| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.97 |
| Liaison | Holly Andersen |
| Submission Date | May 13, 2021 |
Bennington College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.25 / 3.00 |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
Policies are being reviewed and implemented after our first round of AASHE STARS reporting.
Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
There are none presently.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Not yet. We are hoping to begin this implementation of this soon.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
Right now we are buying what we can afford, though reviewing alternatives.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
There is none now, though we are reviewing this.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
We are pivoting toward purchasing EPEAT Gold certified products when possible and they fit our needs. This is not always possible, though we are working on moving forward with this.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT POLICY - FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS
Bennington College is committed to serving locally sourced and sustainably produced food. Dining Services have developed relations with local farmers and producers by the dozens, including Northeast Family Farms, Black River Meats, Maplebrook Farm, Blythedale Farm, Earth Sky Time Community Farm, Vermont Fresh Pasta Company, and Bennington College's own Purple Carrot Farm. The College is committed to:
1. Composting all food scraps
2. Recycling fryer oil
3. Using recycled and recyclable containers and paper goods
4. Recycling cardboard, paper, glass, and plastic
5. Trayless dining to reduce thousands of gallons of water waste
6. Discontinuing the retail sale of bottled water keeping plastic out of our ecosystem
7. Eliminating straws, to-go containers, individual creamers, and many other single-use plastics from service
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
N/A
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
N/A
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
N/A
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.