George Washington University
OP-12: Office Paper Purchasing

GW's Office of Sustainability and Procurement Department have partnered to implement a sustainable paper procurement initiative. Beginning in 2013, virgin (0% recycled content) paper was removed from iBuy, GW’s online system for ordering the university’s most commonly purchased products. Instead, users have the choice between paper comprised of 30%, 50% and 100% recycled fiber content. When GW personnel log in to its iBuy purchasing system, only those office and copy paper products with 30% or greater recycled content are available for purchase. The vast majority of all paper purchased at GW is made via iBuy. To help offices choose which paper is best for them, a balanced scorecard tool for paper purchasing has been created that provides users with additional information on environmental and social characteristics of paper processing so that the purchase decision can be made on sustainability attributes in addition to traditionally used price and quality dimensions. The scorecard evaluates paper products by economic, environmental and social factors, such as meeting fair labor standards.

This initiative directly impacts goals and targets set forth in The George Washington Ecosystems Enhancement Strategy, which was released November 2012. This Strategy calls for the university to source products that reduce the impact on biodiversity, climate and water. As a large urban university, GW purchases a significant volume of products to support its faculty, staff and student community. Sourcing raw material inputs, processing and manufacturing paper and transporting it to GW impacts natural, human and economic capital on a global scale. In addition to the sustainable paper procurement initiative, eco-friendly procurement strategies are targeted for electronics and water by 2015.