| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.21 |
| Liaison | Gary Cocke |
| Submission Date | Sept. 11, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
The University of Texas at Dallas
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 3.00 |
Gary
Cocke Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
Guideline
UT Dallas staff and faculty departments are encouraged to purchase office supplies, tools, equipment and other products that possess an “environmental preferable” designation.
Rationale
The Office of Sustainability at The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to encouraging the incorporation of sustainability into the campus’s overall purchasing strategy. In 1993, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a program and practice known as Environmental Preferable Purchasing (EPP), or otherwise known as Green Purchasing. This program aims to minimize environmental impacts associated with purchasing products and waste generation.
Benefits to environmental preferable purchasing
Reduces environmental impact as an institution of higher education.
Potential long-term cost savings.
Departmental recognition for EPP.
Initiates a new innovative purchasing precedent.
Scope
This guideline applies to the university main campus and other university-owned facilities in the Dallas Metroplex. This guideline will set a precedent for environmental preferable purchasing throughout The University of Texas at Dallas.
Definition
In accordance to the EPA, environmental preferable refers to “products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose”.
Implementation
From computers to office paper to cleaning products, there are ecolabels and certifications that exist to identify environmental preferable products. For example, please see the below.
Greenguard
Green Seal
Forest Stewardship Council
Veriflora
EcoLogo
EPEAT
Energy Star
UL SPOT Product Search
US EPA Safer Choice Labeled
Electronics Purchasing
The University of Texas at Dallas is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) oriented institution of higher education. Therefore, electronics represent a high cost product to university departments. To reduce potential long-term costs and encourage energy efficiency, at a minimum, The Office of Sustainability recommends reviewing Energy Star Certified products. Taking environmental preferable purchasing one-step further, consider EPEAT registered electronics.
Office Paper Purchasing
The University of Texas at Dallas is comprised of numerous departments and offices. Throughout the workday, paper is a high use product in producing reports, plans, programs and many other uses. To reduce the overall cost of paper purchasing, The Office of Sustainability recommends evaluating the feasibility of utilizing digital documents and shared drives when practical and possible. If this is not
possible, please consider purchasing post-consumer recycled office paper. Most office supply retailer’s offer recycled paper products.
Chemical Products & Services
The University of Texas at Dallas Facilities Management manages custodial and grounds services that includes the purchasing and utilization of cleaning and pest control products and services. To reduce UT Dallas’s overall footprint, The Office of Sustainability recommends the prioritizing of mechanical methods of cleaning and/or the purchasing of chemical products that have a third party designation as a “green”
and/or “organic” based product.
Transportation
The University of Texas at Dallas accommodates many thousands of vehicles on a semester basis in addition to a campus fleet. To encourage sustainable practices and to reduce our overall footprint, The Office of Sustainability recommends evaluating the feasibility of departments purchasing fuel-efficient, low-emission generating, hybrid, and/or electric vehicles when deliberating on the needs of a department
and/or university vehicle and/or golf cart.
Garments
The University of Texas at Dallas accommodates many thousands of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors throughout the year. Many departments, offices, and university stores purchase garments such as shirts, sweaters, and graduation gowns. To reduce our overall footprint and environmental impact, The Office of Sustainability recommends evaluating the feasibility of purchasing garments that are made of recycled materials and/or supplied by suppliers who adhere to the Fair Labor Association’s Code of Conduct.
Furniture & Renovations
The University of Texas at Dallas accommodates thousands of staff and faculty and is a growing campus. With growth comes new buildings, offices, and furniture. To reduce our environmental impact and help support sustainable efforts to make buildings more “green”, The Office of Sustainability recommends purchasing furniture or furnishings that are made of recycled material and/or reused from surplus if feasible.
Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts
The University of Texas at Dallas strives to make a positive impact to support the economic diversity and prosperity within the State of Texas. To nurture economic growth, UT Dallas supports locally based businesses, enterprises, and organizations through engagement, partnership, and business opportunities.
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:
.
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)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Chemical Products & Services
The University of Texas at Dallas Facilities Management manages custodial and grounds services that includes the purchasing and utilization of cleaning and pest control products and services. To reduce UT Dallas’s overall footprint, The Office of Sustainability recommends the prioritizing of mechanical methods of cleaning and/or the purchasing of chemical products that have a third party designation as a “green”
and/or “organic” based product.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
Furniture & Renovations
The University of Texas at Dallas accommodates thousands of staff and faculty and is a growing campus. With growth comes new buildings, offices, and furniture. To reduce our environmental impact and help support sustainable efforts to make buildings more “green”, The Office of Sustainability recommends purchasing furniture or furnishings that are made of recycled material and/or reused from surplus if feasible.
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)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:
Electronics Purchasing
The University of Texas at Dallas is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) oriented institution of higher education. Therefore, electronics represent a high cost product to university departments. To reduce potential long-term costs and encourage energy efficiency, at a minimum, The Office of Sustainability recommends reviewing Energy Star Certified products. Taking environmental preferable purchasing one-step further, consider EPEAT registered electronics
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:
Yes, in the vending services contracts and Requests for Proposals (RFP), there is energy-saving criteria
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:
Garments
The University of Texas at Dallas accommodates many thousands of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors throughout the year. Many departments, offices, and university stores purchase garments such as shirts, sweaters, and graduation gowns. To reduce our overall footprint and environmental impact, The Office of Sustainability recommends evaluating the feasibility of purchasing garments that are made of recycled materials and/or supplied by suppliers who adhere to the Fair Labor Association’s Code of Conduct.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
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)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
Transportation
The University of Texas at Dallas accommodates many thousands of vehicles on a semester basis in addition to a campus fleet. To encourage sustainable practices and to reduce our overall footprint, The Office of Sustainability recommends evaluating the feasibility of departments purchasing fuel-efficient, low-emission generating, hybrid, and/or electric vehicles when deliberating on the needs of a department
and/or university vehicle and/or golf cart.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:
Office Paper Purchasing
The University of Texas at Dallas is comprised of numerous departments and offices. Throughout the workday, paper is a high use product in producing reports, plans, programs and many other uses. To reduce the overall cost of paper purchasing, The Office of Sustainability recommends evaluating the feasibility of utilizing digital documents and shared drives when practical and possible. If this is not
possible, please consider purchasing post-consumer recycled office paper. Most office supply retailer’s offer recycled paper products.
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?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
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.