Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.29
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date Feb. 17, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.25 / 3.00 Ezra Small
Sustainability Manager
Physical Plant
"---" 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:
T16-055-Sustainability Policy_12.9.16.pdf

The policies, guidelines or directives:
Uploaded: The 2017 UMass Board of Trustees Sustainability Policy. Includes language on EPP across commodities in Principle 7 (Establish Environmentally-Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) and continue to implement annual procurement goals to move toward alignment with the standards of the Environmental Purchasing Advisory Council where ever appropriate and consistent with available funding) and Goal 7.1 requires reporting of annual reporting on purchasing of electronics, office paper, cleaning products, etc. and progress towards meeting established goals.

https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T16-055-Sustainability%20Policy_rf012021.pdf

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 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 UMass Construction Design Guidelines (https://www.umass.edu/dcm/sites/default/files/u31/Construction_Design_Guidelines10-04.pdf) outlines the use of LCCA in Section 1.10 (Responsible Use of Energy and Natural Resources) on pg. 12 "Design to minimize life cycle costs, including the use of materials that will maximize durability and longevity" as well as mention of LCCA in Section 2.8 (HVAC) pg 51 "System design and equipment selection shall be determined by life cycle cost analysis including first, operating, and maintenance costs."

Also, UMass Amherst requires all new construction and major renovation building projects to provide energy measurement and verification. This policy uses LCCA calculations. Energy Design and Modeling Guidelines:
https://www.umass.edu/cp/sites/default/files/ENERGY%20DESIGN%20and%20CONSTRUCTION%20GUIDELINES.pdf

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:
UMass specifies sustainability criteria for cleaning and sanitizing products that are chemically intensive via our Green Cleaning Policy and programs within the Physical Plant and Auxiliary Services, located here:
Physical Plant: https://www.umass.edu/sustainability/green-cleaning
Auxiliary: http://www.localumass.com/green-cleaning.html

Consumable office products

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
---

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:
UMass specifies sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products in the Green Building Guidelines last updated and published in 2016 for LEED v4 including LEED EBOM here: http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=cp_reportsplans

Information Technology (IT) and equipment

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
There is no mention of any sustainability criteria being used when evaluating IT equipment in the UMass IT Strategic Plan located online here: https://www.umass.edu/it/strategic-plan-2021 or the Information Technology Acquisition Policy Doc.08-086 found online here: https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T08-086-Information%20Technology%20Acquisition_rf012021.pdf. Sustainability and IT are in discussions of updating this policy in 2023.

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:
UMass is the largest self-operating dining program in the U.S. serving over 60,000 meals a day and operating all dining operations internally including all residential dining commons, retail cafes and markets, catering, and bakery. Even where we have franchise names on our retail locations, we internally operate them with UMass Auxiliary Services staff.

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:
The UMass UStore has developed their own internal sustainability rating system for the vendors that it contracts with for apparel. This program is launching publicly in January 2023.

News article here: https://dailycollegian.com/2022/11/the-umass-store-strides-towards-a-more-sustainable-environment/

Professional service providers

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

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

Transportation and fuels

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

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
---

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T16-055-Sustainability%20Policy_rf012021.pdf

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The Policy document in Part 1 of this credit is also available to download here:
https://www.umassp.edu/sites/default/files/board-policies/T16-055-Sustainability%20Policy_rf012021.pdf

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.