Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 61.51
Liaison Karen Eckert, Ph.D.
Submission Date March 5, 2021
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Principia College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 3.00 Karen Eckert, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
Center for Sustainability
"---" 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:

See OP-3 "Green Cleaning" (including the upload).

Also, Principia's General Contract Specifications include an ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION section stating, inter alia, that the "Contractor, its employees and agents shall:
• Comply strictly with all laws, ordinances, guidelines, recommendations, regulations and restrictions which have been issued by the manufacturer, distributor, or any local, state or federal governmental authority, pertaining to the use, handling, storage and disposal of all Chemical Substances (including without limitation pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, fertilizers, petroleum, and all other substances regulated under local, state or federal law, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations) brought onto Owner's property by Contractor, its employees or agents;
• Advise Owner in writing of all conditions arising or resulting from the activities of Contractor, its agents and employees, including without limitation the presence of Chemical Substances on, in or under Owner's property, which may create a risk of harm, injury, or damage of any kind to persons and/or property, including mature trees not approved for harm;
• Take all actions reasonably appropriate to eliminate (or where impracticable) reduce, minimize, limit and contain such risk, including without limitation posting of notices, restriction of access to affected areas, and use of alternative Chemical Substances; ..."


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
No

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

Our 2015 Green Electronics Purchasing Standard mandates that “Principia shall prioritize the purchase of electronic products that meet industry certifications intended to minimize negative impacts on ecological systems and human health and safety, while at the same time upholding financial and performance criteria.”

The Standard favors EPEAT® registered Computers & Displays (e.g., desktops, displays, notebooks, integrated desktop computers, workstation desktops, thin clients, tablet notebooks), Imaging Equipment (e.g., copiers, digital duplicators, fax machines, mailing machines, multifunction devices, printers, scanners), and Televisions, and ENERGY STAR® certified Appliances, and Electronic and Office Equipment for which EPEAT® certification is not available.

At end of life, all electronics are recycled or repurposed by MRC, a local R2 certified, zero landfill facility. See our recycling volumes at Zero Waste. See also OP-21.


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:

NOTE: In response to the AASHE peer-review, please note that we have no franchises, vending services, or concessions, and our "convenience store" (which is simply our College Store, which includes a few refrigerated coolers which largely stock vegan, organic, local, whole food or other sustainability-related fare) is adjoined to and managed by our in-house Dining Services. Our Green Dining Standard applies equally to the Store, so I feel like we can say YES here because we do have published criteria associated with food sold in our "convenience store." Those criteria were uploaded to OP-8.


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?:
No

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

In response to the AASHE peer-review, I'm revising this to "NO", but please let me keep this text so that it's "captured" by the audit and I don't lose track of it. Thanks!

Our Green Seal® certified MOKA toilet tissue is made from 100% recycled fiber (minimum 60% post-consumer material), reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 15% (vs 100% recycled white fiber tissue), and is made with water and energy efficient chlorine-free processes. TORK single draw paper towels (made from 100% recycled fiber, minimum 25% post-consumer fibers) save money and resources, are safer for our health and environment, and allow us to support companies that match our values.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:

From Steelcase classroom chairs and desks to nearly 10,000 square yards of carbon neutral flooring from Interface, the college prioritizes environmentally safe spaces. Environmentally friendly fabrics and furnishings in student residence houses offer low emission manufacturing, non-toxic durability, and sustainable component sourcing, including GreenGuard Certified laminates, FSC-certified wood, and high recycled content.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

This credit has been revised (and revisited a second time) in response to the AASHE peer-review.


This credit has been revised (and revisited a second time) in response to the AASHE peer-review.

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.