Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.06
Liaison Allie Schwartz
Submission Date April 14, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Columbia University
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.69 / 1.00 Hugh Horowitz
Executive Director
Purchasing
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an institution-wide stated preference to purchase third party certified cleaning and janitorial products?:
Yes

A copy of the green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:
The green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:

Sustainability Directive:

Storeroom Solutions is committed to supporting environmental initiatives that reduces impact on the environment. To this end, all purchasing personnel are directed to:

1. Identify and present to environmentally friendly materials which provide equivalent service and performance
2. Develop supply base that embraces “green” not only in their products but also in their operation and culture
3. Provide quarterly reporting on sustainability initiatives including actual dollars spend


A brief description of steps the institution has taken to ensure that the purchasing policy, directives, or guidelines are followed:

Columbia managers, in partnership with Storeroom Solutions review their custodial purchasing program on a quarterly basis. Green initiatives are discussed and recommendations are made based on current initiatives for sustainability.

Process for purchasing these materials summarized as follows:
- Request is made for material. Is material a chemical or cleaning product?
- Forward all MSDS to safety and custodial manager for approval
- Verify green seal certification and fill requisition


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products)?:
Yes

Expenditures on Green Seal and/or UL Environment (EcoLogo) certified cleaning and janitorial products:
818,994 US/Canadian $

Total expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products:
1,385,686 US/Canadian $

Has the institution's main cleaning or housekeeping department(s) and/or contractor(s) adopted a Green Seal or ISSA certified low-impact, ecological (“green”) cleaning program?:
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A brief description of the institution’s low-impact, ecological cleaning program:
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A copy of the sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
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The sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s green cleaning initiatives is available:
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.