Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.12
Liaison Maria Dahmus
Submission Date March 5, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of St. Thomas
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Karen Harthorn
Associate Vice President
Procurement Services
"---" 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:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
Yes, the University's Sustainable Purchasing Policy includes six broad institution-wide purchasing categories. The goal of the policy is to reduce the adverse environmental impact of the University's purchasing decisions consistent with several principles. The full policy is available online: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf (pages 5 - 7)

Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
No

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
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A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
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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:
The University's sustainable purchasing policy includes chemically intensive products and services. The sustainability criteria are available on page six of the policy document: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf

Consumable office products

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 University's sustainable purchasing policy includes office products. The sustainability criteria are available on pages six and seven of the policy document: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf

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:
The University's sustainable purchasing policy includes furniture/furnishings. The sustainability criteria are available on page five of the policy document: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf

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:
The University's sustainable purchasing policy includes IT equipment. The sustainability criteria are available on page five of the policy document: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf

Food service providers

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:
The University's sustainable purchasing policy includes food service providers. The sustainability criteria are available on page six of the policy document: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf

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:
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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:
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Transportation and fuels

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
The University's sustainable purchasing policy includes transportation and fuels. The sustainability criteria are available on page seven of the policy document: https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofgeneralcounsel/policies/Purchasing-and-Payables-Policy.pdf

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
In addition, the University has transitioned to on-line submission of invoices and receipts on approximately 90,000 transactions, with multiple pages per transaction, saving well over 100,000 pages of printed paper.

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.