Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.94
Liaison John Alejandro
Submission Date Oct. 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of San Diego
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Dawn Anderson
Director, Procurement Svcs & Print Shop
Procurement Services
"---" 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 commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:

Full policy available at: http://www.sandiego.edu/procurement/documents/procurement-procedure.pdf

Sustainability Highlights:
V. ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING (EPP) PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES
Recognizing our impact as a major purchaser of goods and services, University of San Diego gives preference to environmentally friendly products whose quality, function, and cost are equal or superior to more traditional products. This procedure will:
- Conserve natural resources
- Minimize pollution
- Reduce the use of water and energy
- Eliminate or reduce environmental health hazards to workers and our community
- Support strong recycling markets
- Reduce materials that are land filled
- Increase the use and availability of environmentally preferable products
- Increase the use and procurement of Green Seal preferable products
- Reward suppliers who reduce environmental impacts in their production and distribution
systems or services
- Reduce the purchasing of cleaning or disinfecting products containing carcinogens, mutagens or teratogens.
- Reduce the purchasing of paper products and janitorial products that are bleached or contain bleach or chlorine
- Procure only energy star equipment and appliances

Supplier Performance Reporting: For the purpose of setting goals and evaluating the performance of the University’s green purchasing program, suppliers will be requested to report the environmental attributes in their products.
Procurement responsibilities:
- Collaborate with suppliers to design and implement a data collection system for tracking the environmental attributes of products being used by the University.
- Identify opportunities to educate users about the impacts of their product choices.
- Make available to University employees environmentally preferred products and services.
Procurement activities may include:
- Purchase products which are long lasting and durable, reusable or refillable.
- Institute practices that reduce waste, resulting in the purchase of fewer products.
- Consideration shall be given in short term vs. long term costs in comparing product alternatives.

To include: extended warranties, operation, supplies, maintenance and disposal costs.
- Request of reusable packing material and the reduction of unnecessary packaging.
- Reuse pallets and packaging materials.
- Procure energy efficient products.

Recycled Content Products: Procurement assists Facilities Management and Information Technology Services with a recycling program that recognizes that recycled content products are essential for an environmentally sound production system.

Procurement activities may include:
- Products for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has established
minimum recycled content standard guidelines.
- Copiers and printers that can be used with recycled content products.
- Request utilization of recycled content, FSC certified paper products.
- Recycled electronic product program
- Recycled content transportation products to include signs, cones, parking stops and parking signs.


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:

As part of the SDG&E Partnership that prioritizes energy efficiency we've utilized LCCA to determine what HVAC systems and lighting to install in areas of campus given a variety of factors, including energy intensity, total hours of operation, etc.

The SDG&E Partnership agreement is available upon request.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services (e.g. building and facilities maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, landscaping and grounds maintenance)?:
No

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

Sustainable criteria to evaluate chemically intensive products:

- ensure product is least harmful and as safe as possible for users and people exposed
whenever possible
- look for green alternatives
- communicate with vendors to keep university up-to-date with eco-friendly products
- ensure sustainable product can effectively complete the job to at least the same level as current product whenever possible
- test new green products and work with vendor to keep pricing competitive


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:

New Construction projects as a standard will achieve LEED Gold certification. Renovation projects are designed with similar LEED standards, however formal certification is pursued dependent upon the size of the project.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) products and services (e.g. computers, imaging equipment, mobile phones, data centers and cloud services)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:

Procurement assists Information Technology Services with a recycling program that recognizes that recycled content products are essential for an environmentally sound production system.

Procurement activities may include:

- Products for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has established minimum recycled content standard guidelines.
- Copiers and printers that can be used with recycled content products.
- Recycled electronic product program

Procurement policy at http://www.sandiego.edu/procurement/documents/procurement-procedure.pdf outlines these standards.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:

Sustainable purchasing practices are followed for all products - food, packaging, merchandise and more. For example, we require consolidated food and merchandise deliveries from our vendors, thus cutting down on natural resources and saving on costs.
We work closely with our prime food vendor, US. Foods, to continue to provide an increasing number of sustainably sourced foods. US. Foods Sustainability
Organic and natural food and merchandise offerings are available in all locations via a partnership with United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI Sustainability Reports

Sustainable disposable-ware:
- Paper plates are made from 100% reclaimed fiber, unbleached and compostable.
- All napkins within dining units are made from recycled content.
- The vast majority of disposable packaging is greenware (made of recycled content and/or biodegradable.)
- Cups for cold beverages are made of polylactic acid from corn. Cups for hot beverages are made from renewable fiber with polylactic acid lining.
- Coffee sleeves and napkins are made of 100% recycled fibers.
- Disposable flatware is made from plant starch. EcoProducts are comprised of 70% renewable resources.


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 University has contracted with CLC to issue licenses on its behalf. The CLC has strict Corporate Responsibility guidelines that vendors must follow in order to manufacture and produce products that contain the university logo.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
No

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

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels (e.g. travel, vehicles, delivery services, long haul transport, generator fuels, steam plants)?:
No

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

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:

As part of the procurement procedures, USD has a stated preference for the purchase of recycled content, FSC certified paper products. The procedures also call for a reduction in the purchase of paper products that are bleached.

The procurement policy is available at http://www.sandiego.edu/procurement/documents/procurement-procedure.pdf


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating products and services in other commodity categories that the institution has determined to have significant sustainability impacts?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:

Repurposed Furniture - USD has a small inventory of reusable furniture in offsite storage such as file cabinets, bookcases, etc.


The website URL where information about the programs 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.