| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.38 |
| Liaison | Olivia Shehan |
| Submission Date | Nov. 13, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wellesley College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 3.00 |
Dorothea
Von Herder Sustainability Coordinator Facilites |
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:
The Strategic Sustainability Plan has a section for "Purchasing and Waste" Management that details an institution-wide purchasing policy for high-volume commodities (Sections PMW 1.0-1.16).
On the "Doing Business with Wellesley College" website this policy in condensed in a sub-header called "Socially and Environmentally Responsible Business Program".
Please see at: https://www.wellesley.edu/purchasing/business
The text reads like the following:
Wellesley College is committed to socially and environmentally responsible purchasing by promoting business activity with minority/woman-owned companies, environmentally conscious companies, B Corporations, small to medium-sized companies and local businesses and products whenever it makes sense to do so. This commitment enjoys broad support on campus.
Wellesley College has an institution-wide commitment to sustainability as demonstrated by our Strategic Sustainability Plan, 2016-2026 which was approved by our Board of Trustees in April 2016. The plan has multiple priorities and goals, one of the primary goals is to foster reductions in purchasing and waste generation by encouraging reuse and setting specific goals for the purchase of environmentally preferable products in high volume categories (paper, toner, and computers) preference to purchase recycled content office paper.
Furthermore, we promote the purchase of products with the highest percentage of recycled content available, provided that the products meet acceptable use and performance standards. We encourage the purchase of products which are manufactured with more environmentally-friendly materials or which are produced with minimal impact on the environment.
We encourage the Wellesley Community to purchase materials that are:
Durable, as opposed to single-use or disposable
Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable (green cleaning products)
Highly energy-efficient (ENERGY STAR or EPEAT registered products)
Recyclable or safely disposable
Made from raw materials obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
Manufactured in an environmentally sound manner
The cause of minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance
Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled and/or recyclable materials
Purchase copy paper with at least 30 percent recycled content
When applicable, Wellesley College will include a clause in its RFP specifications that reads: "Wellesley College committed to buying products with recycled content or environmentally sustainable alternatives. Please offer any alternatives that you feel are available for this product and supply all relevant specific information about the product."
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:
Wellesley employs LCCA when purchasing lights, shower heads, and toilets, amongst other things.
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:
Our grounds crew follows an IPM plan which minimizes the use of chemicals to the extent possible. For cleaning products we try to buy the equivalent of a Green Seal certified product. Additionally, our custodians are provided with microfiber cloths to use in cleaning and are trained to maintain daily upkeep that prevents more chemically intensive cleaning processes in the long run. Regarding floor maintenance, we supply our custodians with American Lung Association certified vacuums and have recently purchased a water-efficient floor scrubber.
https://www.wellesley.edu/facilities/policies/sustainable-vendor-and-service-policies
Additional information on handling chemicals can be found: https://www.wellesley.edu/facilities/ehs/safety/waste#2
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:
We follow LEED Gold standards for all construction and renovation projects. That standard drives us to choose LEED Gold building materials where possible and sustainable furnishings.
https://www.wellesley.edu/facilities/policies/sustainable-vendor-and-service-policies
AND
https://www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/building_standards_-_adopted_-_10-30-14_2.pdf
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:
Wellesley has an institution wide preference to purchase EPEAT Gold computers and monitors.
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:
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:
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:
Wellesley College is committed to providing a workplace that includes people of diverse backgrounds and fully utilizes their talents to achieve its mission. Wellesley will strive to ensure that women and minorities are represented at all levels of the contractor workforce, including in supervisory and management positions. For construction projects exceeding $5 million in value, the College has established a goal of 10% participation rate for women and minorities in the workforce.
Wellesley College is also committed to actively developing supplier and contractor diversity for construction projects by supporting Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE). Wellesley College will ensure that MBE and WBE are given the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to provide the College with commodities and services at competitive prices. For construction projects exceeding $5 million in value, the College has established a goal of 15% participation rate (by dollar value) for vendor and contractor firms owned by women and minorities.
(http://www.wellesley.edu/facilities/constructionworkforce)
https://www.wellesley.edu/purchasing/business
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:
When vehicles have reached the end of their lifetime, we replace them with more sustainable options, including electric vehicles. For example, the large mowers used on our golf course were recently replaced with electric versions. Additionally, we have negotiated a new contract for our bus service to Boston which will vary vehicle size based upon ridership throughout the day, reducing emissions.
https://www.wellesley.edu/facilities/policies/sustainable-vendor-and-service-policies
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:
Wellesley College has an institution-wide preference to purchase recycled content office paper. All toilet paper purchased by the college is EPA compliant and contains at least 20% recycled material. Our paper towel rolls are LEED-EB certified and paper towels are not provided in all dorms on campus in an effort to reduce paper towel consumption.
https://www.wellesley.edu/facilities/policies/sustainable-vendor-and-service-policies
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.