| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.60 |
| Liaison | Megan Curtis-Murphy |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2023 |
Northeastern University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.75 / 3.00 |
Megan
Curtis-Murphy Director of Campus Sustainability & Engagement Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub |
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:
In 2016, Northeastern University adopted a Sustainable Practices and Operations Guideline to inform all University departments/units of the Institutional commitment to sustainability.
The Guideline includes guiding principles on purchasing:
• Institute practices that reduce waste by increasing product efficiency and effectiveness;
• Purchase products that minimize environmental impacts, toxins, pollution, and hazards to community safety to the greatest extent practical; and
• Prefer products that include recycled content, are durable and long-lasting, conserve energy and water, use agricultural fibers and residues, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use unbleached or alternative chlorine free agents, are lead-free and mercury-free, and use wood from sustainably harvested forests.
Sustainable Practices & Operations Guideline: https://facilities.northeastern.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/NU-Sustainable-Practices-Operations-Guidelines.pdf
The University's Procure to Pay Policy/Guide specifically advocates for minority owned (MBE), diverse ownership (DBE), veteran owned (VBE), and woman owned (WBE) enterprises for purchasing. Also included is our directive to utilize small locally owned businesses (SBLE) from the surrounding community whenever possible. The form template specifically asks for quotes from these enterprises when determining preferred vendors and contracts. Additionally, the University is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Pacesetter Program in which we commit to advancing minority owned business through our procurement processes and financial decision making.
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:
The university's Guidelines for Capital Project Design Implementation include a policy to perform Life Cycle Cost Analyses and Energy Modeling at all
contracted project delivery milestones.
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:
The Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub worked closely with the Facilities Procurement process to embed sustainability criteria into the new Custodial Services Maintenance Contract. The RFP includes language specifying preference for a “Totally Green Approach” in which only cleaning products specified on the Environmentally Preferable Products list would be used. In addition, the Contractor will be required to report annually on the sustainability of their cleaning products and operations including a list of total expenditures on all cleaning products and expenditures on environmentally preferable cleaning products. This will enable the university to report on the STARS category for “Cleaning and Janitorial Purchasing” in future years.
In addition, the Sustainable Practices and Operations Guidelines currently includes directives on “Toxins and Pollution” including a statement that “To the extent practical, no cleaning or disinfecting products (i.e. for janitorial or automotive use) shall contain ingredients that are carcinogens, mutagens, or teratogens. These include chemicals listed by the U.S. EPA or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on the Toxics Release Inventory.”
Similarly, the university’s Landscape Program follows Integrated Pest Management principles as an integrated framework for all landscaping decisions and turf management thus further reducing chemically intensive products and services on the university grounds.
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:
As stated in Section 3.8 of the Sustainable Practices & Operations Guide: To the greatest extent practical, Northeastern University shall not procure wood products such as lumber and paper that originate from forests harvested in an environmentally unsustainable manner. When possible, Northeastern University shall give preference to wood products that are certified to be sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system. The certification system shall include independent third-party audits, with standards equivalent to, or stricter than, those of the Forest Stewardship Council certification.
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:
Northeastern University has guidelines specifying a reduction in the toxins and pollutants used in furniture. The university shall use products with the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), highest recycled content, and low or no formaldehyde when purchasing materials such as paint, carpeting, adhesives, furniture and casework. In addition, the university shall restrict the purchase of products that use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) such as, but not limited to, office binders, furniture, flooring, and medical supplies whenever practical.
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:
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:
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:
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:
The goal of Northeastern’s supplier diversity program is to provide support to the University community in identifying and securing partnerships with small and minority -and women-owned businesses, and to assure compliance with applicable Federal & Senate SBC Guidance. We also regularly try to meet if not exceed the Inspector General’s and Attorney General’s suggested guidance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on procurement as reflected in M.G.L. 30B, M.G.L. 149, and MGL 30 39M and required by the Supplier Diversity Office for public agencies.
Departments should arrange for purchases in a manner that encourages participation from minority-owned business. Procurement Services is available to support you in this effort, as well as incorporating diverse suppliers within existing supplier contracts. Procurement Services is also available to assist with bids or quotes referencing any diverse supplier requirements, as well as suggestions for additional suppliers that may have not been looked at in the past.
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:
As stated in the Section 3.7 of the Sustainable Practices & Operations Guide: When replacing vehicles, Northeastern University shall consider less-polluting alternatives to diesel such as compressed natural gas, bio-based fuels, hybrids, electric batteries, and fuel cells, as available.
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:
Policy language on this submission is from the Sustainable Practices and Operations Guidelines which can be found on this website:
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/departments/capital-projects/
Policy language on this submission is from the Sustainable Practices and Operations Guidelines which can be found on this website:
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/departments/capital-projects/
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.