Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.37
Liaison Suzanne Davis
Submission Date Oct. 26, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Queensland
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00
"---" 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:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:

UQ has a Procurement Policy that seeks to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide as outlined in Objective 3: Engage in economically, socially, environmentally and ethically responsible procurement (sustainable purchasing). All stakeholders (including staff, students and contractors) who can affect or are affected by procurement decisions at UQ (UQ Procurement Stakeholders) are required to comply with this Policy.
https://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/9.40.01-procurement

As a statutory body in Queensland, UQ is required to comply with the Queensland Government’s Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP). The Queensland Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Procurement Policy (QIPP) provides a whole-of-Government framework to increase Indigenous business access to Queensland Government procurement market to be 3 per cent of addressable spend by 2022.

Published Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines on the UQ Sustainability webpage provide practical guidance to staff on how to include sustainability considerations into their procurement decisions.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/projects/recycling-and-waste-minimisation/sustainable-purchasing-guidelines


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:

LCCA is undertaken for energy and water products for construction in new builds, refurbishments and for maintenance activities, coordinated by the University's central facilities management group. The LCCA is embedded within the procurement process and is undertaken within the steps to obtain approval for the purchase.


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 Green Labs- Green Procurement Guide and the Green Labs Best Practice Guide provide information on the different criteria that should be considered when buying new equipment or consumables. Both documents also provide information on how to reduce the use of disposable products within the lab.

Sustainable Purchasing Guide for Laboratories
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12054/SustPrchGdeLab.pdf

Green Labs Best Practice Guice https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/5115/GLBestPracGde.pdf

The Chemical Management guide outlines measures to minimize the use of chemicals and to substitute with less hazardous chemicals.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3161/ps_labchemmngt.pdf


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:

The Sustainable Purchasing Paper guide provides information on the different criteria that should be considered when buying paper and how to reduce paper use.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12066/SustPrchGdePaper.pdf

The Sustainable Purchasing Stationary guide provides information on how to reduce stationary use and what sustainability criteria should be considered when buying.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12075/SustPrchGdeStationery.pdf


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 Vendor Assessment Form for Furniture provides a checklist for evaluating new furniture purchases. As indicated within the ‘Guide of completing Procurement Plans’, this form should be completed by Property and Facilities staff when purchasing new furniture items.
Sustainable Purchasing Guide - Furniture
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12060/SustPrchGdeFurn.pdf
Vendor Assessment Form for Furniture
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/4869/SPGformfurniture.pdf


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:

Criteria has been developed for IT equipment to be assessed against EPEAT within UQ's eMarket procurement portal.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12048/SustPrchGdeElec.pdf

The Laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers Guide outlines sustainability criteria to assess different makes and models.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/projects/recycling-and-waste-minimisation/sustainable-purchasing-guidelines
Please refer to the guide under the "Lab supplies and equipment" tab on the website
The Freezer maintenance guide provides information on how to maintain a freezer to reduce its environmental impact.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/3113/ps_labfreezermaint.pdf


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
Yes

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

Sustainability conditions have been included into lease agreements of new on-site food service providers. The conditions relate to minimising single use plastics, reducing waste and supporting reuse, and recycling and collecting food waste separately for composting.

UQ Unwrapped is a sustainability initiative to reduce UQ's plastic footprint, through engaging directly with UQ food outlets, events, markets and catering providers, to switch from single-use plastics to better alternatives.

The Retailers Guide provides information for UQ Retailers on how to eliminate single use plastic items and substitute with reusable or compostable alternatives.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/6640/UQ%20Unwrapped_8page_Oct19.pdf

The mobile vendor guide has been developed to assist both event organiser and mobile food vendors eliminate single use plastic items at UQ events.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/9106/UQUnwrpdMobileFoodV.pdf

The Sustainable Events Guide has been developed to help event organisers run their events more sustainably. It features helpful resources for all event types, from small indoor meetings to a large outdoor occasions.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/7826/SustEventsGde.pdf


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:

A guide for purchasing Apparel is available for clothing. There is also a guide for purchasing Promotional Materials, which can often include clothing items.

Sustainable Purchasing Guide - Apparal
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12045/SustPrchGdeApparel.pdf

Sustainable Purchasing Guide - Promotional Materials
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/12069/SustPrchGdePromo.pdf


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:

A guide outlining sustainability criteria to assess suppliers is available to staff- SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT‐ 2.0 STANDARDS FOR SUPPLIERS.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/4829/SPGsuppliers.pdf
A Sustainable Vendor assessment form can be filled out by staff to assist them in assessing the service provider’s sustainability performance.
https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/files/4832/SPGvendorform.rtf


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:

UQ is actively reducing its transport emissions by providing the University community with access to effective, diverse and sustainable transport options.

Fleet Services manages vehicle purchases on behalf of the University according to sustainable purchasing criteria that preference a number of initiatives including:
- reducing the fleet size and number of vehicles
- preferencing videoconferencing in place of travel where practicable
- preferencing fully electric and hybrid vehicles as part of the fleet conversion program
- provision of a free intercampus bus service to support reduction in fleet size
- purchase of zero emissions solar powered electric carts for intracampus travel
- zero emissions small engine equipment, including solar powered street sweeping vacuums that are dust, noise and exhaust free
- dashboard Sustainable Driving Guides which promote fuel efficient driving including smooth acceleration & braking, anticipating traffic, keeping to lower speeds, avoiding peak hour traffic and using air conditioning sparingly.
- fleet management program where all vehicles are assessed for safety, CO2 emissions, age and utilisation. Focusing on 5 star safety rated vehicles and maximising vehicle utilisation for efficient use of resources.

Other initiatives include installation of electric vehicle charging stations, increasing bicycle rack storage and end-of-trip facilities to further reduce transportation load.

The UQ Sustainability Action Plan outlines a broad range of strategies and initiatives to reduce transport related impacts at UQ by facilitating and promoting active and low-carbon transport options.


Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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