Wells College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Toxins and Pollutants 1. Cleaning solvents should be biodegradable, phosphate-free, and citrus-based when their use will not compromise quality of service. 2. Industrial and institutional cleaning products that meet Green Seal certification standards or other third-party-certified environmental preferability and performance shall be purchased for use by campus building care staff or by janitorial contractors. 3. All surfactants and detergents used shall be readily biodegradable and shall not contain phosphates. 4. Vacuum cleaners that meet the requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute's "Green Label Testing Program - Vacuum Cleaner Criteria" (capable of capturing 96 percent of particulates measuring 0.3 microns and operating with a sound level less than 70dba) shall be used by in-house staff and required for janitorial contractors. 5. Whenever possible, products and equipment should not contain lead or mercury. For products that contain lead or mercury, preference should be given to those products with lower quantities of these metals and to vendors with established lead and mercury recovery programs.

Green Building 1. Sustainable procurement concepts shall be integrated into architectural designs and final construction documents for construction of or significant renovations to all property or facilities owned by the College. All significant renovations of existing buildings undertaken by the College or contracted for shall follow green building practices for design, construction, and operations, where appropriate, as described in the LEED Rating System. 2. When maintaining buildings, products such as paint, carpeting, adhesives, furniture and casework with the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), highest recycled content, and low or no formaldehyde shall be used when practicable. Furnishings shall be GreenGuard certified where practicable, to reduce off-gassing of VOCs, and specification of upholstery and foams with high recycled content shall be favored. 3. All carpet distributors and/or manufacturers of carpet installed at the College shall have an approved carpet recycling plan. 4. The use of chlorofluorocarbon and halon-containing refrigerants, solvents, and other products shall be phased out, and new purchases of heating/ventilating/air conditioning, refrigeration, insulation and fire suppression systems shall not contain them. 5. All construction debris shall be collected and separated for reuse and/or proper recycling.

In March 2016, The Technology Advisory Group drafted and approved the IT Technology Policy, which states (in part): a) All new purchases or leases of technology should meet, at a minimum, all Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) environmental criteria designated as “required” (bronze registration) or higher as contained in the IEEE 1680 Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. Information Technology (IT)shall approve exceptions. b) Additional consideration shall be provided for electronic products that have achieved EPEAT silver or EPEAT Gold registration. The registration criteria and a list of all registered equipment are provided at http://www.epeat.net c) All other electrical products purchased shall meet the US EPA Energy Star certification when available and practicable. When products with Energy Star labels are not available, products that are in the upper 25 percent of energy efficiency as designated by the Federal Energy Management Program should be used.

In our most recent RFP for vending services, we included the following requirements: i. All cold beverage equipment, whether new or reconditioned, shall conform to Energy Star Tier II energy efficiency standards or higher. j. Non-refrigerated food machines, whether new or reconditioned, shall provide maximum energy efficiency. Any interior lighting needed in locations where ambient room lighting is deemed insufficient shall be LED lighting and on timers or occupancy sensors to reduce energy waste. In locations where ambient lighting is sufficient to see products and make selections, interior lighting should be disabled. In addition, under the Product category, the College included this requirement: e. Wells is interested in encouraging healthier beverage and snack choices. Please explain how your firm could/would comply with recommendations of the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) vending machine standards.

Garments and Linens 1. Preference shall be given to high-quality, durable garments composed of fabric using recycled materials (e.g. recycled polyester and/or PET plastic) or bio-based materials (e.g. cotton, hemp, bamboo) that are organically grown, where practicable. 2. Preference shall be given to garments produced by manufacturers adhering to the principles of the Fair Labor Association and/or the Worker Rights Consortium and/or the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. 3. White linens and towels should be bleached without the use of chlorine.

Green Building 1. Sustainable procurement concepts shall be integrated into architectural designs and final construction documents for construction of or significant renovations to all property or facilities owned by the College. All significant renovations of existing buildings undertaken by the College or contracted for shall follow green building practices for design, construction, and operations, where appropriate, as described in the LEED Rating System. 2. When maintaining buildings, products such as paint, carpeting, adhesives, furniture and casework with the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), highest recycled content, and low or no formaldehyde shall be used when practicable. Furnishings shall be GreenGuard certified where practicable, to reduce off-gassing of VOCs, and specification of upholstery and foams with high recycled content shall be favored.

Biobased Products 1. Vehicle fuels made from non-wood, plant-based contents such as vegetable oils are encouraged, to the degree practicable. Vehicles and motorized equipment 1. Departments that purchase vehicles or motorized equipment for campus use shall specify and purchase alternative fuel* or ultra-efficient** vehicles, where practicable to meet the need. If alternative fuel or ultra-efficient vehicles are not available, purchasers shall seek vehicles that meet or exceed “best in class” fuel efficiency standards. 2. Vehicle purchasers will actively seek to ”right size” their fleet, specifying and purchasing the smallest size vehicles appropriate for the purpose. *Alternative fuel vehicles are defined as: hybrid, plug-in hybrid, CNG, Flex-Fuel vehicles (accepting gasoline with up to 85% Ethanol), hydrogen, full function electric vehicles, or bio-diesel (minimum of B20 and up). **Ultra efficient vehicles are defined as achieving 30 MPG or greater and satisfying the Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standard.

Biobased Products 2. Paper, paper products, and construction products made from rapidly-renewable, non-wood, plant-based contents such as agricultural crops and residues are encouraged, where practicable. Wood products, where non-wood alternatives are not practical, shall be additionally certified by either the Sustainable Forestry Institute (SFI) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for sustainable management of forestry resources. 3. Janitorial paper products shall have high recycled content and be third party certified for responsible use of natural resources. Acceptable third party certifications shall include: GreenSeal, EcoLogo, EPA Safer Choice (formerly Design for the Environment), Sustainable Forestry Institute (SFI), or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Recycling 1. Thirty percent post-consumer-waste recycled office paper with a brightness factor of 88 for all applications shall be the minimum standard when the price is comparable, quality of service is not compromised nor the health and safety of employees prejudiced. Office paper products shall be additionally certified by either the Sustainable Forestry Institute (SFI) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for sustainable management of forestry resources.

Water 1. The College shall purchase or contract for only the most water efficient appliances available. This includes, but is not limited to, high performance fixtures like toilets, low-flow faucets and aerators, showerheads, and upgraded irrigation systems. Preference shall be given to fixtures bearing the EPA Water Sense label. Biobased Products 4. When ordering printed media, specifications shall include use of high-recycled content paper and vegetable-based inks, to the degree practicable. The College shall favor printers that adhere to the operational and chain-of-custody standards of Forest Stewardship Council certification. Packaging 1. Packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable is preferred, when suitable uses and programs exist, as is eliminating packaging or using the minimum amount necessary for product protection to the greatest extent practicable. 2. Specifying manufacturers or suppliers to implement “take back” programs for packing shall be encouraged, to the extent practicable. Landscaping 1. All landscape renovations, construction, and maintenance performed by internal staff members or contractors providing landscaping services shall employ sustainable landscape management techniques for design, construction, and maintenance whenever possible. This includes, but is not limited to, integrated pest management, drip irrigation, composting, and use of mulch and compost that give preference to those produced from regionally generated plant debris and/or food waste programs. 2. Landscape structures constructed of recycled content materials are encouraged. The amount of impervious surfaces in the landscape shall be limited, whenever practicable. Permeable substitutes, such as permeable asphalt or pavers, are encouraged for walkways, patios, and driveways. 3. Incorporation of “green infrastructure” practices shall be encouraged, to the degree practicable; these practices may include rain gardens, green roofs, green walls, bioretention (e.g. swales, retention ponds), and tree planting. 4. Plants should be selected to minimize waste by choosing species that are appropriate to the microclimate. Native and drought-tolerant plants that require no or minimal watering once established should be purchased. Designs should favor landscaping that minimizes plant mono-cultures and no- or low-mow lawns. Toxins and Pollutants 6. Pest control shall follow Integrated Pest Management principles to the degree practicable. Pest control shall be managed through prevention - physical and mechanical - and through the purchase of or contracting for application of environmentally friendly products. As a last resort, use or application of the least toxic pest control substance is required, and only by a licensed pesticide applicator.