| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.28 |
| Liaison | Geory Kurtzhals |
| Submission Date | Jan. 4, 2022 |
University of Notre Dame
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.75 / 3.00 |
Geory
Kurtzhals Sr. Director Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
Buying Green (https://buy.nd.edu/new-to-buynd/)
As part of the Finance Division, they carry the mission of "today's stewards for tomorrow's leaders" into the world of sustainable procurement. Procurement Services is committed to working with suppliers to include, promote, and competitively price products and services that represent sustainable alternatives. In collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, they seek to increase the visibility and procurement of products and services with a reduced environmental impact as compared to other similar products or services. In the BuyND e-Procurement system, an effort is made to increase the visibility of environmentally-friendly products.
The University of Notre Dame exercises a preference for sustainable products and services in the institutional procurement process. Specifically, we prefer to procure:
Officer paper with a recycled content of 30% or greater,
Computers and monitors with an EPEAT rating of Silver or better,
Cleaning supplies with a Green Seal or EcoLogo certification, and
Products and services from local sources when all other selection criteria are equal.
The University has adopted the following definition of Sustainable Procurement: 'Sustainable procurement is a purchasing and investment process that takes into account the economic, environmental and social impacts of the entity's spending. Sustainable procurement allows organizations to meet their needs for goods, services, construction works, and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole-life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organizations but also to society and the economy while remaining within the carrying capacity of the environment.' (taken from UK Governments Sustainable Procurement Task Force)
Green and ecological preferred products are identified prominently in the BuyND procurement system.
The following is a clause used in all Requests For Procurement:
'The University of Notre Dame strives to be a leader in sustainable operations, education and research, and a role model for responsible citizenship. Notre Dame recognizes its responsibility to conserve the natural environment while promoting long-term economic and social justice for all members of society and works to foster a pervasive focus on the connection between environmental stewardship and the Common Good.'
Notre Dame’s Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy, https://green.nd.edu/mission/strategy/, outlines institutional goals and benchmarks which serve as the foundation and guiding principles for increasing sustainability in all areas and all levels across the University.
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:
In order to ensure adherence with the University's stated aspiration to achieve specific carbon reduction targets, all decisions on energy and water use products are scrutinized to ensure their procurement is in support of this overarching goal. To the greatest extent possible energy-efficient and water-conserving products are specified, procured, and installed. Life cycle cost analysis, along with extended payback targets are used to evaluate applications. As a means of sorting such initiatives, the University performs a payback analysis in concert with life cycle cost analysis to fully acknowledge the benefits of such strategies in terms of both saved energy, water, labor, and consumable materials.
Despite the University's low costs for energy and water, it uses a very generous payback period to prioritize its energy/water conservation projects as a means of deploying its available capital to shorter payback projects so that the savings can then be rolled back into longer payback projects in succession.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Sustainability criteria is specifically included in the RFP process and contract for green chemicals such as Green seal and EcoLogo certified products.
In the BuyND e-Procurement system, an effort is made to increase the visibility of environmentally-friendly products.
The University of Notre Dame exercises a preference for sustainable products and services in the institutional procurement process. Specifically, we prefer to procure: Cleaning supplies with a Green Seal or EcoLogo certification. https://buy.nd.edu/new-to-buynd/
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
Office Depot is the Notre Dame partner for purchasing printing paper products. In 2021, For the fourth time in five years, Office Depot recognized the University of Notre Dame with the Leadership in Greener Purchasing Award for the higher education sector. After evaluating the purchasing patterns of approximately 1,000 of its largest customers, Office Depot named Notre Dame among an elite group of 19 recipients. Notre Dame ended the 2020 fiscal year with 33.9 percent green spending with Office Depot, which is nearly 16 percentage points higher than the average.
In the BuyND e-Procurement system, an effort is made to increase the visibility of environmentally-friendly products.
The University of Notre Dame exercises a preference for sustainable products and services in the institutional procurement process. Specifically, we prefer to procure: Officer paper with a recycled content of 30% or greater. https://buy.nd.edu/new-to-buynd/
All janitorial paper supplies are standardized via a centralized ordering process. Products ordered are Kimberly Clark coreless hand towels and toilet tissue which are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, meet EPA guidelines for post-consumer waste, and ECOLOGO certified. The 1000' hard wound roll towels meet the same guidelines as tissues. Switching from folded to rolled hand towels has resulted in 33% less consumption.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
In the buyND e-Procurement system, an effort is made to increase the visibility of environmentally-friendly products.
The University of Notre Dame exercises a preference for sustainable products and services in the institutional procurement process. Specifically, we prefer to procure:
Officer paper with a recycled content of 30% or greater,
Computers and monitors with an EPEAT rating of Silver or better,
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
RFPs for any new food services contain the following sustainability clause: 'The University of Notre Dame strives to be a leader in sustainable operations, education and research, and a role model for responsible citizenship. Notre Dame recognizes its responsibility to conserve the natural environment while promoting long-term economic and social justice for all members of society and works to foster a pervasive focus on the connection between environmental stewardship and the Common Good.'
Any sustainability/green certification programs in which the bidder is engaged or received recognition for achievement are requested to provide the information within the RFP.
Franchises and new eating establishments are selected after feedback from University of Notre Dame students and others on campus. Student Government, Campus Dining and Student Activities have selected Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar, Modern Market, and a coffee house featuring Intelligentsia coffee as the inaugural dining options for the new Duncan Student Center. All three establishments were selected in part based upon their sustainability record.
Notre Dame’s Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy, https://green.nd.edu/mission/strategy/, outlines institutional goals and benchmarks which serve as the foundation and guiding principles for increasing sustainability in all areas and all levels across the University.
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:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
Design and construction professionals working for the University are bound by the University's design and construction standards that establish minimum criteria for sustainability, conservation, and efficiency. (https://notredame.app.box.com/s/9d7duuyez7o9h64fqc25ocim9bxwzbn6)
These standards specify 'Stewardship of the Natural Environment' as a design tenet. A part of this is 'Applicable building codes are to be considered as minimum requirements. The architect/engineer shall also consider life cycle costs, utility costs, and adaptability/flexibility, should the building use change over its lifetime.'
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
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.