Chatham University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Our Sustainable Procurement Guidelines will manage and minimize the environmental, social and economic impacts associated with Chatham University’s purchases of goods and services. Sustainable purchasing means making sure that our suppliers – and the products and services they supply – deliver value for money and generate benefits not only for the Chatham University community, but also for the environment, society, and the economy. Chatham University will address the impact of its procurement activities by committing to: • Integrate sustainability requirements into its practices for competitive procurement bidding, allowing suppliers that meet these requirements to earn additional evaluation points. • Request suppliers citing environmentally preferable purchasing to provide proper certification or detailed information on environmental or social claims. • Promote the maximization of the use of existing assets and resources (reduce, reuse and recycle). • Assure that end of life materials will be recyclable as much as possible. • Promote the specification and selection of products and services that damage the environment the least and have a positive impact on society and the economy. • Promote the use of ethical suppliers and ethical supply chains. • Assure that local, regional, SME and minority suppliers can compete for University business.

Other than the existing guidelines for purchasing, Chatham University requires an LCCA review in the current literature for energy-using products and systems for new buildings and renovations. Chatham University requires contractors to conduct LCCA for new buildings and renovations projects. Graduate students enrolled in the SUS516: Sustainable Decision Analysis class conduct an LCA for products used by the University as part of the class requirements.

In order to provide a healthier environment for the employees dealing directly with the cleaning products and for the Chatham community, and to minimize the environmental impact that cleaning products have the potential to cause, Chatham will maximize its use of environmentally preferable products. The use of Green Seal Certified products is preferred. (In this context, "preferred" means that if such a product exists, then it must be purchased over one that does not meet Green Seal Standards.) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) binders should be available in every building and updated every 3 years or whenever a new product will be used. In addition, the substances that can be used on all campus should follow the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, provided by the USDA. Chatham has a zero inorganic pesticides policy that forbids their use except in case of an active termite infestation or a wasp/hornet nest that is dangerously close to humans. In one of these cases, the list of products that are acceptable is limited, and no neo-nicotinoids are ever allowed under any circumstance. The products used for landscape management follow the same rules. Additionally, weed control and fertilization may not make use of synthetic substances. Chatham uses no permanent irrigation systems. Any short-term systems(for plantings, grass recovery, etc.) should consider the water efficiency policies and have low impact on Chatham’s water footprint.

Chatham University will minimize its campuses footprint by strategically making efficient use of the existing spaces. Sustainability must be incorporated into the comprehensive master plans and designs of new high performance buildings and installations. All renovated building spaces should meet at least LEED silver certification standards and new campus constructions must meet LEED Platinum requirements.

In accordance with our institutional mission of sustainability, Information Technology is committed to purchasing EPEAT Gold products whenever possible (in 2017 it represented 99% of all purchases). The IT sustainable procurement policy includes *requirements* to use Energy Star whenever available, and to preference EPEAT products for electronics once other requirements are met. (Note: "preference" in this context means that should such a product exist, it must be preferred over any other product not meeting the standard.) We are committed to purchasing Mac Laptops for first-year students as a policy. Fortunately Apple is now a participant in EPEAT and Energy Star.

Chatham University does not have franchises, concessions, etc. other than its dining services provider.

Chatham University's formal policy, negotiated as part of union contracts, allows the Trades, Housekeeping and Shuttle Drivers to choose their uniforms and they are reimbursed. University policy is to provide employees with several options from local companies that match their preferences and comfort level, and allow them to choose. We do not provide linens.

Part of our Sustainable Procurement Guidelines is to assure that local, regional, SME and minority suppliers can compete for University business. The Guideline also promotes the use of ethical suppliers and ethical supply chains.

Chatham University offers a free campus shuttle for students, faculty, and staff, between its campuses. In order to reduce the GHG emissions generated by the university fleet, Chatham has established that new vehicle purchases should be at least hybrids if such vehicles are available. In the case of shuttles, this is prohibitively expensive or almost impossible to find, so the policy requires that we purchase the most energy-efficient design that meets the requirements of the shuttle routes (25 passenger, 500 miles per day over highway and city, 6 days a week).

Chatham University purchases all its office paper from Office Depot. Our policy is to require employees to choose paper that is recycled. The purchasing website will switch any non-recycled choice to recycled automatically. Chatham's policy is to provide minimum 30% post-consumer recycled paper for all copy machines. For cleaning and janitorial supplies, Chatham's policy is to purchase 100% recycled content paper, Green Seal certified.

Chatham Sustainable Procurement states: All office material should be purchased from Office Depot website. Office Depot has its own Shades of Green program that classifies products according to their green attributes. When using Chatham login, employees do not have the option to purchase a conventional product if a greener option is available. Only LED bulbs should be used in all University properties. To-go containers provided by the cafeteria must be compostable (containers, cups, lids, straws, etc). At Eastside campus cafeteria, containers should be recyclable plastic #2, since the campus does not have compost bins. No water bottles may be sold or offered (in campus events) in the University since 2007.