New Mexico State University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

We follow the Code of Ethics of UPPCC. NMSU's sustainability purchasing guidelines are found here: https://af.nmsu.edu/bpm/bpm-4/#46

Information and analysis are used to evaluate performance and drive future performance improvements. Of interest are the types of tools used (e.g., peer comparative data clarified and validated through benchmarking), and how the tools are used to enhance organizational performance. Various aspects of information include facilities inspections and audits, financial/expenditure reports, utility data, and other relevant measures and indicators. Our APPA "Award for Excellence" report that clarifies our Life Cycle Cost Analysis process is here: https://facilities.nmsu.edu/appa-award/appa-4/

Our Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office has many standards and criteria in regard to evaluating chemically intensive products. Since we are a research university we have many labs with chemicals and all labs work very closely with EHS. Our custodial services has a green cleaning policy and have written policy and contracts with green cleaning chemical companies. Our grounds department has an IPM policy that we use whenever possible. Part of that policy is a clear awareness of purchasing green landscape maintenance chemicals and products.

Our published policy is the Green Building Design Guidelines that the sustainability manager is currently writing. Even without the guidelines, the Facilities and Services Operations department along with the Project Design and Engineering group, have as policy the purchasing and use of green building materials whenever possible.

From our Sustainable Purchasing document: "NMSU will strive to purchase only ENERGY STAR® or EPEAT computers and appliances or those certified by the federal Energy Management Program as energy efficient." Website with all the necessary information for this credit: https://af.nmsu.edu/bpm/bpm-4/#46

As stated on our Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines, the purchase of garments and linens must meet the following criteria: products that: are durable, as opposed to single use or disposable items; are made of a majority recycled materials, maximizing post-consumer content; are non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable; are energy efficient in production and use; can be recycled; however if not recyclable, must be able to be disposed of safely; are made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner; are manufactured in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner by companies with good environmental and social practices; complies with ISO 14001 standards; cause minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance; are shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product) preferably made of recycled and/or recyclable materials; conserve natural resources; reduce the amount of water and energy during use and manufacturing; and reduce materials that are placed in landfills

We have a well-tested and successful program for evaluating professional services, particularly for selecting architects and engineers. Part of the selection criteria is asking their knowledge of sustainability and green buildings. From our Sustainable Purchasing website: "Request for Proposals may also request and encourage responses that bring forward ideas to promote sustainability and recycled products. Additionally, vendors will be asked to provide responses that consider, and deploy where practicable, the Energy Efficiency incentive programs of El Paso Electric Company and all other energy service providers and manufacturers. Vendors will be instructed to provide information on waste minimization, recycled content and recyclability of products and equipment. Evaluation criteria include an element to award points to responses that employ sustainability features." These are legal state-mandated forms and evaluation criteria. https://purchasing.nmsu.edu/

4.46 SUSTAINABILITY PURCHASING POLICY All university departments and offices that make purchases of goods and services or that contract with others to make purchases are encouraged to purchase and use of materials, products and services that best align with the University’s commitment to protect and enhance the environment. Sustainable purchasing is the practice of procuring goods and services that causes less harm to the environment and the procuring of products that are manufactured with more environmentally-friendly materials or which are produced with minimal impact to the environment. NMSU encourages suppliers to provide products and services to meet the environmental objectives of NMSU. NMSU will strive to purchase transportation products that: 1. Are durable, as opposed to single use or disposable items 2. Are made of a majority recycled materials, maximizing post-consumer content 3. Are non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable 4. Are energy efficient in production and use 5. Can be recycled; however if not recyclable, must be able to be disposed of safely 6. Are made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner 7. Are manufactured in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner by companies with good environmental and social practices 8. Complies with ISO 14001 standards 9. Cause minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance 10. Conserve natural resources 11. Reduce the amount of water and energy during use and manufacturing 12. Reduce materials that are placed in landfills Sustainable Products When determining whether a product is sustainable, the following will be considered: • Biobased • Biodegradable • Carcinogen-free • Chlorofluorocarbon free • “Heavy material” free (i.e. no lead, mercury, cadmium) • Made from renewable materials • Compostable • Low toxicity • Recycled content • Rechargeable (batteries and other items) • Reduced packaging • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions • Energy, resource and water efficient NMSU Purchasing will encourage sustainability initiatives and ask experts from University Departments and Office of Sustainability to assist in identifying and contributing to bid specifications that encourage sustainability products and services. Potential evaluation criteria when comparing bids and proposals for determining if a product or service has environmentally preferable attributes: • Internal mechanisms to show sustainability practices • Minimization of virgin material used in product or service life cycle • Maximization of recycled materials used in product or service life cycle • Reuse of existing products or material in product or service life cycle • Life cycle economics of products and services • Reduction of energy and fuel consumption • Durability and minimal maintenance requirements • Ultimate disposal of the product • Reduce transportation emissions NMSU's sustainability purchasing guidelines are found here: https://af.nmsu.edu/bpm/bpm-4/#46

4.46 SUSTAINABILITY PURCHASING All university departments and offices that make purchases of goods and services or that contract with others to make purchases are encouraged to purchase and use of materials, products and services that best align with the University’s commitment to protect and enhance the environment. Sustainable purchasing is the practice of procuring goods and services that causes less harm to the environment and the procuring of products that are manufactured with more environmentally-friendly materials or which are produced with minimal impact to the environment. NMSU encourages suppliers to provide products and services to meet the environmental objectives of NMSU. NMSU will strive to purchase wood and paper products that: 16. Are durable, as opposed to single use or disposable items 17. Are made of a majority recycled materials, maximizing post-consumer content 18. Are non-toxic or minimally toxic 19. Are energy efficient in production 20. Can be recycled; however if not recyclable, must be able to be disposed of safely 21. Are made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner 22. Are manufactured in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner by companies with good environmental and social practices 23. Complies with ISO 14001 standards 24. Cause minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance 25. Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product) preferably made of recycled and/or recyclable materials 26. Conserve natural resources 27. Reduce the amount of water and energy during manufacturing 28. Reduce materials that are placed in landfills 29. Meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification if products are wood or contain wood products Sustainable Products When determining whether a product is sustainable, the following will be considered: • Biobased • Biodegradable • Carcinogen-free • Chlorofluorocarbon free • “Heavy material” free (i.e. no lead, mercury, cadmium) • Made from renewable materials • Compostable • Low toxicity • Recycled content • Reduced packaging • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions • Energy, resource and water efficient NMSU Purchasing will encourage sustainability initiatives and ask experts from University Departments and Office of Sustainability to assist in identifying and contributing to bid specifications that encourage sustainability products and services. Request for Proposals may also request and encourage responses that bring forward ideas to promote sustainability and recycled products. Vendors will be instructed to provide information on waste minimization, recycled content and recyclability of products and equipment. Potential evaluation criteria when comparing bids and proposals for determining if a product has environmentally preferable attributes: • Internal mechanisms to show sustainability practices • Minimization of virgin material used in product or service life cycle • Maximization of recycled materials used in product or service life cycle • Reuse of existing products or material in product or service life cycle • Life cycle economics of products and services • Durability and minimal maintenance requirements • Ultimate disposal of the product • Reduce transportation emissions Please see the entire Sustainable Purchasing Policy here: https://af.nmsu.edu/bpm/bpm-4/#46

NMSU's sustainability purchasing guidelines are quite broad and cover most of the commodities we would be purchasing. Our Sustainable Purchasing guidelines are found here: https://af.nmsu.edu/bpm/bpm-4/#46