Columbia University
OP-12: Office Paper Purchasing

Through the Staple’s University Agreement, departments at Columbia are urged to purchase 30% Recycled Paper. To support this initiative, Staple’s has priced the recycled paper at the same price as the 100% Virgin Paper. Purchasing receives a report from the University’s office supply vendor, which provides the majority of the photocopier paper utilized at Columbia. From this it can be determined what departments that continue to purchase non-recycled products. Overall, 40.2% of all purchases through Staples were recycled products over the last year. 68% of all contracted paper purchased was a minimum of 30% recycled content which is an improvement from only 35% of all paper in 2009. Columbia encourages departments to modify their procurement practice relative to papers that are environmentally favorable by: * On the Staple’s EWay for Columbia, the default paper option for purchase is 30% recycled paper. * Purchasing contacts departments appearing on the Staple’s report to encourage them to use recycled paper. * On the Staple’s page, within the Purchasing Guide, there is information on the front page highlighting the benefits of recycled paper. *New employees are informed of the benefit and price advantage of purchasing recycled content paper during new employee orientation.