Purchasing

Purchasing Impacts and Trends

See more about purchasing impacts and efforts at Pomona

Main issues

Reduced consumption
Improved impacts of consumption
Better purchasing-related data and information
Increased awareness of issue

Note: construction and food purchases are covered in separate chapters.

Objectives for 2020

90% white copy paper purchased 100% post-consumer recycled, Processed Chlorine Free, Forest Stewardship Council-certified
90% colored paper, cardstock, and alternative sizes (excluding posters) purchased at least 30% post-consumer recycled
College letterhead 100% post-consumer recycled, Processed Chlorine Free, Forest Stewardship Council-certified
30% of College offices/departments certified through Green Office Program

Relevant policies/statements for adoption

Environmental Purchasing Policy

Pomona College is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. When making purchasing decisions, this means considering alternative practices, items, and services that reduce environmental impact in production, transport, use, and disposal. All college personnel who make purchasing decisions are expected to support and follow this policy to the extent that these recommendations are practical and/or economically feasible.

Scope: All consumable products, furniture, fixtures and equipment are covered by this policy, including but not limited to: office supplies (e.g. paper products, writing utensils, fasteners, desk accessories, etc.), printing products (e.g. toner and ink), computing equipment, cleaning products, appliances, food, lighting, fixtures and furniture, and everyday cleaning supplies.

Goals: The goals of this policy include the following environmental outcomes:

Reduced resource impact from analysis of cradle-to-cradle supply, purchasing, use, and disposal process
Consideration of economic, social, environmental, and ethical aspects of all products and services
Reduced waste in the production and use of products, measured by reduced mass sent to landfills
Proper treatment and/or recycling of waste content created during the production or lifetime of products
Increased use of natural products, eventual elimination of products with toxic, unsustainable, or highly wasteful content

Objectives: Identify and select environmentally-preferred products through consideration of the following:

Production

Reduced resource use during manufacturing and use

Location of production (distance traveled by product materials and final product)

Social and environmental track record of producer

Materials

Materials sourced in an environmentally-conscious way, including compliance with various certifications and labels (e.g. Fair Trade Certified, USDA Organic, Forest Stewardship Council)

Recycled content in product and packaging materials

Efficiency

Efficiency and conservation, including compliance with EnergyStar and/or EPEAT standards (where applicable)

Waste/Disposal

Minimal packaging

Waste minimization through durability

Minimization of hazardous and toxic wastes

Ability to be recycled or disposed of safely

Ability to return the product for refurbishing/reclamation at the end of its life-cycle

Product life-cycle

Product lifetime: how long the product lasts

Maintenance: how often the product needs to be maintained or repaired during its lifetime

Initial/Startup costs: the money needed upfront to purchase the product

Operation costs: the money required to keep the product running

Payback time: how long until the efficiency and reduced resource use savings pays for the product

Existing Standards:

Copy paper of at least 30% post-consumer recycled content, with the goal of increasing as feasible
EnergyStar certified appliances and electronic equipment whenever applicable and feasible. This standard also applies to vendor appliances and equipment, including vending machines, computing equipment, and kitchen equipment.

In all purchasing decisions, considerations of reuse or elimination of need should be considered before deciding to acquire new items; however, increased efficiency should also be valued when deciding whether to replace items that use resources (e.g. energy, water) or that have some other ongoing environmental impact.

Bidding requirements or recommendations: The College strives to incorporate the above considerations in all purchasing decisions. In following these purchasing procedures, the College is committed to leading by example and to encouraging current suppliers to provide products and services with a reduced environmental impact. To that end, College purchasers should include a clause in bidding specifications that reads:

Pomona College is committed to purchasing environmentally-preferred products with increased recycled content, reduced packaging, reduced transport distance, and other attributes that reduce the products' environmental impact. Please supply information about the related environmentally-preferred qualities of specified items, when available, and suggestions about alternative items that you feel may help us meet our sustainable purchasing goals, along with relevant environmentally-related information.

Procedures, Strategies and Responsible Parties: It is the responsibility of individual purchasers to incorporate these considerations into their purchasing decisions. The Sustainability Integration Office is available for technical advice and in identifying potential alternatives and opportunities for improvement. The following qualities should be considered desirable in making purchasing decisions:

Biodegradable/Compostable
Carcinogen-free
Chlorofluorocarbon(CFC)-free
Durable
Energy-efficient / water-efficient
Heavy metal free (e.g. no mercury, no lead)
Low volatile organic compound (VOC) content
Made from rapidly renewable materials
Recyclable
Recycled content
Refurbished
Reusable

The President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability and the Sustainability Integration Office will regularly review these purchasing procedures to identify new purchasing categories and opportunities to target in improving green purchasing initiatives. The Sustainability Integration Office will also maintain electronic and other communication tools to assist offices with purchasing decisions, such as a Purchasing Guide and other relevant materials.

Evaluation: The President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability will work with relevant offices (e.g. Treasurer's Office, Business Office) to develop tracking mechanisms for evaluating progress. Progress will be based on percentage of products that meet environmental goals as compared to the total volume of applicable purchases, based on cost. These offices will develop a method for evaluating and tracking purchases and assign responsibilities based on that method.

Recommended potential actions

How will we reach these goals? See this document [pdf] for a list of potential actions the College might take and a list of comparable goals at other institutions.