Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.28
Liaison Katie Maynard
Submission Date Nov. 8, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Jewel Snavely
Campus Sustainability Coordinator, TGIF Grants Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:

The UC Policy & Guidelines on Sustainable Practices establishes environmentally preferable procurement and use practices. UCSB is committed to implementing sustainable procurement and use practices that meet or exceed UC’s goals, working within budgetary, regulatory and programmatic constraints. In 2012 UCSB adopted its own Sustainable Procurement and use practices - http://www.policy.ucsb.edu/policies/policy-docs/sustainable-procurement.pdf

The University of California Terms and Conditions of Purchase also establishes policies for sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide. https://stars.aashe.org/media/secure/256/6/509/2901/uc-terms-and-conditions-of-purchase%20%202-23-2016.pdf
ARTICLE 22 – ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCTS
Supplier will use environmentally preferable products and services (i.e., products and services with a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment), to the maximum possible extent consistent with the Agreement. Information on environmentally preferable products and services is available at: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/.


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?:
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:
---

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services (e.g. building and facilities maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, landscaping and grounds maintenance)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:

Yes, the university has Published measures to minimize the use of chemicals and a stated preference for green cleaning services and third party certified products.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:

As stated in the Universities Sustainable Procurement and Use Practices, "furniture purchases should meet the sustainable furniture criteria below. UC strategic sourcing vendors should be used when they are most cost effective. If a department is unable to find furniture which meets the criteria, the department is to work with Purchasing to locate viable options."
Sustainable Furniture Criteria
1. Meet ergonomic standards
2. Contain a high recycled content
3. Features energy efficient lighting
4. Has low or no-VOC adhesives or finishes
5. Are made from renewable resources in a socially responsible manner
6. Travels the least distance to campus, thereby decreasing the environmental impact due to transport
B. Contract awards to vendors are contingent upon vendors meeting department specifications, competitive pricing, and providing a diverse selection of sustainable options. In addition to price points, weight will be given to each sustainable furniture criteria (above) that is met.
C. Furniture no longer required by a department shall be evaluated to determine whether it has any further value to the University or can be disposed of as excess property. If deemed as excess property, it shall be disposed of in accordance with the disposition methods and procedures outlined in UC Business and Finance Bulletin Bus-38, Disposition of Excess Property and Transfer of University-Owned Property. Disposition methods include trade-in, sales, recycling, donations, and take-away programs.
D. Modular furniture systems are not required to have built in lighting; however, systems that contain lighting/task lights must have energy efficient lighting. In some cases, independent energy efficient task lights may be more ergonomic.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) products and services (e.g. computers, imaging equipment, mobile phones, data centers and cloud services)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:

As stated in the UCSB’s Sustainable Procurement and Use Practices, “Purchases of supplies and equipment that require energy use should be ENERGY STAR© rate products when they are available and meet the researchers’/service units’ required performance standards. For high-value purchases, weight will be given for energy efficiency, quantity of recycled content, proximity of manufacture to UCSB, low or no VOC content, manufacture waste stream data, and price points to make final selections.”
http://www.policy.ucsb.edu/policies/policy-docs/sustainable-procurement.pdf


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:

Below is a list of the published sustainable criteria for food services from the UC

1. Campus and Medical Center Foodservice Operations
Campuses and Medical Centers shall develop sustainability goals and initiatives in each of the four categories of sustainable foodservice practices listed below.
1. Food Procurement:
Each campus and Medical Center foodservice operation shall strive to procure 20% sustainable food products by the year 2020, while maintaining accessibility and affordability for all students and Medical Center foodservice patrons.
b. Education
Each campus and Medical Center shall provide patrons with access to educational materials that will help support their food choices.
c. Engagement with External Stakeholders
Campus and Medical Center departments, organizations, groups, and individuals shall engage in activities with their surrounding communities that support common goals regarding sustainable food systems.
d. Sustainable Operations
Campus and Medical Center foodservice operations shall strive to earn third party
“green business” certifications for sustainable dining operations.
2. Retail Foodservice Operations:
a. Retail foodservice tenants will strive to meet the above policies
Given the constraints faced by nationally-branded franchises that must University of purchase food through corporate contracts, location departments managing retail foodservice tenants will have the option of meeting III.H.1.a. (procuring 20% of all sustainable food products by the year 2020) by aggregating the purchases of all retail entities under the jurisdiction of a single operational unit on location.
b. Locations will include Section H of this Policy in lease language as new leases and contracts are negotiated or existing leases are renewed. However, locations will also work with tenants to advance sustainable foodservice practices as much as possible within the timeframe of current leases.


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

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:

The University of California code of conduct stipulates that any article of clothing bearing the UC name be made in a factory that treats its workers as people, not as slaves, and the recent passing of the Designated Suppliers Act stipulates that 25% of licensed apparel must be paid a living wage – a wage that is higher than the minimum wage in all countries. We at USAS UCSB are committed to helping UCSB and the greater UC system to comply with these measures.
UC Code of Conduct for Trademark Licensees http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/3000130/CodeTrademarkLicensees


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:

UCSB has a stated preference for disadvantaged or community-based service providers.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels (e.g. travel, vehicles, delivery services, long haul transport, generator fuels, steam plants)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:

UCSB’s Sustainable Procurement and Use Practices sets the following criteria for Alternative Fuel and Ultra-Efficient Vehicles:
• 75% of the light-duty university purchases should be alternative fuel and/or ultra-efficient vehicles (35.5 MPG to match Corporate Average Fuel Economy CAFE standards) by 2016.
• Departments planning to purchase or lease vehicles are to consider and balance need, vehicle duty, fuel type, availability, the CO2 impact of the vehicle and the alternative fuel and/or ultra-efficient standards, and cost. The vehicle selected for purchase or lease should have the lowest CO2 impact (preferably all electric), while meeting performance and budgetary constraints.
• UCSB will routinely assess the need for electric vehicle charging stations on campus and develop strategic plans for their location, including incorporating them into new parking lot construction projects or major parking lot renovations as justified.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:

Paper
A. Virgin paper should not be purchased for routine office tasks.
B. At minimum, 30% post consumer waste and recycled content paper should be used for routine office tasks.
C. Faculty are strongly encouraged to require class-work that is submitted to be printed on both sides, where the nature of the work does not demand single sided submittals.

PRINTERS AND COPIERS
A. All printers and copiers purchased for routine office tasks should include duplex capability. The duplex feature should be enabled when installed and remain enabled for as long as it remains at UCSB.
B. The Purchasing Department and UC Strategic Sourcing will identify a suite of ENERGY STAR© product options that will print duplex for both printers and copiers and that will work efficiently and hold their warranties in place while utilizing 50% and 100% post consumer waste recycled content paper


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating products and services in other commodity categories that the institution has determined to have significant sustainability impacts?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
---

The website URL where information about the programs 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.