Kwantlen Polytechnic University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Overview of Procurement Services Sustainability Report: The above report was developed as a part of the initiatives by the Procurement Services Department of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) to integrate sustainability into the University’s Procurement Practice. Procurement Services strive towards improving sustainability initiatives and have released a Three Year Procurement Sustainability Strategy. The attached file (report) hosts the Three Year Procurement Sustainability Strategy. This report has been created as the first stepping stone for the progression towards Sustainable Procurement Practice. The objectives of this report are to:

1) Examine the extent to which KPU’s procurement decisions impact sustainable outcomes in procurement,

2) Disseminate and highlight current actions that yield positive outcomes with regards to sustainable procurement practices; and 

3) Summarize existing best practices and also focus on developing a strategy to partner with user departments to work collaboratively on this initiative. The strategy outlined in this report is still applicable and utilized in 2023.

Although no published sustainability criteria, KPU has fully integrated green cleaning products and energy reduction cleaning routine strategies for custodial services.

• KPU deploys paper use reduction strategies that include print release, monthly individual reporting, and overall consumption records (PaperCut) for individuals, departments, and enterprise wide data. This reduces the need for paper purchasing.


• The fleet of copiers and printers throughout the five campuses are all set to default double-sided printing to reduce paper consumption. Printers and copiers are placed strategically within KPU for more shared copiers and printers.


• Paper supplies that are purchased are sourced to contain recycled content and is from FSC-certified suppliers. As products with an increased percentage of recycled content come on the market, they are tested in KPU's Print Shop before implementing University-wide.


• KPU also purchases Sugar Sheet as an alternative source of paper. It is made from sugar cane fiber and is being purchased by the pallet for each Campus to stock and be used in all copiers in offices and classrooms.

Although KPU does not have published sustainability criteria, KPU has sustainable furniture selection approaches including reallocation of furnishings where appropriate.

• Computer equipment are EnergyStar certified


• KPU encourages the use of thin clients and laptops to replace computer desktops as an initiative to save energy


• Leased Multi-Function (Copier/Scanner) Equipment reduces technological waste through efficient deployment and recoverable equipment strategies. Common area, shared printer stations are used to reduce technological and energy needs.


• KPU’s IT’s laptop recycling program ensures appropriate recycling and repurposing of equipment through service contracts to reduce technological waste and promote re-use opportunities.

KPU utilizes sustainability criteria when selecting food service providers. The information below provides an example of the type of sustainability criteria used when selecting food service providers. Content is subject to change. The following criteria is one of several criteria categories used to determine the most appropriate food service provider for the university. This specific criteria focuses on the sub-categories "Supply Chain", "Disposal", "Innovation and Education", "Sustainable Design & Operations" and "Food Security": Food service providers are expected "to demonstrate how they have, or will, address sustainability issues in providing food services as these will become future key performance metrics. The submission should discuss their sustainability program detailing initiatives and procedures which they intend and commit to implement under this contract at a minimum addressing the following areas: 

• Supply Chain - How do you ensure that local, organic, community based and/or third party verified food are purchased whenever possible? Describe how your company will maintain minimum annual levels of local foods procurement as agreed upon between the successful proponents and the University. If appropriate, describe how food grown on University farms and beer brewed on campus will be incorporated into the food service operations.


• Disposal - Discuss how you will help the University minimize waste and maximize waste diversion. What type of containers or materials will be used for serving the various types of food products you are proposing? The University aspires to move towards a plastic-free Food Services operating model in the future - Discuss how you will help the University achieve this.


• Innovations and Education - Explain your company's educational initiatives around healthy eating, cooking, local food issues, fitness, collaboration with academic programs related to sustainable agriculture and food systems, working with student groups, and joint initiatives with related organizations. Indicate how your company is going to educate the University community on your waste diversion and energy reduction practices, Fair-Trade and/or other certified sustainable campus programs, what products are locally procured, etc.


• Sustainable Design and Operations - Demonstrate how your company will work in concert with the University to reduce energy, water, and waste impacts in food operations. State how your company addresses sustainability issues in food service for maximum environmental, social and economic impact. Discuss how would you track and/or measure, and report target results and success, which can be used by different authorities for reporting/comparing statistics (e.g., provincial KPI, comparing other institutions).


• Food Security - Explain your company's proposed program(s) and/or approach to help address food security issues at KPU."

Of the 11 open and restricted competitions above $75,000 in value that were posted on KPU’s procurement portal this fiscal year, 100% included environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in the selection process.