| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.21 |
| Liaison | Ann Drevno |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2020 |
Saint Mary's College of California
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 3.00 |
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:
“Purchasing is always a moral – and not simply economic – act. Hence the consumer has a specific social responsibility, which goes hand-in-hand with the social responsibility of the enterprise.”-Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas Veritate, 2009
SMC’s Sustainability Vision: In fidelity to our educational mission and Catholic principles, Saint Mary’s College is committed to leadership in fostering environmental literacy, modeling a culture of sustainability, and creating an equitable future for all of humankind in harmony with nature.
In concert with the College’s Strategic Plan, the sustainable purchasing policy follows our vision by supporting products and companies that exhibit industry-leading environmental and social practices.
Definition: Sustainable purchasing is the practice of purchasing products and services that have a reduced impact on the environment and human health, as compared to competing products or services with similar functions. Sustainable products benefit the local and global environment, improve human health, and often save money immediately or in the long-term.
Goal: Saint Mary’s College will balance environmental, social and fiscal responsibilities in making financially and environmentally sustainable purchasing decisions. We will strive to purchase products with the highest environmental and social standards within its respective industry provided that the products meet acceptable use and performance needs. Priority will be given to materials that:
Meet third-party sustainability standards. Examples include:
Green Seal® or EcoLogo® for cleaning products
FSC certified for wood or paper products
Energy Star® for appliances
WaterSense® for water efficient products
EPEAT® for electronic products
Fair Trade Certified for coffee, tea and chocolate
Exhibit qualities of Sustainable Products
Contain high percentages (≥30%) of post-/pre-consumer recycled content
Durable and/or reusable, as opposed to single use or disposable items
Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable
Highly energy-efficient
Recyclable or compostable at time of disposal
Made from raw materials that have been obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
Manufactured in an environmentally sound manner by companies with good environmental and labor track records.
Causing minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance
Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and or recyclable materials
Minimize transportation distances (produced locally) as well as campus deliveries
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/greening-our-campus/sustainable-purchasing-policy
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:
When buying new equipment and undertaking renovations, Saint Mary's evaluates the environmental costs associated with a product or activity by identifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment. Saint Mary's employs the "cradle-to-grave" framework when making decisions about energy and water use, which is why we recently overhauled our irrigation system to include highly efficient drip irrigation technology with a built-in weather station to reduce water consumption, and why Saint Mary's is currently a partner of Marin Clean Energy's Strategic Energy Management Program, which will help our College better understand the latest advances in LCCA best practices and incorporate them into our energy infrastructure and management.
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:
Priority will be given to materials that meet third-party sustainability standards, including: Green Seal® or EcoLogo® for cleaning products
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:
Priority will be given to office materials that meet third-party sustainability standards, including:
FSC certified for wood or paper products
Energy Star® for appliances
WaterSense® for water efficient products
EPEAT® for electronic products
Fair Trade Certified for coffee, tea and chocolate
Contain high percentages (≥30%) of post-/pre-consumer recycled content
Durable and/or reusable, as opposed to single use or disposable items
Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable
Highly energy-efficient
Recyclable or compostable at time of disposal
Made from raw materials that have been obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
Manufactured in an environmentally sound manner by companies with good environmental and labor track records.
Causing minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance
Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and or recyclable materials
Minimize transportation distances (produced locally) as well as campus deliveries
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:
Priority will be given to furniture that are
FSC certified for wood or paper products
Contain high percentages (≥30%) of post-/pre-consumer recycled content
Durable and/or reusable, as opposed to single use or disposable items
Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable
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:
IT Services prioritizes purchasing of EPEAT® products
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:
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:
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:
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.