Saint Joseph's College - ME
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

All degreasing agents, floor cleaners, hand soap, hand sanitizer, floor cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, and shampoos and body washes provided by the College will be UL EcoLogo, Green Seal, or U.S. EPA Safer Choice labeled (formerly Design for the Environment) certified. Laundry detergent used for athletics and campus life equipment will be EcoLogo certified. All carpet cleaning products purchased will meet Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) certification and and will obtained the CRI’s Seal of Approval (SOA), which certifies superior carpet cleaning products, equipment, and service providers. All vacuums will be CRI Certified Green Label, a certification ensuring low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions and improved indoor air quality based on the amount and size of dust particles the vacuum cleaner is able to collect. The College is phasing out the use of trash liners. The College will use bucketless mops, which decreases the amount of water used in the cleaning process. Exemptions from these Purchasing Principles: Disinfectants

Furniture: Furniture for all new construction projects and renovated areas and/or purchases will obtain Level certification or be Cradle to Cradle certified. Preference will be given to flame-retardant free furniture for fire safety purposes and to avoid the toxic chemicals. Individuals and departments are encouraged to purchase furniture that meets Level standards or Cradle to Cradle certification. Environmental Sustainability Considerations: Demonstrating Responsible Stewardship of Resources Commitment to purchasing and using products, supplies, and items that are third party certified for ... building supplies, furniture, and more

Electronics Products All of the following products will meet Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool EPEAT standards: Desk tops Laptops Printers TV Monitors will meet EPEAT silver standards; the College will explore EPEAT gold options once they are available on the market. The College leases its copiers, and will explore EPEAT Gold options when the new RFP process begins. When purchasing, SJC members will consider and prioritize the lifespan, functionality, and durability of a product (in addition to cost) in order to minimize waste and obsolescence of purchases.

Sustainability Vendor Code of Conduct This Sustainability Vendor Code of Conduct is a set of holistic sustainability (environmental, social, and economic) guidelines to consider when hiring vendors and partners in addition to the criterion of cost, function, and aesthetic. The College will ask about the following considerations when appropriate and relevant to the vendors’ industry, product, and/or service being delivered; these considerations apply to the business and its franchisees (if applicable). Guiding Considerations Across Environmental Sustainability, Social Justice, and Economic Viability Environmental Sustainability Considerations: Demonstrating Responsible Stewardship of Resources Sustainability is explicitly stated as a priority of the company/organization across its activities. Established corporate social responsibility program or initiative with transparent methods for regularly assessing and reporting on progress towards goals and implementation of policies. Adherence to a company-wide Climate Action and Sustainability Plan that is publicly available with a transparent reporting on progress towards goals and implementation of relevant policies. Explicit commitment to give preference to locally produced goods and services purchased from a local and independent business in order to strengthen the economic base of the community and minimize the externalities associated with products produced by large multinational corporations, such as emissions from transportation and extra materials used in packaging. Commitment to purchasing and using products, supplies, and items that are third party certified for cleaning products, equipment, paper products, building supplies, furniture, and more (such as alternative vehicles). Company tracks its greenhouse gas emissions, water intensity, and material waste Commitment to use resources responsibly: minimize waste, recycle materials, and divert waste from the landfill, use post consumer recycled materials in the production of finished products, use third party certified efficient equipment, technologies, materials, and supplies, reduce its resource footprint (carbon, water, energy, and waste) of their operations. Vendors are encouraged to provide evidence of their adherence to such recognized norms of environmental quality and performance.

Fleet: ...preference shall be given to acquiring fuel-efficient, alternatively fueled and low-emission vehicles that meet one or more of these criteria: Fuel efficiency: vehicles achieving at least 40 miles per gallon) or; Emissions: meeting the Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles (SULEV) or Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) standards; Battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles including passenger vehicles, golf carts and people movers; and Alternative fueled vehicles: powered by propane, compressed natural gas (CNG), E-85, hydrogen or biodiesel (blend of B20 or greater).

Paper Products The following paper products will meet Green Seal or UL EcoLogo certification: Toilet paper Napkins (purchased outside of Dining) Paper towels Tissues Stationery (envelopes and letterhead) will contain recycled content of 30%. Saint Joseph’s College bans use of virgin copy paper on campus and will purchase copy paper (sizes 8.5 x 11; 14; 12 x 17; and 12 x 18 inches) containing at least 50% recycled content. To accommodate the use of copy paper made from recycled content, the College will lease or purchase copiers or printers compatible with copy paper made from recycled content.

Landscape Management Products and Equipment: This section of the Purchasing Principles covers products and equipment for Pearson’s Town Farm, athletic fields, and the rest of campus grounds. Landscape Products The use of inorganic fertilizer is banned on the Farm and used on a limited basis on athletic fields only. Most fertilizer purchased and used will be certified organic and come from compost from farms/facilities in Maine. Turf paint which is low VOC and biodegradable is used on athletic fields is used on athletic fields. Turface for baseball fields: a clay product applied to the soil on the baseball field used to maintain adequate drainage (maintains moisture and cuts down on the pooling of water) and prevent injuries. The College will explore more sustainable alternatives to the following inorganic products currently used on athletic fields. Dimension pre-emergent: Crabgrass control Cool power or Trimec: Weed controls- (spot treatment only) Allectus: Grub preventative Fertilizers (19-0-6, 30-0-10, 18-0-5) all are at least 50% slow release products Cal Lime: Lime-Solu Seeds and Plants: The College has a stated preference for purchasing plants that meet the following criteria: Native to Maine and New England Noninvasive species Pollinator friendly Edible by humans and animals Drought tolerant or wet tolerant where appropriate Biodiverse species Landscape Equipment When purchasing tractors, snowblowers, pick-up trucks and hitches, and lawnmowers, the College will prioritize and give preference (when economically feasible) to those products that are fuel efficient, use alternative fuel sources, and/or are animal driven. Preferred Suppliers The following suppliers are “preferred” because they meet one or more of the following criteria: located within close proximity to the College, offer organic products, and/or are a small, family run, or alumnus/a owned business.