ways Institutional Procurement is Building Real Food Economy
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
This report pulls from interviews of 50 Real Food vendors across the US detailing how commitments to purchasing Real Food has improved their livelihoods and the overall infrastructure for a …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Publications
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Reactions from AASHE 2018
- Rheaply, Inc (IL)
How do you confidently answer the question: "Do we have this already"?
Rheaply dives into the ways in which institutions can boost communication and save on procurement costs by connecting …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Publications
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A New Way to Benchmark your Sustainable Purchasing Program
- AASHE (MA)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
The members of the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council have collaborated to produce a Benchmarking System for evaluating the maturity of Sustainable Purchasing Programs. The new tool is being used by …
- Posted Nov. 8, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Sustainable Procurement: Strengthening the Voice of Sustainability When Partnering With Procurement
- New York University (NY)
Strengthening relations between sustainability and procurement is key to making far reaching impact university wide. NYU's Office of Sustainability has been working closely with the university's procurement department to develop …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Data-Driven Planning for Campus Materials Management - From Inputs Through Outputs
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
While the higher education sustainability field is grappling with materials management challenges, from procurement through waste operations, there are limited tools and processes for data-driven planning. University campuses yield the …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Lessons from Year 1 of Turning the Page on Campus Paper Use
- Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus (OR)
- Root Solutions (CA)
Join this session to learn about the experiences of the initial cohort and AASHE's Turning the Page on Campus Paper Use program. Organized in partnership with behavior change specialists at …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Raising the Bar - Updated Environmental & Social Criteria for EPEAT-Registered Computers/Displays
- Global Electronics Council (OR)
Product design has progressed, and EPEAT standards are progressing along with them. An update to the computer and display standard that large-scale purchasers have relied on to identify more sustainable …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Put Your Fork Where Your Ethics Are: Exploring Food Systems & Leveraging University Purchasing Power
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Do you support climate change? What about modern-day slavery? You don't have to answer that, the food that you buy already does. Worldwide, food is an essential commodity that goes …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Increasing Local Food Procurement at Ontario's 24 Colleges
- Mohawk College (ON)
Mohawk College executed an innovative project that proved that by sharing knowledge, resources, and solutions, together, colleges can work together to address systematic barriers to sustainability. The project, Increasing Local …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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The Dirt on Real/Good Food
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
- University of Calgary (AB)
- Sodexo USA (MD)
What makes food sustainable? As an institution how do we implement and report sustainable sourcing of food consumed on our campuses? The Good Food Challenge (Canada) and Real Food Challenge …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Researching and Purchasing Real Food on Campus
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
Our institutions of higher education have incredible purchasing power, with food budgets totaling approximately $5 billion. Instead of using their spending to support local and community-based, fair, ecologically sound, and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Raising the Bar Across North America: Tracking Sustainable Food Purchasing in Higher Education
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
- Meal Exchange (ON)
Across the United States, the Real Food Calculator has become a standard-setting tool for local and sustainable food procurement in higher education. This student-led research tool allows universities to assess …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- 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.