American University
OP-12: Office Paper Purchasing

Part 1

Institution has an institution-wide stated preference to purchase recycled content office paper.  This can take the form of purchasing policies, guidelines, or directives to purchase recycled content office paper. Policies and directives adopted by entities of which the institution is part (e.g. state government or the university system) may count for this credit as long as the policies apply to and are followed by the institution. 

Part 2

Institution purchases recycled content office paper. 

This credit applies to all institutions. 

Each part of the credit is scored separately.  Institutions may earn points based on the percentage of office paper expenditures that are made with recycled content (Part 2), regardless of whether they earn points for having an institution-wide stated preference for purchasing such products (Part 1). 

Part 1

0.5 points are awarded for having an institution-wide stated preference to purchase recycled-content office paper. 

Part 2

Up to 1.5 points are awarded for purchasing recycled-content office paper. 

Institutions earn the maximum of 1.5 points available for this part of the credit by purchasing exclusively 100 percent, postconsumer, recycled content office paper.  Incremental points are available based on the percentage of recycled content paper purchased.  For example, if 50 percent of all paper purchased was 100 percent recycled-content, institutions would earn 0.75 points (half of the points available for this credit). 

Timeframe

Part 1

Report on current policies, directives, or guidelines.

Part 2

Report the most recent data available. 

Sampling and Data Standards

Part 1

Report on purchasing policies, directives or guidelines that apply to the entire institution. 

Part 2

Institutions may track purchases over a one-year time period or take a representative sample to determine the recycled content of office paper purchased.  When using a sample, institutions should strive to ensure that the sample recognizes seasonal and other variations that influence purchasing behavior.