Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.54
Liaison Elaine Durr
Submission Date Feb. 19, 2020

STARS v2.2

Elon University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 3.00 Elaine Durr
Senior Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
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Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
No

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
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A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:

Elon has a Green Cleaning Program that includes the following requirements under Cleaning Chemicals:
Cleaning chemicals must be Green Seal certified (Green Seal Industrial and Institutional Cleaners, GS-37 or Industrial and Institutional Floor-Care Products, GS-40), certified under the EcoLogo Program of Environmental Choice or have the EPA’s Safer Choice label (previously Design for the Environment, DfE).
If a particular product type is required and not available with the above certifications, then a product will be selected that is Green Seal recommended. If Green Seal recommended is not available, then a product will be selected that is “Environmentally Preferable” (GS-42) per Green Seal Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services.
Wherever possible, ready-to-use products shall be replaced with systems that can safely convert economical concentrations into ready-to-use solutions using reusable containers.
The use of disinfectants shall be minimized and used only when needed at primary contact points (i.e., bathroom sinks, toilets, etc.).
Hand soaps do not contain antimicrobial agents (e.g. Triclosan).

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines also have criteria for chemically intensive products and services in the Toxics and Pollution section:
•Choose cleaning chemicals that are Green Seal certified, certified under the EcoLogo Program of Environmental Choice or certified by the EPA’s Design for the Environment Formulator Program (DfE) when their use will not compromise quality of service.
•Phase out chlorofluorocarbon-containing refrigerants, solvents and similar products.
•Purchase products and equipment with no lead or mercury. For products containing lead or mercury, give preference to those with lower quantities of these metals and to vendors with established lead and mercury recovery programs.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines include the following:
•Purchase durable, as opposed to single use or disposable, items. Choose reusable, rechargeable or refillable products, where available.
•Purchase remanufactured goods or use refurbishing services. For example, purchase remanufactured toner cartridges and refurbish equipment and appliances, when feasible.
•Purchase products that contain recycled content and that are able to be reused or recycled. Give preference to products containing post-consumer recycled content such as paper and office supplies (paper clips, folders, labels, etc.).
•Choose energy efficient and low mercury lighting where such options exist for current fixtures and properly recycle all bulbs at the product’s end of life.
•Give preference to wood products such as lumber and paper that originate from forests harvested in an environmentally sustainable manner. Give preference to wood products that are certified to be sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines include the following:
•Purchase environmentally responsible and ergonomically designed furniture and furnishings including floor coverings and window treatments. Select products with verifiable third-party certification, when feasible.
•Purchase products with low or no amounts of VOCs and low or no amounts of formaldehyde, such as floor coverings, paints, adhesives, solvents, window treatments, furniture and casework.

The Sustainability Design Standards for Construction include sustainability criteria for products, including recycled content, local/regional materials and low-emitting materials.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:

The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines include the following:
•Purchase Energy Star products in all areas where such designations exist.
•Purchase electronics that are labeled Silver or higher under the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), when such a rating exists for the product.

The Energy Conservation Policy includes the following:
-Electronics (computers, display monmitors, televisions imaging equipment) and office equipment purchased with university funds are required to be ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Silver labeled when such designations exist for the product type purchased unless suitable justifications are approved by the Assistant Vice President for Technology/CIO and/or the Director of Purchasing.
-All new or replacement appliances purchased with university funds are required to be ENERGY STAR labeled unless specifically approved by the Director of Purchasing.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Elon University encourages the use of minority owned, women owned and small businesses by providing a list to faculty and staff of such businesses previously utilized by Elon on the Purchasing Department website.
Elon University purchases B10 bio-diesel and E10 unleaded fuel.


Elon University encourages the use of minority owned, women owned and small businesses by providing a list to faculty and staff of such businesses previously utilized by Elon on the Purchasing Department website.
Elon University purchases B10 bio-diesel and E10 unleaded fuel.

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.