Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 60.64
Liaison Amanda Kohn
Submission Date Feb. 13, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Minnesota, Crookston
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 3.00
"---" 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:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
"The following principles shall guide the University's purchasing process:
(a) purchasing activities shall comply with all applicable laws and policies of the Board of Regents
(Board), including, but not limited to, Board of Regents Policy: Targeted Business, Urban
Community Economic Development, and Small Business Programs;
(b) purchasing activities shall be conducted in a manner that promotes integrity, stewardship,
diversity, and sustainability;
(c) purchasing activities shall provide goods and services, professional services, and design services
at the best value and appropriate standards of quality, considering total cost of ownership;
(d) purchasing procedures shall be efficient, timely, and transparent; and
(e) purchasing activities shall promote the use of businesses owned and operated by minorities,
women, and disabled persons. "

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:
The Regents policy discussed LCA for the U of M.

The policy for the entire University of Minnesota is applied practice Life Cycle Cost Analysis. Life-cycle cost analysis is a tool to determine the most cost-effective option among different competing alternatives to purchase, own, operate, maintain and, finally, dispose of an object or process. Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is an important economic analysis used in the selection of alternatives that impact both pending and future costs. It compares initial investment options and identifies the least cost alternatives for the estimated life of the asset.

http://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Sustain_Energy_Efficiency.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?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
---

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:
In addition to the Regents policy, U of M campuses, including UMC need to conform with State of Minnesota B3 building standards, which include guidance on construction and renovation.

B3 requirements for construction/renovation in waste and LCA of furnishings are summarized below and actual Guidelines are available at
https://www.b3mn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/B3GuidelinesVersion3.0.pdf

Page 104 begins the Material and Waste Guidelines section, which includes:
-Guideline M.1: Life Cycle Assessment (page 105) To use life cycle analysis to quantify and minimize the environmental impact of building materials, which have significant effects on global warming, air pollution, water pollution, energy consumption, and waste. Approved LCA tools are Tally or Athena Impact Estimator
-Guideline M.2: Environmentally Preferable Materials (page 116) to improve environmental impacts of construction through the selection of environmentally preferable materials and products.
-Guideline M.3: Waste Reduction and Management (page 120) to minimize use of resources and negative environmental impacts through design decisions and careful reduction and management of waste generated during the construction process and building occupancy. This also includes recycling guidelines that state ""At least 75% of nonhazardous construction and demolition waste must be diverted from landfill.""

Full B3 Guidelines at:
https://www.b3mn.org/guidelines/

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:
RFP's include the following questions and are scored based on the answers to these questions:
-Provide a brief, high level description of your company's approach to sustainability
- What types of packaging and shipping materials do you use?
- To what extent do you ensure products you sell are energy efficient and/or EPEAT certified

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?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
---

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:
The Regent's policy on purchasing specifically calls out professional design services and sustainability requirements (section 1.b)
https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/2022-05/policy_purchasing.pdf


The University of Minnesota's Regent's Policy regarding Targeted Business, Urban Community Economic Development, and Small Business Programs states:
""Subd. 1. Targeted Businesses. The Board of Regents (Board) supports the use of the purchasing power of the University of Minnesota (University) to enhance equal employment and business opportunities for minorities, women, and disabled persons. Consistent with the Board’s long-standing policies and achievements in advancing diversity, equal employment opportunity, and affirmative action, the University is committed to promote actively the utilization of businesses owned and operated by minorities, women, and disabled persons (targeted businesses) and to prevent discriminatory practices against such businesses.""

Link to policy:
http://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/TargetedBusiness.pdf

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:
---

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.