Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison V.S. (Raghu) Raghavan
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Mount Holyoke College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
-- Reporter Nancy Apple
Director
Environmental Health & Safety
"---" 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 commodity categories institution-wide?:
No

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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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 (e.g. building and facilities maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, landscaping and grounds maintenance)?:
Yes

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

Mount Holyoke College is committed to providing a safe, clean environment to the entire College community. We are also committed to implementing practices that are environmentally friendly and promote sustainability. This green cleaning policy is part of that commitment.

Benefits of Green Cleaning
Green Cleaning is a term that means cleaning in a manner that protects health

without harming the environment. Green cleaning has many potential benefits, including reducing exposure to toxic and highly irritating chemicals, reducing exposure to carcinogens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reducing dust and chemical allergens, and reducing the number of chemicals needed to maintain facilities. Other goals of green cleaning include reducing use of energy and water, promoting safety and training. These factors contribute to efficiency and financial savings.

Certifications
EcoLogo is North America’s largest, most respected environmental standard and certification mark. EcoLogo offers third party certification of environmentally preferable products and provides customers, public, corporate and consumer, with assurance that the products and services bearing the logo meet stringent standards of environmental leadership.
Green Seal is a non-profit organization that develops life cycle-based sustainability standards for products, services and companies and offers third-party certification for those that meet the criteria in the standard. Green Seal has been actively identifying and promoting sustainability in the marketplace, and helping organizations be greener in a real and effective way since 1989.

Purchasing
In accordance with the College’s commitment to sustainability, safety and the environment will be considered in making all purchases. The College preference is that all cleaning chemicals purchased will be Green Seal or EcoLogo-certified. When it is not feasible to use a Green Seal or EcoLogo-certified chemical, the least hazardous product possible will be selected.

Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed when new products are considered or if new cleaning procedures are implemented. The review will be conducted by the Manager of Cleaning Services to ensure that we are using the best possible practices, our cleaning program is having as little impact as possible and that we are providing the safest environment for all members of the College community.

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/ehs/green-cleaning-policy


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:

The College's Environmentally Responsible Building Guidelines include guidelines to support three materials and resources principles: (1) Use building materials that minimize the life cycle impact of those materials, (2) Minimize waste generation during the construction process and maximize reuse and recycling, (3) Create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/envsustainability/envguidelines


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) products and services (e.g. computers, imaging equipment, mobile phones, data centers and cloud services)?:
Yes

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

Mount Holyoke College is committed to using greener equipment and implementing practices that are environmentally friendly and promote sustainability. Our green computer purchasing policy is a reflection of that commitment. Benefits of Green Computers Green computers save electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent water pollution emissions, reduce use of toxic materials and reduce the need for disposal of hazardous waste.
Certifications
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is an easy-to-use, on-line tool
helping institutional purchasers select and compare computer desktops, laptops and monitors
based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT was developed using a grant by EPA and is
managed by the Green Electronics Council (GEC). It is dedicated to informing purchasers of
the environmental criteria of electronic products.
• EPEAT-registered computer products have reduced levels of cadmium, lead, and
mercury to better protect human health, and are easier to upgrade and recycle, in
addition to meeting the government's Energy Star guidelines for energy efficiency. By
buying EPEAT registered products, purchasers are significantly contributing to
reducing the environmental impacts of their computers.
• EPEAT products are measured against both required and optional criteria. A product
must meet all of the required criteria in its category to be added to the registry. It is
then rated Bronze (meets all required criteria), Silver (meets all required criteria, plus
50% of optional criteria) or Gold (meets all required criteria, plus 75% of optional
criteria), depending on how many of the optional criteria it meets.

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.
Department of Energy helping to protect the environment and save money through energy efficient products and practices.
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/sites/default/files/lits/docs/LITS_CRSS_120327.pdf


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:

Environmental and Sustainable Practices

Dining Services is committed to protecting our global and local resources and incorporating environmentally friendly and safe practices and sustainability into our dining program when operationally feasible. We are committed to providing students with healthy and nutritious food and managing our waste in a way that minimizes our impact on the environment.

Sustainability can be incorporated and achieved in many ways:

Sourcing locally grown products
Sourcing organically grown products
Sourcing responsibly grown or harvested products
Operating dining facilities in a way that:

Saves water and energy
Reduces packaging and recycles or composts everything from disposable dishware to food waste

https://www.mtholyoke.edu/dining/environmental_sustainable


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 services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels (e.g. travel, vehicles, delivery services, long haul transport, generator fuels, steam plants)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
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Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:

The College centrally purchases 30% recycled content paper for central duplication and department multi-function device paper from a preferred vendor. https://www.mtholyoke.edu/purchasing/copier


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating products and services in other commodity categories that the institution has determined to have significant sustainability impacts?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
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The website URL where information about the programs 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:
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