Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.20
Liaison Anne Duncan
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Wartburg College
OP-17: Guidelines for Business Partners

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Anne Duncan
Environmental Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

How many of the institution’s business partners are covered by policies, guidelines and/or agreements that require adherence to minimum environmental standards?:
All
+ Date Revised: April 14, 2015

How many of the institution’s business partners are covered by policies, guidelines and/or agreements that require adherence to minimum standards governing employee wages, benefits, working conditions and rights?:
All
+ Date Revised: April 14, 2015

A copy of the policies, guidelines, and/or agreements with the institution's business partners (or a representative sample):
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The policies, guidelines, and/or agreements with the institution's business partners (or a representative sample):

Wartburg College has chosen to include the definition and requirements of a Vendor Code of Conduct within the Wartburg College Sustainability Plan. The plan states:
Wartburg College is committed to sustainable purchasing practices. Sustainability requirements shall be included or considered in all College requests for proposals (RFP). RFPs should include a request to describe in detail how the company implements these items and it will be taken into consideration during the evaluation and decision-making process. Departments will also take these items into consideration for other purchasing decisions. These requirements may include criteria for:
a. Energy efficiency (such as Energy Star designations)
b. Energy conservation
c. Waste reduction
d. Packaging reduction
e. Trade-ins, retrievals, refurbishment of used products
f. Use of recycled and recyclable materials (products, packaging, shipping materials)
g. Responsible shipping and transportation usage
h. Reduced water usage
i. Reduced paper usage (including e-procurement)
j. Waste and water treatment process

In relation to the minimum standards governing employee wages, benefits, working conditions and rights, Wartburg College follows the guidelines, as established by federal law. Violation of these guidelines could lead to loss of partnership.

+ Date Revised: April 14, 2015

A brief description of programs and strategies institution has implemented to ensure that the guidelines are followed, including a brief description of instances when the guidelines have changed purchasing behavior, if applicable:

Our purchasing is very centralized within the maintenance, dining, and IT areas. When developing the Vendor Code of Conduct, we worked closely with the area leaders to identify criteria which should be included. The code was actually written by our Director of Dining and Director of Maintenance. While writing it, they committed to follow it as well.
The plan was written in 2011 and revised in January 2013. Being a relatively new plan, we have not had much opportunity to see impacts. The Dining Director is diligent about addressing waste with our contractors.


The website URL where information about the institution’s guidelines for its business partners is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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