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
Marine Debris & Plastic Source Reduction Toolkit for Colleges & Universities
- University of California, San Francisco (CA)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of California, San Diego (CA)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
EPA, the Product Stewardship Institute, and the University of California collaborated on this toolkit to help college campuses and other institutions cut their plastic waste and reduce marine debris and ...
- Posted Aug. 17, 2017
- Publications
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University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point Designated as the 40th Fair Trade University in the U.S.
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, part of a national initiative by Fair Trade Campaigns to engage college/university students in issues of global poverty, officially received designation as ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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McGill University’s Fairtrade Campus Commitment: Roddick Roast Coffee
- McGill University (QC)
- Fairtrade Canada (ON)
- The Canadian Fair Trade Network (BC)
In June 2013, McGill University was given the designation of Fair Trade Campus by the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN). This means that 100% of coffee sold on campus is ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Making Local, Healthy, Sustainable Delicious: The How-To Guide for Foodservice Operators
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
The How-To Guide for Foodservice Operators is a manual for restoring real food and regional food systems to the right place in our society. The guide documents UMass Dining’s ...
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Environmental and Economic Perspectives in the Analysis of Two Options for Hand Drying At an University Campus
Environmental criteria can be part of global energy policies for the establishment of support and development actions for different technologies. Minimization of greenhouse gas emissions is a benefit to all ...
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Publications
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University of California, Climate Lab, Video Series Episode Three: Why your old phones collect in a junk drawer of sadness
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
This is the third episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the ...
- Posted May 4, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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How Campus Solar Cuts Carbon and Boosts the Bottom Line
- Edison Energy (CA)
- Dallas College (TX)
Learning Outcome 1: Learn how to assess on campus solar potential Learning Outcome 2: Understand how to compare on-site and off-site approaches Learning Outcome 3: Gain insight on how to ...
- Posted April 25, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Large-Scale Renewables: The Next Chapter in Higher Education Sustainability Leadership
- Second Nature (MA)
- CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)
Higher education is uniquely positioned to both expand and benefit from climate leadership. Many universities and colleges have substantially stepped up their commitments and efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG ...
- Posted March 14, 2017
- Publications
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University of Chicago New Construction Procurement Case Study: Securing Your Investment in Sustainability
- University of Chicago (IL)
- Second Nature (MA)
- AASHE (PA)
- Seventhwave (WI)
Join AASHE and Second Nature for an in-depth look under the hood of the University of Chicago’s innovative procurement approach to establish a measurable energy performance requirement in their ...
- Posted March 7, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Assessing Supply Chain Emissions in Higher Education: Who, Why and How
- Portland Community College (OR)
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
The intent of this paper is to provide public and private sector professionals with a guidebook as to how to track and report on their supply chain-specific greenhouse gas emissions.
- Posted March 3, 2017
- Publications
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“I’m Just Going to Buy That!”: Confronting Consumerism in Teacher Education
- Nipissing University (ON)
As educators at a faculty of education, the authors found that teacher candidates (TCs) invariably purchased new materials whenever they had an assignment requiring some form of construction activity. They ...
- Posted Feb. 9, 2017
- Publications
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Green public procurement as an initiative for sustainable consumption. An exploratory study of Spanish public universities
- Universitat Politècnica de València (Valencia)
Green public procurement has been considered an important policy instrument on the path toward realizing sustainable consumption and production. Additionally, universities are important to the promotion of sustainable consumption through ...
- Posted Feb. 6, 2017
- Publications
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Real Food Assessment Tips
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
This document outlines helpful tips for identifying food and beverage products that meet the Real Food Standards, i.e. products that are fair, ecologically sound, humane, and/or local and ...
- Posted Dec. 12, 2016
- Tools
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Real Food Standards 2.0
- Real Food Challenge (MA)
The Real Food Standards are a comprehensive guide to socially and environmentally responsible food purchasing for universities, developed in deep collaboration with advisors and stakeholders - including 100+ farmers, ranchers, fishermen ...
- Posted Dec. 12, 2016
- Tools
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A Green Purchasing Policy Roadmap
- National Association of Educational Procurement (MD)
This document describes the results of a decision-making exercise conducted by attendees at NAEP's first Sustainability Institute in 2007. Groups of participants were asked to formulate a plan to ...
- Posted Dec. 12, 2016
- Publications
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2013 NAEP Green Purchasing Study
- National Association of Educational Procurement (MD)
This report describes the results of a 2013 survey of members of the National Association of Educational Procurement on green purchasing. Findings include:
- 47% of respondents have a formal a ...
- Posted Dec. 12, 2016
- Publications
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Greener Cleaning Playbook: A guide to help sports venue operators develop a greener cleaning program
- Green Sports Alliance (OR)
This Playbook is designed to help sports facilities reduce the health and environmental threats associated with cleaning sports venues. Beyond protecting health, the cleaning industry uses significant quantities of chemicals ...
- Posted Dec. 6, 2016
- Publications
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An overview of life cycle assessment (LCA) and research-based teaching in renewable and sustainable energy education
Engineers working as designers, managers and policy-makers play a key role in decision-making got sustainable energy solutions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a key decision-making and benchmarking tool used for ...
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Procurement Leaders Talk Sustainability: Strategies & Case Studies
- Emory University (GA)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)
Many sustainability goals - from climate change to zero-waste to water conservation to green dining - can be advanced cost-effectively with the strategic engagement of an institution's procurement professionals. But how ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Working with supply chain partners to achieve zero waste goals
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Many campuses are attempting to achieve zero waste goals, but are not able to overcome key challenges. Penn State has achieved zero waste in several sports venues by partnering with ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Getting it Done - Building a Team and Value Proposition for Large Scale Renewables - Part 2
- American University (DC)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)
This two part working session will help participants overcome two hurdles that have held back a wider adoption of large-scale renewable projects in the higher education: (1) establishing a team ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Getting it Done - Building a Team and Value Proposition for Large Scale Renewables - Part 1
- American University (DC)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- CustomerFirst Renewables (MD)
This two part working session will help participants overcome two hurdles that have held back a wider adoption of large-scale renewable projects in the higher education: (1) establishing a team ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Cultivating Regional Partnerships on Campus: Sourcing and Food Service for a Sustainable Mid-Atlantic Food System
- Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- Bon Appétit Management Company
- Common Market Philadelphia (PA)
How do colleges and universities successfully partner with sustainable producers, distributors, and food service management companies for a positive impact that goes beyond campus? Join a conversation among key players ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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This Changes Everything: a Sustainability Revolution in New Building Procurement
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (CO)
- Seventhwave (WI)
- dbHMS (IL)
Join the University of Chicago as we revolutionize how higher ed buildings are contracted, built and operated. This residence hall panel discussion shows how performance-based procurement drives institutional change by ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Fish in the Sea, Fish on the Plate - How college foodservice programs can help maintain ocean health and biodiversity
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (CA)
- National Aquarium (MD)
Fish and Seafood: Healthy, Sustainable and Confusing. Fish and seafood are among the healthiest and most sustainable protein choices we can make. But chosen poorly, eating fish and seafood also ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Purchasing: Walking (And Talking) the Walk
- Florida International University (FL)
- Green Seal (DC)
- 3M (MN)
Higher education institutions have long been leaders in sustainability but instituting and communicating sustainability can be a challenge. Effective collaboration with those beyond the campus who also serve institutions is ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Learn how to Launch a University Surplus Program and Start Making Real Money for Sustainability While Reducing Your Waste
- Drexel University (PA)
- Temple University (PA)
Universities invest in equipment and facilities to stay competitive. While these acquisitions are needed, much of the 'obsolete' equipment offers value to a secondary market. Nationally, universities are extracting value ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Lifecycle Management of Electronics from Procurement to Disposal
- EPEAT/Green Electronics Council (OR)
This session will introduce the new, comprehensive manual, The Lifecycle Management of Electronics from Procurement to Disposal, recently released by the Green Electronics Council and the National Association of Educational ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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From San Francisco Sea Salt to Mt Lassen Trout-- Serving Up Extreme Local Theme Meals in Resident Dining Halls
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
For the past 2 years, in celebration of food day and earth day, Cal Dining has hosted 'extreme local' theme meals in each of the four resident dining halls at ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Prize of Collaboration is Resilience. Universities Lead on Inter-Organizational Reuse of Surplus Assets and Equipment.
- GetWarpIt
This presentation explores a UK case study where Universities are leading on the sharing of surplus assets and collaborating with other Universities, Municipal Councils, Hospitals, schools and not-for-profits. This is ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Using the Social Cost of Carbon as an Ingredient to Minimize Life Cycle Cost and Carbon
- Miami University (OH)
Optimizing a campus's utility master plan to minimize its twenty-five year life cycle cost is one thing, but add the social cost of carbon to the mix and the ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Plastic-Free Campuses
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
From bottles and bags to polypropylene microbeads, we discuss tangible alternatives to single-use disposable plastics on a college or university campus. We use campus-specific programs to highlight success stories of ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Transferrable Student-Led Procurement Research: Partnering with Office Depot to Create Change at Willamette University
- Willamette University (OR)
- Office Depot, Inc. (TX)
The presenters discuss a student-led research project at Willamette University, transferrable to other universities buying supplies from Office Depot or similarly large suppliers that likely provide comprehensive data on institutional ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The secret life of one 'ice cube' and it's wasteful journey to your cup at the ballgame
- Eden's Song, LLC (GA)
Environmental efforts permeate every aspect of campus life. So it may surprise some to know that in one crucial area of vigorous waste efforts, a nasty little culprit has just ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Opening a Plant-forward, Farm-to-Fork cafe on the UC Berkeley campus
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Last semester, Cal Dining opened Brown's- a California Café on the UC Berkeley campus. Brown's opened with the goal of serving food that is delicious, nutrient- dense, and ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable Seafood Days: Working with Sea to Table to Grow Sustainable Seafood Purchasing at Appalachian State University
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- Sea to Table (NY)
Because Appalachian State University is a leader in sustainability, serving sustainable fish in our dining venues was something that Appalachian Food Services wanted to explore. We partnered with Sea to ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Campus Commitments to Local, Sustainable Food Procurement: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in Georgia
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
In recent years many colleges and universities have committed to increasing the proportion of locally sourced and sustainably produced food served on campus. My poster describes the results of an ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Greening the Supply and Purchasing Chain
- Chlorine Free Products Association (IL)
In today's world there are those who make claims about their sustainability based on an outdated data, inefficient process, or outright lies. Recently we all found out to what ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Partners in a Responsible Sourcing Strategy
- Aramark (PA)
Learn about Aramark's approach to responsible sourcing including how we engage with our suppliers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry alliances, clients and customers to develop and implement practices that guide ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Unlikely Partnerships Drive on the Ground Change; An Example From the Forest Products Industry for Managing a Key Supply Chain
- Domtar Corporation (SC)
- Rainforest Alliance
- Staples Business Advantage (MA)
Sustainable forestry has been prioritized in the Sustainable Development Goals as a critical component of climate change mitigation. Following COP21, it's clear that AASHE institutions and businesses have an ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Purchasing with a Purpose: Certified B Corporations and Higher Education
- B Lab (PA)
- World Centric (CA)
B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental responsibility. Today, there are more than 1,600 Certified B Corps ...
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student Affairs Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing and Event Coordination Webinar
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (OR)
- Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (OH)
- Portland State University (OR)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (DC)
- ACPA - College Student Educators International (DC)
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
This webinar features ideas and examples of how Student Affairs units have implemented green practices in purchasing and event coordination. It includes presentations from the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council and ...
- Posted Nov. 10, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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Greenhealth Cost of Ownership (GCO) Calculator
- Practice Greenhealth (VA)
Total cost of ownership (TCO) is a way for purchasers to assess all the costs associated with a product over its lifetime - from initial purchase through its use, maintenance, and ...
- Posted Sept. 21, 2016
- Tools
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Arizona State University's Help Center
- Arizona State University (AZ)
The ASU Help Center provides support to students, faculty and staff sustainably due to ASU’s Green Purchasing Policy. The Help Center uses personal computers that meet the IEEE 1680 ...
- Posted Sept. 15, 2016
- Photographs
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EcoPaper Toolkit for Purchasers
- Environmental Paper Network (ID)
The EcoPaper Toolkit is a straightforward, comprehensive resource to make it easier to implement a cost-effective, responsible paper policy at any sized institution. It is based on consensus criteria of ...
- Posted Sept. 14, 2016
- Tools
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NC State Students Champion Solar Installation
- North Carolina State University (NC)
In 2016, the Park Scholarships program celebrates its 20th year. Each class of Park Scholars chooses a legacy gift to leave the university, and the Class of 2015 chose to ...
- Posted Sept. 9, 2016
- Photographs
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Green Cleaning with Orbio Water
- University of Massachusetts Medical School (MA)
University of Massachusetts Medical School has taken an innovative approach to sustainable cleaning. Rather than purchasing traditional cleaning chemicals to clean floors and surfaces, UMMS has invested in floor scrubbers ...
- Posted Sept. 9, 2016
- Photographs
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Green cities and ivory towers: how do higher education sustainability initiatives shape millennials’ consumption practices?
- University of Michigan (MI)
College-educated millennials, motivated by a preference for vibrant, walkable neighborhoods with access to good public transportation, are helping to drive an economic resurgence in many American cities. At the same ...
- Posted Aug. 22, 2016
- Publications
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Water bottle ban a success; bottled beverage sales have plummeted
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
Sales of bottled beverages at Washington University in St. Louis have plummeted 39 percent since 2009, when the university became the first in the nation to ban the sale of ...
- Posted Aug. 19, 2016
- Publications
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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).
Purchasing Partners
7 Rivers Recycling
Onalaska, WIBusiness Affiliate
Balfour College Division
Austin, TXBusiness Affiliate
CustomerFirst Renewables
Gaithersburg, MDBusiness Affiliate
Dot Cup
Evanston, ILBusiness Affiliate
Ecomedes
San Francisco, CABusiness Affiliate
EPEAT/Green Electronics Council
Portland, ORBusiness Affiliate
Fair Labor Association
Washington, DCBusiness Affiliate
Green Seal
Washington, DCBusiness Affiliate
National Association of Educational Procurement
Columbia, MDOak Hall Cap & Gown
Salem, VABusiness Affiliate
Preserve
Waltham, MABusiness Affiliate
Rivanna Natural Designs
Richmond, VABusiness Affiliate
Sleep On Latex
Niles, ILBusiness Affiliate
Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council
Washington, DCBusiness Affiliate