| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.76 |
| Liaison | Lindsey MacDonald |
| Submission Date | June 6, 2023 |
Western Washington University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.25 / 3.00 |
Ashley
Olson Data Ambassador Sustainability Engagement Institute |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
1. WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE POLICIES GUIDELINES AND DIRECTIVES TO AGENCIES
State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services publishes Environmental Purchasing Preferences, or “EPPs” and a Green Purchasing Guide for State Agencies. (Attached) Washington state agencies are required to:
· Increase purchases of environmentally preferable products.
· Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
· Reduce the purchase and use of equipment, supplies, and other products that contain persistent, bio-accumulative toxic chemicals.
· Reduce energy use.
· Reduce water use.
· Use green building practices.
2. STATE OF WASHINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL PURCHASING PREFERENCES:
Environmental Purchasing Preference: Recycled Content RCW 39.26.255, RCW 43.19A.060; RCW 43.19A.020 and WAC 200-300-085
Environmental Purchasing Preference: Electronic Products RCW 39.26.265(1)
Environmental Purchasing Preference: Nonmercury-Added Products RCW 70.95M.060
Environmental Purchasing Preference: Hydrofluorocarbon Products RCW 39.26.310
Environmental Purchasing Preference: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) RCW 39.26.280
Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool EPEAT Registry: RCW 39.26.265(1); RCW 39.26.0101(1)
Environmental Purchasing Preference: Clean Fuel Vehicles RCW 43.19.648; RCW 43.01.250; ePACT, RCW 82.08.809; 194-28 WAC;
3. WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE POLICIES GUIDELINES AND DIRECTIVES TO AGENCIES
RCW 39.26.160 Amends several statutes so that, in determining the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, (in competitive procurements) an agency may consider best value criteria, including but not limited to whether the bid considers human health and environmental impacts
RCW 39.35d Requires all new state-funded facilities over 5,000 square feet to meet green building criteria. Major office and higher education facility projects are required to achieve LEED Silver certification. New K-12 schools are required to meet the Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol or achieve LEED certification. Establishes the use of Washington State-based resources, building materials, products, industries, manufacturers, and other businesses as a priority in green building projects. Check out our Reducing Toxic Threats webpage for information about other legislation that relates to toxics in products.
RCW 43.19.542 Develops markets for less polluting biodiesel fuels by encouraging state agencies to purchase this fuel.
RCW 43.19A.022 Purchasing Priority – Paper, Printers and Copier
RCW 70.95.725 Conservation program, reduce printing and copy paper by 30% of current use; paper recycling program with goal of recycling 100% of all copy and printing paper in all buildings with 25 employees or more
RCW 70.95M.060 and RCW 43.19.637 BEV Electric Vehicle batteries, transition to Electric or Biofuel vehicles; Requires 30% of new vehicles purchased through state contracts be clean-fuel vehicles, and increase at rate of % per year.
RCW 70.95.010 Requires that all governmental entities in the state should set an example by implementing aggressive waste reduction and recycling programs at their workplaces and by purchasing products that are made from recycled materials and are recyclable.
§ State Senate Bill 5022 requires that disposable service ware is provided only upon customer request
§ State Senate Bill 5323 bans plastic bags at the state level
§ City of Bellingham’s Single-Use Plastics Ordinance reduces plastic in food service and lodging industries
RCW 39.26.010 Supplier Diversity / Improving Contracting Equity
The following sections list specific laws, rules, and executive orders for environmentally preferable purchasing in Washington state. Laws and rules: · RCW 39.26.280 - Requires the Department of Enterprise Services to establish purchasing and procurement policies that provide a preference for products and products in packaging that does not contain polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. It also specifies that no agency may knowingly purchase products or products in packaging containing polychlorinated biphenyls above the practical quantification limit, except when it is not cost-effective or technically feasible to do so. · RCW 39.26.160 - Amends several statutes so that, in determining the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, an agency may consider best value criteria, including but not limited to whether the bid considers human health and environmental impacts. · Chapter 43.19 RCW - Provides a broad legislative basis for state purchases of recycled-content and energy-saving products. It also provides flexibility for the Office of State Procurement to award state contracts based on environmental considerations. It establishes that factors beyond price, including past performance and life cycle costing, are to be used in determining the responsible bidder. · Chapter 43.19A RCW - Directs state agencies to develop strategies to increase recycled product purchases and to provide specific goals for procurement of recycled products. · RCW 43.19A.022 - Requires state agencies to purchase 100-percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper for use in printers and copiers. · RCW 70A.205.620 - Requires state agencies to:
o Develop and implement a paper conservation program to reduce use of printing and copy paper by 30 percent of current use.
o Develop and implement a paper recycling program with the goal of recycling 100 percent of all copy and printing paper in all buildings with 25 employees or more. · RCW 70A.205.005 - Requires that all governmental entities in the state should set an example by implementing aggressive waste reduction and recycling programs at their workplaces and by purchasing products that are made from recycled materials and are recyclable. · RCW 43.19.642 - Develops markets for less polluting biodiesel fuels by encouraging state agencies to purchase this fuel. · RCW 43.19.637 - Require that at least 30 percent of all new vehicles purchased through state contracts be clean-fuel vehicles. It also states that the percentage of clean-fuel vehicles purchased through a state contract shall increase at the rate of five percent each year. · Chapter 39.35D RCW - Requires all new state-funded facilities over 5,000 square feet to meet green building criteria. Major office and higher education facility projects are required to achieve LEED Silver certification. New K-12 schools are required to meet the Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol or achieve LEED certification. Establishes the use of Washington State-based resources, building materials, products, industries, manufacturers, and other businesses as a priority in green building projects. Check out our Reducing Toxic Threats webpage for information about other legislation that relates to toxics in products.
· RCW 43.19A.160 Use of Compost Products
Executive Orders · Executive Order 02-03 Sustainable Practices by State Agencies — Directs state agencies to establish sustainability objectives and expand markets for environmentally preferable products and services. · Executive Order 04-01 Persistent Toxic Chemicals — Directs state agencies to take steps to reduce persistent toxic chemicals in the environment:
o Each state agency shall adopt measures to reduce the use of equipment, supplies and other products that contain persistent toxic chemicals.
o DES shall make products that do not contain persistent toxic chemicals available to state agencies. If such products are not available, preference shall be given to products with the least amount of persistent toxic chemicals. · Executive Order 05-01 Establishing Sustainability and Efficiency Goals for State Operations — Directs state agencies to achieve sustainability goals, many of which have been superseded by legislation. · Executive Order 13-06 Improving the Health and Productivity of State Employees and Access to Healthy Food in State Facilities — Directs state agencies to adopt and begin to implement a food and beverage service policy for state employees. Whenever practical, Washington-grown products shall be purchased and promoted. · Executive Order 18-01 State Efficiency and Environmental Performance — Directs state agencies to comply with guidance on environmentally preferable purchasing. The Department of Enterprise Services and the Department of Ecology will collaborate to provide guidance on reducing toxics and other emissions in purchasing.
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:
Western Washington University completes LCCAs for major capital projects and construction projects to determine the most cost effective options for energy and water consuming systems. This is in accordance with both Executive Order 1303 and HB 1280 which requires the evaluation of energy conservation and cogeneration systems in new or major construction.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
The State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services publishes Environmental Purchasing Preferences, or “EPPs”. University’s Purchasing web site Western Marketplace provides access to State of Washington Master Agreement and Purchasing Cooperative (NASPO) for consumable office products with sustainability criteria, along with a local office supply business.
Toner Recycling Program:
The University’s Copier Support Program recycles used waste toner and toner cartridges through the Central Services department. Washington has a state contract for remanufactured cartridges and Bio-based toner and ink cartridges.
Lighting – T8 fluorescent lamps and LEDs and recycling for lamps and bulbs are both available through Washington state master contracts.
Paper. RCW 49.19A requires agencies purchase 100 percent recycled content white cut sheet bond paper for use in printers and copiers.
See RCW 43.19A, 43.19.022, RCW 70A.205.620; RCW 70A.205.005
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
Procurement prioritizes Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises and locally-owned companies with sustainability in manufacturing process. (Example of Wenaha Group) When arranging delivery, try to organize in group delivery, group projects and trips to save on fuel consumption.
Furniture/Surplus Re-purposing: There is a Surplus program at the State and the University-level. RCW 43.19.1919 Washington State Surplus Operations to transfer items that have a value of more than $500. The University Central Services has a Surplus program to recycle office furniture and furnishings, to efficiently remove surplus equipment from buildings on campus and act as a responsible environmental steward by finding reuse and recycling markets for surplus property. Includes computers, printers, audio/video equipment, office equipment, recording equipment, furniture and furnishings. The University and the State of Washington have an online surplus auction.
Furniture/Surplus Re-purposing:
Children’s safe products RCW 70A.430 and WAC 173-334 prohibit lead, cadmium and phthalates in children’s products as well as flame retardants in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture.
Choosing surplus furniture and office equipment—rather than buying new—can stretch budgets and prevent waste. (see Surplus program above).
DES Purchasing Guide Lists Recommended multi-attribute third-party environmental and health certifications
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association's (BIFMA) Level (2 or higher): Furniture (e.g., office chairs, tables, desks, etc.)
Cradle to Cradle (Silver or Higher) Building materials, carpet and flooring, cleaners, clothing, furniture, hand soap, paint, personal care products, textiles, etc.
Safer Choice Cleaners, deicers, dishwashing and laundry detergents, hand soap, floor maintenance chemicals, furniture and metal polish, etc.
DES Purchasing Guide Lists Recommended single-attribute third-party environmental and health certifications
Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Plus Carpet, carpet adhesives, carpet cushion and rugs
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Janitorial and office paper, lumber and wood products
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Indoor Advantage Gold Low-emitting building materials (e.g., sealants, wall paneling, etc.), flooring, furniture and upholstery
UL GREENGUARD Gold Building materials and furniture
Remanufactured Furniture and toner/ink cartridges
Healthier Hospitals Listed or Greenhealth Approved Flooring, furniture, medical equipment
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
Avoiding hazardous materials in electronics RCW 39.26.265 directs state agencies to purchase sustainable electronic products that meet environmental performance standards to reduce or eliminate hazardous materials.
In addition, Electronics Products Purchasing Preference (POL-DES-265-00) establishes bid preferences authorized in RCW 39.26.265 for agencies purchasing electronic products that meet environmental performance standards relating to the reduction or elimination of hazardous materials. Specifically, all applicable electronics (e.g., servers, computers and displays, imaging equipment, mobile phones and televisions) must be on the EPEAT Registry at the Bronze level or higher or meet another environmental standard that reduces the use of hazardous substances (e.g., TCO or the EU’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive). Electronics on the EPEAT Registry at the Silver or Gold level are eligible for a purchasing preference of at least 5%.
University purchases from WA DES Master Agreements
DELL
STATEWIDE AGREEMENT 05815
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
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 service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
Subject to Washington State policy defined in the Governor’s Executive Order 05-01. This order calls for construction of publicly funded buildings over 25,000 gross square feet to be “built and certified to the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Standard, or certified by the Department of General Administration (GA) to an equivalent standard." Our capital projects professional services for work over $300k includes ensuring that they have the skills and qualifications to design per the sustainability standards set forth in the regulations for our new buildings as noted above. Reference above, there is a contractual requirement for these professional services firms to be able to design sustainably as they related to our compliance with the regulations noted above as well as supporting our ability to achieve above minimum standard with our LEED Gold and ILFI Energy Petal for major renovations and new construction.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
The WWU Sustainability Action Plan has published and adopted guidance for reducing staff travel and prioritizing efficient fleet vehicles and grounds equipment. The university also compiles an annual Greenhouse Gas report that documents all fuel sources including our carbon neutral electricity service. The university completed a study to convert the Steam Plant to be decarbonized. S.A.P. Procurement section Goal 5 includes life cycle considerations for fleet replacements, the Travel section discusses initiatives aimed at reducing commuter travel emissions, airline use and fleet use.
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:
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.