Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 65.17
Liaison Lisa Mitten
Submission Date March 2, 2023

STARS v2.2

State University of New York at New Paltz
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Lisa Mitten
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Campus Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
In September of 2022, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul revamped and renewed State's commitment to sustainable purchasing through Executive Order 22.

EO-22 directs the Climate Action Council to consider the following factors pertaining to sustainable procurement in developing policy for all state agencies, including SUNY Institutions to follow:

1. Protection of public health and the environment, including vulnerable populations and residents in Disadvantaged Communities;
2. Avoidance of hazards from the use or release of toxic substances;
3. Pollution reduction and prevention;
4. Sustainable resource management and use, and sustainable manufacturing and production processes;
5. Low-impact development and climate resilient design practices, and standards and priorities for entities providing construction, engineering, and other similar services;
6. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
7. The use of renewable and zero-emission resources, remanufactured components, and reused or recycled content;
8. Waste reduction, materials reuse, recyclability, and compostability;
9. Water conservation;
10. Quality, durability and utility of the item of procurement;
11. Minimizing adverse impacts throughout a commodity's or technology's life cycle (i.e., as identified by life-cycle assessment or other supply-chain impacts);
12. Cost;
13. Extended producer responsibility; and
14. Legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the use and procurement of commodities, services, and technology, or where applicable, the procurement of public works.

For more information, visit:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-22-leading-example-directing-state-agencies-adopt-sustainability-and
https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/approved-greenny-specifications
http://system.suny.edu/procurement/green-purchasing/

The SUNY-wide Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program of the State University of New York strives to assure that MWBE firms around New York State are given equal opportunities to have business with all SUNY campuses in various fields including construction, construction consultants, commodities and consultant/services. See: https://www.suny.edu/meansbusiness/supplier-diversity/mwbe/

Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Yes

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
Institution employs LCCA less comprehensively, e.g. for certain types of systems or projects and not others

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
Our consulting teams of architects and engineers perform life cycle cost analysis on building components and equipment choices throughout the design phase of projects for the Office of Design and Construction.

Part 3. Product-specific sustainability criteria

To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products and/or services in each category, e.g. by requiring or giving preference to multi-criteria sustainability standards, certifications and labels appropriate to the category. Broader, institution-wide policies should be reported in Part 1, above. 

Chemically intensive products and services

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
New York State passed a green cleaning law in 2006 requiring public agencies including the SUNY System to use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products. For information, visit: https://greencleaning.ny.gov/Policies.asp

Consumable office products

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
Wood Guidelines:
SUNY Standard contract clauses prohibit the purchase of tropical hardwoods. Typically, wood sourced in SUNY New Paltz construction projects is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. For more information, visit http://www.suny.edu/sunypp/documents.cfm?doc_id=428

Paper Product Guidelines from Executive Order 4:

Commencing no later than July 1, 2008, all copy paper, janitorial paper, and other paper supplies purchased by each State agency or authority shall be composed of 100% post-consumer recycled content to the maximum extent practicable, and all copy and janitorial paper shall be process chlorine-free to the extent practicable, unless such products do not meet required form, function or utility, or the cost of the product is not competitive.

Commencing no later than July 1, 2008, all State agency and authority publications shall be printed on 100% post-consumer recycled content paper. Where paper with 100% post-consumer recycled content is not available or does not meet required form, function, and utility, paper procurements shall use post-consumer recycled content to the extent practicable. Non-recycled content shall be derived from a sustainably-managed renewable resource to the extent practicable, unless the cost of the product is not competitive.

Furniture and furnishings

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
The State of New York's sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishing is published here: https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/furniture

Information Technology (IT) and equipment

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
SUNY as a whole has a purchasing policy that includes energy efficiency, emphasizing EnergyStar certified and EPEAT equipment. See: https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/computers-and-displays

Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
---

Garments and linens 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
SUNY New Paltz follows the SUNY System's anti-sweatshop policy and a corresponding anti-sweatshop procedure. This policy and procedure are enforced on an ongoing basis, especially with apparel and sports equipment purchases originating from Athletics and Recreation.

The SUNY Anti-Sweatshop Policy (policy #7559) found at and the anti-sweatshop procedure (procedure #7560), governs purchases of apparel, textiles, and sports equipment. In accordance with the procedure, anytime the College or its contractors purchase apparel or sports equipment, vendor is required to complete a Certification of Compliance with Fair Labor Conditions form, certifying that the manufacturing of the items is "done in compliance with all applicable labor and occupational safety laws including but not limited to child labor laws, wage and hour laws and workplace safety laws." http://www.suny.edu/sunypp/documents.cfm?doc_id=670 http://www.suny.edu/sunypp/documents.cfm?doc_id=672

Professional service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
Consultants hired to provide professional architectural and engineering design and construction services are required to meet the goals of Directive 1B-2 Net Zero Carbon New Buildings and Deep Energy Retrofits of Existing Buildings and Directive 1B-7 Sustainability as well as Executive Order 22.

https://www.sucf.suny.edu/pdf/dir/1B-2.pdf
https://www.sucf.suny.edu/pdf/dir/1B-7.pdf

the System-wide MWBE Program of the State University of New York is responsible for ensuring SUNY’s compliance with Executive Law Article 15-A which mandates state agencies to establish business and employment participation goals for minorities and women on State contracts, including the procurement of professional services.
https://www.suny.edu/meansbusiness/supplier-diversity/mwbe/
https://www.sucf.suny.edu/mwbe/

Transportation and fuels

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
New York State Executive Order 22 Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program and the GreenNY Purchasing Program includes 11 approved specifications in the transportation category such as for pavement sealer, road salts, pavement marking paint, passenger cars, lubricating oils, etc.
https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/approved-greenny-specifications

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.