| Overall Rating | Platinum - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 88.31 |
| Liaison | James Gordon |
| Submission Date | May 31, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Thompson Rivers University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.75 / 3.00 |
James
Gordon Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator TRU Office of Environment and Sustainability |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
There are three elements (with corresponding web links) in this section:
1) Whenever $30,000 or more will be spent on a contract for goods or services by any TRU entity (office, department, etc.), a “Request For Proposal” (RFP) process through the TRU Procurement Services office must be followed in order to ensure a fair and equitable process for all prospective bidders (see page 9 in the TRU Purchasing Policy: https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/brd02-25637.pdf). Along with all other contract sections in the RFP that receive consideration in the review process is a section (4.14) on Environmental Sustainability. This section ensures that those bidders with a history of environmental sustainability, and/or who plan to address environmental sustainability issues in the contract, are recognized. Here is the link to the full RFP document: https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/trurfpsection4complete36984.pdf
2) All businesses operating in BC must adhere to provincial labour laws. These laws require businesses to meet minimum standards regarding employee wages, benefits, working conditions and rights. Here is the link to the BC Employment Standards Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96113_01
3) As a BC public institution, TRU is bound to work with business partners using very high standards. These are set out in the TRU Purchasing Policy: "The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that the University obtains the best value for its expenditures while ensuring that all procurements and procurement processes are characterized by the highest level of institutional and personal integrity; that the procurement process is open, transparent and fair; and that all qualified vendors are given the opportunity to compete for the University’s business". TRU Purchasing Policy: http://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/brd02-25637.pdf
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:
TRU Life Cycle Cost Analysis Practices for Energy and Water-Using Products and Systems:
Whenever energy and/or water-using products and systems will be purchased, TRU Facilities Services Division, the Sustainability Office, and any other TRU office/department (such as researchers) and/or outside organizations/individuals with relevant expertise carry out a Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) . T he possibility of accessing third-party rebates and/or incentives is always factored into the purchase plan for such equipment/systems in order to make the LCCA as attractive as possible over time.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services (e.g. building and facilities maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, landscaping and grounds maintenance)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
TRU Green Cleaning Product Purchasing Guidelines:
https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Chemically_intensive_products_and_services42935.pdf
TRU Facilities Services has the following “green”* cleaning product purchasing guidelines:
* “Green” cleaning products are defined as certified by Green Seal or UL Environment (EcoLogo) certified, or under similar multi-criteria sustainability standards for cleaning and janitorial products.
1. TRU Facilities Services will always purchase third-party certified green cleaning products for all of its cleaning needs unless there are outstanding reasons to do otherwise (such as if there is no green equivalent for a cleaning product).
2. With all cleaning services contracts with outside contractors, TRU Facilities Services states in the contract that cleaning services companies must only purchase third-party certified green cleaning products for all campus cleaning needs, unless there is no green equivalent for a cleaning product;in that case, the Associate Director from TRU Facilities Services, or a designate, must sign on the contract that this is allowable.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) products and services (e.g. computers, imaging equipment, mobile phones, data centers and cloud services)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:
TRU Electronics Purchasing Guidelines (used in the RFP process when seeking to lease or purchase computer equipment):
https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Information_technology42939.pdf
• TRU will purchase all electronic equipment from local sources except where outstanding circumstances prevent this
• Please advise TRU if your organization offers a recycling and/or disposal program, and include detailed information on how this program functions
• Where applicable, products proposed must comply with Federal, Provincial, local and Municipal standards. Please describe how your organization conforms to these standards
• Describe your organization’s ability to support TRU's current and future initiative to move to carbon neutrality
• The ability to change how people use computers is a key to success in achieving TRU’s environmental targets. Please provide examples of how your organization was able to influence positive change in a similar organization like TRU, and the resulting benefits to the environment
• Describe your organization’s environmental sustainability policy and practices, as well as any supporting policies from the manufacturer. Please provide copies or web links to any existing manufacturer and Proponent policies
• Describe your organization’s willingness to assist TRU in working towards a "carbon neutral" environment
• Provide a summary of your organization's and the manufacturer's mandate and core principles on environmental sustainability. Please indicate if your organization maintains an environmental policy in keeping with BC Government initiatives.
Source: Rita Hodge, TRU INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CLIENT SERVICES
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:
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:
TRU has the LICENSED PRODUCT PURCHASING Policy that deals with all TRU garments bearing the TRU logo: https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Garments_and_linens42938.pdf
The policy reads: "Thompson Rivers University is committed to ensuring that those products which are licensed to bear the TRU logo are produced in a socially responsible and ethical manner. TRU is a member of the Worker Rights Consortium and has adopted the Worker Rights Consortium’s Code of Conduct. In keeping with this commitment, TRU departments that wish to source products that are licensed to bear the TRU logo are required to source such products exclusively through the TRU BookStore. The TRU BookStore shall be responsible for ensuring TRU licensed products adhere to TRU purchasing practices and TRU logo guidelines and visual identity usage standards.
https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/ADM_24-0_Licensed_Product_Purchasing37739.pdf
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels (e.g. travel, vehicles, delivery services, long haul transport, generator fuels, steam plants)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
TRU will only buy either electric or electric-hybrid vehicles for all new campus fleet vehicles. This directive is in keeping with the data from an Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment Report that TRU undertook by the organization Fleetcarma. (https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/FleetCarma_EV_Suitability_Assessment_Results41012.pdf)
TRU guidelines: https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Transportation_and_fuels42937.pdf
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:
For all new building construction, TRU uses sustainably harvested wood lumber products whenever possible. An example of this is the Irving K Barber Centre, which used 492 Beetle-killed salvaged pine trees in the roof.
The TRU Printshop has the following paper purchasing sustainability guidelines:
• All paper purchased will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as “FSC 100%” (the “FSC 100%” label means that the wood within the product comes completely from FSC-certified forests). For whatever reason, if FSC 100% paper is not available, an equivalent third-party certified paper will be bought.
• Whenever possible, the preference is to purchase paper “from as close to Kamloops as possible”. In keeping with this guideline, the following three locations are preferred (in order of preference): BC, Canada, North America, other.
TRU guidelines: https://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Paper_and_wood42936.pdf
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating products and services in other commodity categories that the institution has determined to have significant sustainability impacts?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
The website URL where information about the programs 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.