Overall Rating Bronze
Overall Score 29.24
Liaison Laurel Pikcunas
Submission Date March 3, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Hawaii Windward Community College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Christian Palmer
Assistant Professor
Anthropology
"---" 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:

Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy for Windward Community College Developed for compliance with the Hawaii Green Business Program
The following procurement policy outlines recommended practices for Windward
Community College Employees when making purchases as directed by UH Sustainability Policy EP 4.202 .

The policy is a supplement to existing University of Hawaii procurement policies and should be implemented only when it is consistent with existing procurement policies and procedures and prices between different goods are comparable or where cost-saving (in terms of energy or water conservation, disposal costs, or deferred maintenance) over time can be proven to regain any additional purchase costs within a reasonable amount of time. Purchasing
decisions should take into account the full lifetime of the product, its durability, and eventual disposal.

This policy has three focus areas:
1. Purchasers should select items built with recycled materials. This increases the market share of recycled materials and reduces the amount of energy used in the production of goods.

2. Purchasers should support existing Green Certification programs that are
designed to measure the environmental impact of different products.

3. Purchasers should choose products that are less toxic, improving the physical health of workers who handle these potentially dangerous products and the University environment.

Recycled Materials
1. Purchase the following items with at least 30% recycled post-consumer waste:
a. Copy, computer, or fax paper,
b. Folders/letterheads, envelopes, and business cards, and
c. Toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels.
d. Boxes and or bags
e. Garbage bags, garbage pails, and or dumpster lids
f. Pens, pencils, desk accessories, and utility/organization bins
g. Mulch/and or soil amendments
h. Furniture, benches, and or playground equipment

Green Certifications
2. Purchase from other Green Business Program Awardees
3. Employ local companies and business when possible.
4. Purchase equipment (Computer, monitors, refrigerators, A/C units) with energy saving features (EPEAT, Energy Star, or other energy conservation labels)
5. Purchase equipment (faucets, toilets, urinals, etc) with water saving features (WaterSense labelled when possible).
6. Purchase Green Seal Certified products (paints, coatings, cleaning products) when available.
7. Purchase FSC certified paper when available.

Reduced Toxicity
8. Purchase low toxic cleaners.
9. Purchase non-aerosol alternatives when available.
10. Purchase natural or low emissions building material, carpets, and furniture when available.
11. Purchase vehicles with highest rated EPA Fuel economy by vehicle class.
This policy is meant to encourage those making purchases of supplies and equipment to consider green alternative in terms of recycled materials, third party green certification, and less toxic and low emission materials whenever available, feasible, and comparably priced and in accordance with existing University of Hawaii procurement policies.


Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
No

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
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A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
---

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:

The WCC Green Procurement Policy encourages purchasers to buy low toxicity cleaning products as well certified Green Seal Products when available. Unfortunately the Green Procurement Policy does not include enforceable requirements for the institution. That being said, the policy is largely followed and well understood by the Facilities and Operations Manager, who is responsible for purchasing.


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:

From the WCC Green Procurement Policy:

Purchase the following items with at least 30% recycled post-consumer waste:
a. Copy, computer, or fax paper,
b. Folders/letterheads, envelopes, and business cards, and
c. Toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels.
d. Boxes and or bags
e. Purchase FSC certified paper when available.


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 following procurement policy outlines recommended practices for Windward
Community College Employees when making purchases as directed by UH Sustainability Policy
EP 4.202 .
The policy is a supplement to existing University of Hawaii procurement policies and
should be implemented only when it is consistent with existing procurement policies and
procedures and prices between different goods are comparable or where cost-saving (in terms
of energy or water conservation, disposal costs, or deferred maintenance) over time can be
proven to regain any additional purchase costs within a reasonable amount of time. Purchasing
decisions should take into account the full lifetime of the product, its durability, and eventual
disposal.

Recycled Materials
1. Purchase the following items with at least 30% recycled post-consumer waste:
a. Copy, computer, or fax paper,
b. Folders/letterheads, envelopes, and business cards, and
c. Toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels.
d. Boxes and or bags
e. Garbage bags, garbage pails, and or dumpster lids
f. Pens, pencils, desk accessories, and utility/organization bins
g. Mulch/and or soil amendments
h. Furniture, benches, and or playground 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:

From the WCC Green Procurement Policy:

Purchase equipment (Computer, monitors, refrigerators, A/C units) with energy saving features (EPEAT, Energy Star, or other energy conservation labels)


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:
---

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
No

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?:
Yes

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

From the WCC Green Procurement Policy:

1. Purchase from other Green Business Program Awardees
2. Employ local companies and business when possible.


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:

From the WCC Green Procurement Policy:

1. Purchase vehicles with highest rated EPA Fuel economy by vehicle class.


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 Windward CC Sustainability Committee developed written policies for Sustainable Procurement to align with UH System Executive Policy EP 4.202. These policies were reviewed & approved by campus leadership, who noted that direction from UH System would be necessary for full implementation.


The Windward CC Sustainability Committee developed written policies for Sustainable Procurement to align with UH System Executive Policy EP 4.202. These policies were reviewed & approved by campus leadership, who noted that direction from UH System would be necessary for full implementation.

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.