| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.00 |
| Liaison | Jessica Krejcik |
| Submission Date | Dec. 22, 2021 |
Concordia University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 3.00 |
Cassandra
Lamontagne Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
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:
Concordia has an institution-wide stated intent to support disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises and/or local community-base businesses. Concordia University is an institutional partner of the L'économie sociale, j'achète! (Social Economy, I Buy!) program of Le Conseil d’économie sociale de l’île de Montréal (CESIM) (Social Economy Council of the Island of Montreal).
As an institutional partner Concordia University has committed to:
- Recognize the socio-economic contribution of social economy enterprises to the dynamism of the Montreal community;
- Accept to participate in the development of purchasing from by the local social enterprise companies that are part of the program;
- Commit, in compliance with the laws, regulations and directives governing university purchases, to standards and rules for the award of contracts, to obtain more of the goods and services derived from the social economy.
The updated Procurement Policy CF0-20, which was approved by the Board of Governors on March 10, 2021 includes a section on sustainable procurement and social responsibility (s. 31-33).
31. Employees should take into account the guiding principles and commitments stated in the Sustainability Policy (BD-7) as related to their activities at the University, the whole in compliance with Public Procurement Laws.
32. Whenever engaging in Procurement activities, Employees are encouraged to favour the use and distribution of resources in an efficient, effective and ethical manner, support social rights extended to all people, encourage vendor diversity and leverage opportunities for the protection and preservation of the environment, the whole in compliance with Public Procurement Laws.
33. When it is in the best interests of the University to do so and when acceptable Goods and/or Services are readily available at competitive prices and comparable quality and service, the University will endeavour to procure Goods and/or Services from businesses with sustainable practices, businesses owned by members of Underrepresented Groups, local Vendors as well as small and medium-sized Vendors, the whole in compliance with University policies and procedures as well as with Public Procurement Laws.
See CFO-20 attached below.
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:
Life Cycle Cost Analysis is used by Facilities Management when evaluating energy- and water-related systems throughout the university.
Life cycle costs are carefully considered when replacing existing infrastructure and in the specifications of new projects. Elements such as energy use, training and maintenance requirements, physical durability and safety risks are all taken into account, when relevant.
For example, a recent cumulative lifecycle cost analysis was done for choosing appropriate air filters. This included taking into account the following aspects:
- Initial purchasing cost for each product
- Frequency of replacement of each type of products
- Frequency of cleaning of each type of products
- Average monthly energy cost of each type of products
A simulation and charts were created to show the real cost of each product over time.
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:
Through contractual obligations, Concordia's cleaning and janitorial contractor is obligated to use products that are made in Canada and environmentally-certified, such as: Eco Logo and Green Seal. All electrical appliances used by the cleaning and janitorial contractor must also be ENERGY STAR certified.
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:
Concordia's Print Store has a stated preference for FSC-certified papers and requires that all of our suppliers offer FSC-certified products and eco-alternatives. See The Print Store website for more details: https://www.concordia.ca/print/store.html
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:
In the Concordia University Property Management Standards 3.0, it is stated that the chemical composition and VOC content of paints and interior coverings need to conform to GS-11 and GC-03 Green Seal norms. In addition, materials, products and equipment chosen and used for renovation projects or construction should comply with best practices in sustainability, contain recycled content and be low-VOC.
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:
VPS-32 Policy on Computer Provisioning in the section on Procurement Guidelines, article 13. "Global request for proposals related to standard computers provisioning must include an EPEAT Gold rating in the technical specifications and a preference for manufacturers who strive to use conflict-free minerals for their components."
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:
Concordia University's contract with its food service provider Aramark includes ambitious local sourcing requirements, which include:
• 75% of local fruits and vegetables in the summer months, 50% in the fall and 25% in the winter/spring seasons (with exception to citrus)
• Reasonable efforts to purchase local frozen fruits and vegetables
• Reasonable efforts to purchase soy-based products produced or processed locally
• Free-run shell eggs only
• Canadian dairy products only
• Poultry: 15% raised in Quebec and 3% organic
• Pork: 70% grown in Quebec (with exception of processed pork products)
• Beef: Canadian beef only and 15% grown in Quebec
• Seafood: 90% certified sustainable seafood and No seafood that is on the red list of the Union for Conservation of Nature (UFCN) or any similar organization
• 90% of coffee and tea has to be Fairtrade certified. Generic coffee will not be accepted in non-franchise outlets
• Reasonable efforts to purchase organic products
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:
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:
Concordia University is an institutional partner of the L'économie sociale, j'achète! (Social Economy, I Buy!) program of Le Conseil d’économie sociale de l’île de Montréal (CESIM) (Social Economy Council of the Island of Montreal).
As an institutional partner Concordia University has committed to:
- Recognize the socio-economic contribution of social economy enterprises to the dynamism of the Montreal community;
- Accept to participate in the development of purchasing from by the local social enterprise companies that are part of the program;
- Commit, in compliance with the laws, regulations and directives governing university purchases, to standards and rules for the award of contracts, to obtain more of the goods and services derived from the social economy.
The new Procurement Policy CF0-20, which was approved by the Board of Governors on March 10, 2021 in section 33.
33. When it is in the best interests of the University to do so and when acceptable Goods and/or Services are readily available at competitive prices and comparable quality and service, the University will endeavour to procure Goods and/or Services from businesses with sustainable practices, businesses owned by members of Underrepresented Groups, local Vendors as well as small and medium-sized Vendors, the whole in compliance with University policies and procedures as well as with Public Procurement Laws.
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:
Concordia has a shuttle bus that connects its two campuses. In the contract for the shuttle bus, it is stated that B20 biodiesel should always be used for fuel except when not recommended by shuttle bus manufacturer due to unfavourable weather conditions.
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.