Seattle University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

(1) Environmental Purchasing Guidelines: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/procurement-services/Environmental-Purchasing-Guidelines-Updtd-2009.pdf

(2) Anti-Sweatshop Policy: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/procurement-services/Anti-Sweatshop-Policy.pdf

(3) Vendor Code of Conduct: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/procurement-services/Vendor-Code-of-Conduct.pdf

When evaluating any sustainability projects, SU performs an LCCA by taking into account the material costs, labor costs, operational and maintenance costs, and the life of the project. We then determine the total cost over the life of the project for each option, and select the project that is most cost-effective over its life. SU also applies for any utility incentives or rebates to support existing sustainability projects and fund future sustainability projects.

--CLEANING AND JANITORIAL PRODUCTS: Seattle University shall select cleaning products that meet Green Seal certification requirements. All newly-purchased powered janitorial equipment shall meet the criteria listed in GS-42, Green Seal Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services, First Edition, September 1, 2006 and all future editions.
See: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/facilities-services/files/services/buildingmaintenance/GuidelinesforGreenCleaning-May-2009.pdf

--LANDSCAPING: 94% of SU's grounds is managed in accordance with an organic program; 6% is inorganic allowing some synthetic fertilizer for natural turf soccer field. The shift to sustainable landscape practices began in 1979 with the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. SU’s IPM program differs from many others in that chemical pesticide applications are not considered a viable last option. SU uses a combination of methods that focus on total plant health, particularly at the soil level, to maintain our grounds.
See SU's IPM policy: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/grounds-and-landscaping/philosophy-and-practices-/IPM-Policy.pdf

--BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES MAINTENANCE: SU's Interim Procurement Policy continues to govern health, safety and environmental affairs reviews and approval through the Chemical Hygiene and Biosafety Officer. ProcureSU—the university's e-procurement system—is also used as a safety management tool to provide access to Safety Data Sheets and Pathogen Safety Data Sheets at the time of purchase.
(for reference: Procurement Reviews by the Chemical Hygiene Officer
2018-298 reviews/approvals
2019 1,135 reviews/approvals
2020 YTD 992 reviews/approvals)

SU is a member of CSHEMA (Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association); this is a membership organization for enhancing health & Safety and Regulatory compliance within the higher education sector. SU is committed to building, and maintaining environmental health programs using the Small College and Universities Complete Environmental Health & Safety Program guidelines, http://www.cshema.org/

--SERVICE PROVIDERS: see SeattleU’s Vendor Code of Conduct: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/procurement-services/Vendor-Code-of-Conduct.pdf

SeattleU’s Vendor Code of Conduct expects the following Environmental Practices from all university vendors:
• All suppliers to Seattle University shall comply with all environmental laws and regulations applicable to their operations worldwide. Such compliance shall include, among other things, the following items: Obtaining and maintaining environmental permits and timely filing of required reports; Proper handling and disposition of hazardous materials; Monitoring, controlling and treating discharges generated from operations

SeattleU’s Vendor Code of Conduct expects the following Occupational Health and Safety Practices:
• All suppliers to Seattle University are expected to provide their employees with a safe and healthy working environment in order to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of the supplier. Suppliers shall, among other things, provide: Occupational health and safety training; A system for injury and illness reporting; Medical treatment and/or compensation to injured/ill workers arising as a result of working for supplier; Machine safeguarding and other protective measures to prevent injuries/illnesses to workers; Clean and safe facilities.

--PAPER: Managed Print Services (MPS) has recently instituted two important initiatives to reduce Seattle University’s environmental footprint and realize cost savings:
• Effective Sept. 28, Managed Print Services now defaults to duplex printing. All printing is double-sided unless manually changed.
• Beginning with FY21, MPS has moved from 30 percent recycled paper to 100 percent recycled paper.
With the exception of the law school, MPS is utilized by all areas of SU.
https://www.seattleu.edu/its/support/guides/printing/

--LIGHTS: LED lights are used for all indoor lighting at SU unless an LED product is not available for a specific application or cannot meet our needs.

--CAMPUS STORE sustainability statement: The largest contribution to sustainability we practice is the buying and selling of Used Books. One of every three books sold is a used book. Some textbooks are bought and sold and re-sold up to ten times. Ring binders sold in the Campus Store are made of recycled vinyl. Filler paper, spiral notebooks, index cards, and greeting cards are all made from recycled products. All store shopping bags are made from recycled materials and we offer re-useable recycled shopping bags as well.
See: https://www.seattleu.edu/campus-store/sustainability/

RFP’s for furniture and furnishings that go out to vendors state the following preferences:

1. Materials that meet or exceed the latest version of the USGBC’s LEED rating system GOLD level or better

2. Recycled-content, refurbished, or salvaged materials such as building textures, ceramic tiles, drywall, insulation, concrete, composite lumber or wood, roofing, flooring, cabinets, ceiling tile, and interior paneling.

3. Carpet, carpet underpad, or flooring made from recycled content

4. The use of materials, systems, and methods with life cycles (manufacture, installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement) with reduced environmental impacts. Considerations shall include energy efficiency, energy required in the manufacturing process, life cycle duration, and maintenance and replacement costs.

5. Furniture and furnishings that is free of the following 6 classes of chemicals of concern: Flame retardant chemicals, Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Per and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) used as stain/water/oil resistant treatments, Antimicrobials, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Heavy Metals.

6. Paint products containing the following properties:
-Zero VOCs
-Colorants that do not add VOCs when tinted
-Recycled content (EnviroStars recommendation to SU based on our reporting)
-Anti-microbial
-Formaldehyde reducing technology
-Odor eliminating technology
-ASTM D-2486 Average Scrub Results: 1,000 cycles.
-ASTM D-4828 Average Washability Results: Good/3.2

7. Wood products and products containing wood that are (in order of preference):
-Reclaimed or salvaged
-Recycled content with the highest percentage of recycled content available
-Certified as sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system. The certification system shall include independent third-party audits with standards equivalent to those of the FSC certification.

8. Sustainable fabrics for modular systems and chairs, that include recycled content and are designed to be biodegradable at end of life.

Sustainability at ITS: https://www.seattleu.edu/its/collab/technical-purchasing/
One of the Core Values that Seattle University holds is Leadership. Our goal is to develop responsible leaders, who are committed to the common good. One of the ways that ITS is able to provide leadership is through Sustainability.
When selecting computers and other technology purchases for campus we consider sustainability, including Energy Star and EPEAT ratings. We also consider this when selecting our vendor partners.
The Computer Refresh Program enables us to keep computers on campus up to date and recycle old technology. After a user has had their computer refreshed, the old computer is removed by a vendor so it can be sold/reused, recycled, or disposed of.

In Fall 2017, Seattle University sent out an RFP for Food Service Providers. The RFP process for all potential vendors included significant sustainability requirements. Since Fall 2018, Chartwells serves Seattle University as the Food Service Provider; all food outlets at SU are managed by Chartwells.

The 2017 RFP included the following:
“The University’s sustainability goals are rooted in its mission statement to promote a “just and humane world”, manifested in SU’s Climate Action Plan, and further grounded in the papal encyclical Laudato Si. Some of Seattle University’s goals and accomplishments in sustainability include:
--AASHE Stars Gold rating (2016) and Sierra Club Top 50 Green Colleges, which both include metrics directly related to dining services, purchasing, campus engagement, and energy and water use.
--The four most recent new buildings on campus have been awarded LEED Gold ratings. All new buildings on campus are required to achieve LEED Gold or higher.
--The University recently created a task force to “explore ways in which Seattle University can further its commitment to social responsibility” in its investments.
--Bottled water is not sold at Cherry Street Market and the campus cafes.
The FSP management of energy and water use, purchasing, waste, and engagement with the campus community on issues of sustainability, are consistent with and support the overall goals for the sustainable operations of the campus. The University’s Climate Action Plan can be found on the SU website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/cejs/campus‐sustainability/what‐su‐isdoing/climate‐action‐plan/”

“SU expects the FSP to continually examine its operations in a comprehensive lens to look for efficiencies and methods for positive change. Describe your corporate strategies related to sustainability and how you would propose to implement them at SU. Structure your response in such a way that the additional costs for going ‘above‐and‐beyond’ particular requirements are broken out as separate line items in your financial response. Describe how you will address the issues below at SU, and provide documentation, if applicable, of comparable client examples of your efforts to promote and prioritize sustainability in the campus food system.
--Purchase and use of responsibly‐ and sustainably‐produced local foods and third‐party certified foods (e.g., USDA certified organic, fair trade, Seafood Watch). Include discussion of your purchasing of hormone‐ and antibiotic‐free products, and humanely raised meat and dairy products.)
--How your company defines local purchasing, your corporate goals relative to local purchasing, and how you propose to put those in place at Seattle U.
--Methods of reducing pre‐ and post‐consumer waste
--How to promote recycling and composting
--Means to reduce energy and water use
--How your company tracks and assesses your dining food system sustainability efforts, including your ability to support SU’s AASHE STARS reporting.”

Seattle University has adopted a Code of Conduct as a way to strengthen and affirm our commitment to those who produce apparel for the benefit of the Seattle University community. The Code applies to all contractors of the University which means: each contractor, subcontractor, agent, vendor, manufacturer, person, or entity that has entered into an agreement with the University to supply the University with apparel bearing the University’s name and/or logos. Furthermore, the term “contractor” shall include those persons or entities that are engaged in a manufacturing process that results in a finished product or any component of a finished product for the contractor, if the product is intended for Seattle University. “Manufacturing process” includes assembly and packaging.
The Code of Conduct can be found here: https://www.seattleu.edu/media/procurement-services/Anti-Sweatshop-Policy.pdf