Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.99
Liaison Katherine Spector
Submission Date March 5, 2021

STARS v2.2

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Karen Hurd
Purchasing Associate
Purchasing
"---" 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 multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
---

The policies, guidelines or directives:

On April 28, 2008, New York Gov. Paterson signed an Executive Order EO4 establishing a New York State "Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program," to promote policies within state agencies and authorities that reduce the consumption of materials and energy and reduce potential impacts on public health and the environment. SUNY is required, where applicable, to purchase environmentally-friendly commodities, services and technology and develop sustainability and stewardship programs. See: http://system.suny.edu/procurement/green-purchasing/
OGS (Office of Goods and Services) offers two additional websites NYS Green Cleaning Program and Green Purchasing that offer information, training, and case studies in success of the procurement program to comply with these Executive Orders.
Construction and Building Fund directives 1B-4 and 1B-7 are directives for Net Zero Carbon New Buildings and Deep Energy Retrofits of Existing Building. 1B-7 provides policy on the reuse, recycle and/or salvage nonhazardous construction and demolition (C&D) materials, and indoor Air Quality Management Plan during construction.
New York State is also member of the Northeast Recycling Council whose "mission is to advance an environmentally sustainable economy by promoting source and toxicity reduction, recycling, and the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services


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 as a matter of policy and standard practice when evaluating all energy- and water-using products, systems and building components

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:

The LCCA is used mainly in the construction and operation of the facilities. The State University Construction Fund directives 1B-7 mandate the design of the building for both renovation and construction to adhere to the requirements of EO 88, requiring a detailed payback analysis of each system .
LCCA is also used in operations for utility consumption and use/cost projections.


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:

Executive Order 4 addresses access to green chemicals, cleaning supplies, and other more sustainable products to address the chemical intensity of operations and building maintenance. The supporting specifications and resource documents can be found here:
https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/executive-order-4-approved-specifications?f%5B0%5D=filter_term%3A1251
Executive Order 134 addresses the importance of green cleaning practices and that information is found here:
https://www.ogs.state.ny.us/purchase/spg/pdfdocs/EO134.pdf
As a State Agency, we must comply with Executive Orders.


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:

"Per Executive Order No. 4, all affected state entity 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 the 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 and certified as such through an appropriate third-party certification program recognized by the paper industry, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to the extent practicable unless the cost of the product is not competitive. To the maximum extent practicable and whenever feasible, affected state entities shall apply these standards to other printed items such as brochures, envelopes, letterheads, business cards, and forms. In addition, affected state entities are encouraged to print publications and other printed items on processed chlorine free (PCF) paper to the maximum extent practicable.
https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/printing
NYS entities are encouraged to purchase electronic products that do not need batteries to operate if there is a viable alternative that does not require them. If an electronic product that an affected entity is purchasing does need to be powered by a battery, they are encouraged to purchase a model that includes a multi-use rechargeable battery. For specific medical or safety equipment that rechargeable batteries cannot be used they are encouraged to purchase batteries in the largest reasonable quantity at a time to minimize the amount of packaging required. In addition, packaging shall comply with Environmental Conservation Law section 37-0205. https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/aaa-aa-and-d-batteries.


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:

EO 4 addresses the use of NYS surplus furniture first, refurbished furniture and if new furniture is purchased that meet at least one of the performance areas (High Recycled Content, Sustainably Sourced, Low Emitting) per the criteria outlined in EO4.
Floor covering specifications can be found on the Green NY EO4 website. https://ogs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/12/floor_coverings_12-2020_2.pdf
NYS has a goal to set minimum environmental goals for ceiling and panels as per the criteria outlined in EO4. https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/acoustical-ceiling-tiles-and-panels.


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:

EO 4 requires all computers and displays are required to have achieved Bronze registration or higher in the EPEAT system in the United States and must meet or exceed the following optional EPEAT criteria:
4.1.2.1 Restriction of the Use of Cadmium
In addition, effected entities are encouraged to purchase Computers and Displays that meets EPEAT criteria 4.1.6.2 Reduction of Substances on the EU REACH Candidate List of SVHCs, which will ensure that the device is free of intentionally added lead and other substances of concern. Additional published sustainability information on packaging, bulk delivery and recycling of computers can be found here. https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/computers-and-displays


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

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

The goal is to increase sustainable practices in the State of New York’s food
service operations by encouraging the purchase and use of reusable food service containers and establishing minimum specifications for single-use food service containers and wrappers. The specification establishes a hierarchy of environmentally desirable attributes as follows: reusable; compostable in a commercial or municipal facility; easily recyclable; and made with a minimum percentage of postconsumer recycled content or sustainably harvested content.
In addition, all covered products purchased by affected entities, offered by preferred sources, or on State contract shall not contain perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) or polystyrene. Additional specification can be found in EO4 https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/executive-order-4-approved-specifications?f%5B0%5D=filter_term%3A1251


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 Oswego 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 regards to apparel and sports equipment purchases originating from the Department of Athletics and Recreation.
The SUNY Anti-Sweatshop Policy (policy #7559) and the anti-sweatshop procedure (procedure #7560), governs purchases of apparel, textiles, and sports equipment. In accordance with that procedure, anytime SUNY Oswego or its contractors purchases any of those kinds of items from a vendor, the College requires the vendor to complete a Certification of Compliance with Fair Labor Conditions form, which requires the vendor to certify that the manufacturing of the items the College will be buying "will be 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"


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:

SUNY Oswego is required to comply with New York procurement practices as they apply to the hiring of any professional service. The New York State procurement guidelines are governed by three main entities, Office of General Services (OGS), SUNY Administration (SUNY) and the State University Construction Fund (SUCF), as well as the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC). OGS administers the Executive Orders 4 and 18 which provide guidelines for a variety or products including professional services in areas of architectural and engineering services. SUNY and SUCF provide specific criteria to the engineering services as it relates to energy efficiency, LCCA, and awareness of the LEED rating system and the USGBC.
SUCF and contractors hired to provided professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering) are required to comply with Directive 1B-2 Net Zero Carbon New Buildings and Deep Energy Retrofits of Existing Buildings and Directivities 1B-7 Sustainability, LEED and Executive Orders,
https://www.sucf.suny.edu/pdf/dir/1B-2.pdf
https://www.sucf.suny.edu/pdf/dir/1B-7.pdf
The Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program of the State University Construction Fund works to assure that MWBE firms are provided the opportunity to share in construction, professional services and supplier opportunities offered by the Fund.
https://www.sucf.suny.edu/mwbe/


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:

EO 4 offers guidance in respect to the transportation vehicle selection with respect to fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles. This criteria is included from the guidance document here:
For alternative fueled vehicles:
When affected state entities are purchasing or leasing alternative fueled vehicles, including acquisitions to comply with Executive Order 111 or EPAct, they are encouraged to select vehicles which have a fuel economy in the top 30% of their vehicle class as listed under EPA size class on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maintained web site at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.shtml
This specification is not a substitute for and is subject to other applicable laws and executive orders such as the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) and New York State Executive Order 111.
Link to EO 4 specification and resources is here:
https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/passenger-cars


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.