Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.39
Liaison Margo Margo Nottoli
Submission Date March 4, 2020

STARS v2.2

Warren Wilson College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 3.00 Margo Flood
Sustainability Project Coordinator
Finance and Administration
"---" 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:
---

The policies, guidelines or directives:
Warren Wilson has developed and adopted a number of Pattern Languages over the years which serve as guiding principles to support many aspects of campus operations. The most recent Patterns were adopted (all through shared governance) nearly 20 years ago. Though some of the suggested actions are no longer best practices, these Patterns continue to reinforce stewardship practices campus-wide. Among them is our Purchasing Pattern Language:

Purchasing (approved in 2001):

•Warren Wilson has a moral obligation to set a clear example for current and future generations.
•Purchasing policies should demonstrate the social and environmental commitments in the College’s Mission Statement and in its Environmental Commitment Statement.
•Purchasers must take into account the environmental and economic impact of their buying choices.
•Purchasers should understand the advantages of environmentally friendly and socially sound purchasing practices and … become an attitude used by all those making decisions.
•Warren Wilson is interested in buying materials that promote the health and sustainability of our biosphere (specific suggestions of principles to guide these purchases).
•Preference should be given to products that use the least or conserve the most energy, water, gas, and other nonrenewable or environmentally costly resources.
•Gifts and donations should be subject to the same standards as purchased products.
•Warren Wilson will seek to avoid purchasing from companies with specific socially unethical business practices.
•The College will strive to develop an environmentally friendly vendor list for use in purchasing decisions.

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?:
---

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
---

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?:
No

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

Consumable office products

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
---

Furniture and furnishings

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
---

Information Technology (IT) and equipment

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
---

Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

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

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:
---

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:
---

Transportation and fuels

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:
---

Optional Fields 

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:
Warren Wilson has a history of procurement procedures in several areas. As most are in principle only, we have not claimed the credits.

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.