Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 55.44
Liaison Bradley Flamm
Submission Date March 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 3.00 Bradley Flamm
Director of Sustainability
Office of the President
"---" 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:
nvironmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) is the procurement of goods and services that have a lesser or reduced impact on human health and the environment as compared to other goods and services serving the same purpose.
By implementing an Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program, West Chester University can:
• Reduce pollution and conserve resources, including water and energy.
• Improve its environmental footprint on our local community, as well as the global community.
• Reduce costs by optimizing the supply chain, avoiding waste and conserving resources.
• Reduce the amount of toxic substances disposed or consumed.
• Lesson the impact to public health.
The objectives of the Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program are:
1. Educate all West Chester University employees on the Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program, their role in the process, and the opportunities to purchase environmentally preferred goods and services.
2. Increase purchases of environmentally preferred goods and services consistent with the mission of West Chester University while still remaining cost-effective and in compliance with procurement policy.
3. Reduce consumption of energy and natural resources.
4. Increase the use of recycled content products where possible.
5. Create a model program for successfully purchasing environmentally preferable products that encourages other PASSHE universities and the local community to adopt similar goals.
6. Help make the “green choice” the easy choice.
The Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program will strive to promote the purchase of products that reduce the environmental impact by the way the products are made, transported used and disposed of.
Where practical and cost effective, procurement activity will include and/or promote the purchase of products that:
• Are durable, long lasting, reusable and/or refillable.
• Reduce waste, resulting in the purchase of fewer products.
• Request that vendors eliminate or reduce packaging and that all packaging be reusable or recyclable.
• Are energy efficient (Energy Star).
• Are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Are manufactured by carbon negative companies.
• Use less polluting alternatives such as natural gas, bi-based fuels and hybrids.
• Are biodegradable
[See https://www.wcupa.edu/_information/AFA/fbs/proc/grnp/eppBusPrac.aspx]

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:
Concerning Product-Specific sustainability criteria: some sustainability-attentive practices ensure resource- and energy-conserving purchases are standard practice (e.g., all electronics purchased are Energy Star rated), but no publicly available policies are posted to the university's website.

Responses by Bradley Flamm, March 1, 2022

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.