Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 71.21
Liaison Lisa Noriega
Submission Date June 29, 2022

STARS v2.2

Yale University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Lindsay Crum
Chief Manager for Sustainability Operations & Strategic Data
Yale Office of Sustainability
"---" 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:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
https://your.yale.edu/policies-procedures/policies/3201-general-purchasing#3201.1

Please note specifically:
Diversity Suppliers
Every effort must be made to utilize diversity suppliers. These are suppliers who can certify they meet the standards for small, disadvantaged, minority, and/or women-owned suppliers set by the federal Small Business Administration.

Sustainable Procurement
Please refer to the Yale Sustainability website for the latest guidance on the University’s efforts to monitor and reduce the University’s environmental impact. This site identifies products with reduced environmental impacts. Please review the guidance provided before making purchasing decisions and supplier selections and consider the Sustainable Procurement Standards guidelines for buying sustainable products or services.

Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Yes

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
Institution employs LCCA less comprehensively, e.g. for certain types of systems or projects and not others

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
The Yale University Design Standards mandates that a LCCA is used for "all major sustainable design alternatives that have quantifiable economic impact over time."

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Yale's Green Cleaning Standards are intended to reduce the exposure of faculty, staff, students, and visitors to chemical, biological, and particulate matter that may be harmful to human health, and the built and natural environments. The overall cleaning standards are based on LEED standards.
https://facilities.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Staff%20Tools/Policies/Yale%20University%20Green%20Cleaning%20Standards_2017.pdf

Consumable office products

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
Toner cartridges: CPG (post-consumer content), remanufactured; paper: EcoLogo certified, Green Seal certified and/or EPA Compliant; lamps: Energy Star

Furniture and furnishings

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
Yale has Sustainable Design Guidelines, and all new buildings must meet a minimum of LEED Gold requirements. In addition, the following specifications must be considered when procuring furniture: BIFMA Level certification, Cradle to Cradle certified, Indoor Advantage certification, and PVC Free.
https://facilities.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Design%20Standards/Updated%20Design%20Standards/01352%20Sustainable%20Design%20Requirements/01352%20Sustainable%20Design%20Requirements_w%20matrix.pdf

Information Technology (IT) and equipment

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
The following specifications must be considered when purchasing computer equipment: EPEAT Certified (verification level "Gold”) and Energy Star certified.
https://sustainability.yale.edu/resources/sustainable-procurement-standards-guide

Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
We do not have franchises or concessions. Our vending program requires that all vending equipment be energy star and has vending misers that power down when not in active mode installed. 50% healthy options that meet FitPick criteria are required.

Convenience stores: Durfee’s offers a product mix selected especially for on-the-go Yale students and visitors. Its shelves are loaded with fresh and prepared food, snacks, bottled drinks, groceries and personal care items. Cold-pressed juices and specialty beverages are also offered. For those seeking a quick snack or meal, there are a variety of healthier-for-you options as well as traditional fast food items like hot wings, chicken strips, pizza, nachos, and fries. The store also sells sandwiches and sushi that are made fresh daily. Paper sacks and reusable bags are offered , vendor coolers are also required to be energy star rated with vending misers.

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:
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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:
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Transportation and fuels

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
University vehicles must meet the following requirements: electric for light-duty campus-only vehicles, and zero or ultra low emissions.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.