| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.00 |
| Liaison | Ciannat Howett |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
Emory University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Kelly
Weisinger Director Office of Sustainability Initiatives |
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:
Supplier Code of Ethical Conduct - includes sustainability language and applies to all business partners at Emory University, more than 15,000. https://finance.emory.edu/home/_includes/documents/sections/procurement/sourcing/supplier-code-of-ethical-conduct.pdf
General Services Contract: in addition to minimum standards governing employee wages, benefits, and working conditions, it includes language on Emory's Supplier Diversity Initiative Program to increased access to minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned vendors; requirements related to Emory's Idling Reduction Policy; reporting requirements for use of conflict materials; and a prohibition on the purchase and use of neonicotinoid pesticides and herbicides.
Contracts with more than 50 employees at Emory must adhere to Emory's minimum rates of pay, and have minimum requirements for fringe benefits and nondiscrimination policies.
Contracts where labor is provided on Emory's campus include minimum requirements for workers compensation, insurance, and nondiscrimination.
Conflict Materials policy - applies to all Purchase Orders and Supply Contracts.
Coffee and Tea supplier contracts and all external campus catering contracts state Emory's preferences for certified organic, certified fair trade, and locally grown products, requirements for familiarity with Emory's Local and Sustainable Food Guidelines, and a ban on providing Styrofoam products as part of the service.
Purchase Order Terms and Conditions - includes a ban on supplier use of tobacco products on Emory's campus, reporting requirements for use of conflict materials, and a no idling policy on deliveries to Emory's campus.
The Finance and Procurement division has a directive to move more decision processes in procurement to a total costing model.
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:
Emory utilizes LCCA when estimating the Total Cost of Ownership of major equipment and products that use energy and water. This process incorporates future costs such as maintenance, replacement of parts, energy use and disposal, and evaluates them on the basis of Net Present Value. These decisions are made by experts in the Campus Services department, which is responsible for purchasing decisions for major energy and water using equipment for the entire University.
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:
Yes. Emory has banned the purchase and use of neonicotinoids as well as plants pre-treated with neonicotinoids, in accordance with its Pollinator Protection Policy. For the copy of the policy, please see https://sustainability.emory.edu/initiatives/grounds/
Emory's green cleaning manual includes the use of sustainable cleaning products and processes - http://www.campserv.emory.edu/fm/documents/greenclean.pdf.
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:
Yes. The internal purchasing system, Emory Express, conducts an automatic hard substitute for all office paper to tree free paper. For published statements, visit https://finance.emory.edu/home/procurement/sourcing/green-purchasing.html.
Emory's stationary contract requires all Emory stationary and business cards to use paper with 100% recycled content. For published statements, visit https://finance.emory.edu/home/procurement/sourcing/green-purchasing.html.
Most Emory publications are required to use paper with FSC certified content and/or 100% recycled content. This requirement is present in the contracts with publication suppliers.
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:
Emory’s Interiors department is responsible for the procurement and approval of furniture and furnishing in Emory buildings, and is housed in the Planning, Design, and Construction department is responsible for implementing Emory’s Design and Construction Standards. These published Standards use LEED best practices to influence the department’s procurement and approval of furniture and furnishings in its buildings. Emory’s Design and Construction Standards, linked in this report, state that all Emory projects, including major renovations, shall attempt to meet and exceed the requirements of the following LEED Materials and Resources Building Product Disclosure and Optimization Credits: Environmental Product Declarations, Sourcing of Raw Materials, and Materials Ingredients. Additionally, the Standards state that all doors utilized inside the building’s weather-vapor barrier must comply with VOC emissions criteria in the current LEED rating, and all composite wood products – including wood doors – must meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ATCM for formaldehyde requirements for ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) resins or contain no added formaldehyde (NAF).
Additionally, we think procedures pertaining to the removal and resale of Emory-owned property is relevant for this credit because Surplus Properties makes it possible for Emory departments and community members to purchase these resold items. All disposal of Emory property, including sale to another Emory department, sale to Emory faculty, staff, or students, the liquidation of the item(s), the salvage of items, or the disposal of property, must be completed through the Surplus Department. Emory Surplus supports the prudent disposition of surplus furniture, equipment and vehicles, which are property of Emory University, by facilitating the resale, liquidation, salvage or disposal of such items. Surplus Property is dedicated to Emory’s Sustainability Vision by supporting the resale of used Emory property, prolonging furniture life and decreasing our landfill waste.
Green Offices at Emory provides recommendations for purchasing certified sustainable furnishings. For a copy of the Green Offices at Emory Guidance Document, please see http://sustainability.emory.edu/programs/green-offices-at-emory/.
All contracts include Emory's Conflict Materials Policy. For a copy of Emory's Conflict Materials Policy, please see https://finance.emory.edu/home/_includes/documents/sections/procurement/sourcing/emory-university-terms-and-conditions-of-purchase-order-12-4-20191.pdf.
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:
Yes. All IT equipment must be EPEAT or Energy Star certified. This criteria is listed in Emory's contracts and RFPs, which are not public but are submitted to suppliers. https://finance.emory.edu/home/procurement/sourcing/green-purchasing.html
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:
All onsite food services must abide by Emory's Sustainable Food Purchasing Guidelines. Specifically, in the RFP for franchise, vending, and concessions food service subcontractors, the following language was included:
"Subcontractor will demonstrate a commitment to sustainability by using: (a) all pastured, certified humanely-raised shell eggs (the “Egg Commitment”) by August 15, 2017; and (b) using either Springer Mountain Chicken (the “Chicken Commitment”), or grass fed ground beef (the “Beef Commitment”), by August 15, 2017. Additionally, Subcontractor will comply with the Egg Commitment, the Chicken Commitment and the Beef Commitment by May 15, 2018."
For more information about Emory's food service sustainability, visit https://sustainability.emory.edu/initiatives/food-dining/.
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:
Yes. All suppliers of garments and promotional materials must be Fair Labor Association certified. Additionally, all purchases are evaluated using Emory's Sustainable Procurement Guidelines at https://finance.emory.edu/home/procurement/sourcing/green-purchasing.html.
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:
All professional services are subject to the sustainability language in Emory's General Services Contract: in addition to minimum standards governing employee wages, benefits, and working conditions, it includes language on Emory's Supplier Diversity Initiative Program to increased access to minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned vendors; requirements related to Emory's Idling Reduction Policy; reporting requirements for use of conflict materials; and a prohibition on the purchase and use of neonicotinoid pesticides and herbicides.
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:
All Emory shuttles use minimum B5 biofuel. https://sustainability.emory.edu/initiatives/transportation/.
Staples is required to make deliveries in hybrid vehicles and consolidate delivery trips. This criteria is present in the Staples contract and enforced during annual reviews.
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:
All information provide is up-to-date as of FY2019.
All information provide is up-to-date as of FY2019.
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.