Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 88.13
Liaison Tonie Miyamoto
Submission Date Nov. 7, 2022

STARS v2.2

Colorado State University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Stacey Baumgarn
Campus Energy Coordinator
Facilities
"---" 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:
The purpose of the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Procurement Policy (#5-6010-003) is to support campus sustainability at Colorado State University and to provide guidelines, information, and resources in procuring products that will minimize negative impacts on society and the environment to the greatest extent practicable. This policy will guide CSU employees who wish to purchase goods and services for CSU to finding more environmentally sound products, and may require the use of environmentally preferable products in many instances.

Procurement Services incorporates environmentally beneficial specifications in competitive solicitations. Procurement has the ability to conduct competitive procurement which includes environmental requirements and Colorado State University Policy #5-6010-003 allows a five percent preference for the purchase of environmentally preferable products. In some cases, the preference may exceed five percent if a cost of ownership life cycle analysis establishes that long term savings will result as well.

http://policylibrary.colostate.edu/policy.aspx?id=513

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 as a matter of policy and standard practice when evaluating all energy- and water-using products, systems and building components

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
Colorado State University applies LCCA through our engineering and capital construction group, and design teams when designing campus projects. Criteria and guidance for LCCA practices are outlined by the Colorado Office of the State Architect in the Life Cycle Cost Policy and the High Performance Certification Program for New Construction and Substantial Renovations.

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:
The CSU Environmentally Responsible Procurement Policy (ESRP) provides guidance directly related to several of these categories with the intent to minimize environmental impacts of all purchased goods. Examples of products for which ESRP standards should be used includes cleaning products, landscaping, and pest management among others.

CSU Housing and Dining Services and Facilities Management have adopted practices that meet the requirements of LEED v4 O+M EQ Prerequisite, Green Cleaning Policy. This highlights procurement standards for green cleaning products and materials, and prefers products that are, for example, Green Seal, ECOLOGO, and EPA Safer Choice.

Grounds has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy to effectively manage pests, such as animals, insects, and weeds – in alignment with and supportive of CSU’s Bee Campus USA / Pollinator Friendly status.

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:
The CSU Environmentally Responsible Procurement Policy (ESRP) provides guidance directly related to several of these categories with the intent to minimize environmental impacts of all purchased goods. Examples of products for which ESRP standards should be used includes office supplies, copy paper products, and printing among others. For example, all multi-use office paper shall contain 30% post-consumer waste content.

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:
The CSU Environmentally Responsible Procurement Policy (ESRP) provides guidance directly related to several of these categories with the intent to minimize environmental impacts of all purchased goods. Examples of products for which ESRP standards should be used includes furniture and building construction among others.

CSU Facilities Management Construction Standards, specifically Part III – Technical Standards includes many specific sustainability criteria. One example, Division 09 – Finishes, Section 09 68 00 – Carpeting, includes specific criteria “Adhesives shall have no calculated VOCs, be non–flammable, and meet the criteria of the CRI Green Label Plus Certification Program.”

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 CSU Environmentally Responsible Procurement Policy (ESRP) provides guidance directly related to several of these categories with the intent to minimize environmental impacts of all purchased goods. Examples of products for which ESRP standards should be used includes computers, printing, and copiers among others.

The CSU ESRP states:

The University will work towards increasing the procurement of electronics with certain environmental attributes (e.g. reduced or no toxic constituents, recycled-content, designed for recycling, reduced materials use, energy efficient, extended product life/upgradeable, remanufactured, etc.). The Purchasing Manual will be updated from time to time to provide references to current, meaningful standards and guidelines for certain product categories (for example, ENERGY STAR® rating, Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool [EPEAT] score).

Suppliers will be required to deliver the items to the University with energy efficiency and conservation features enabled (e.g. sleep mode, duplex printing, etc.).

Refurbishing services may be used in place of new purchases of computer upgrades or electronic equipment.

Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
---

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:
---

Professional service providers

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

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
The CSU Environmentally Responsible Procurement Policy (ESRP) provides guidance directly related to several of these categories with the intent to minimize environmental impacts of purchased services. Examples of contracted services subject for which ESRP standards may be used includes vending and concessions, campus mailing list purchases, and food service supplies among others.

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:
CSU Air Travel Offset Program: Air Travel is the third largest component of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at CSU (behind electricity and natural gas). Air travel emissions must be reduced and offset to make progress towards our goal of climate neutrality by 2040. Starting February 1, 2022 an air travel offset program was launched and will support a CSU Emissions Reduction Fund that will be used for direct emission reduction projects at the University.

Delivery Services: For several years now, CSU has limited office supply delivery to 2-days/week from suppliers. This limitation has reduced vehicle trips, miles, and emissions from box truck deliveries and makes campus safer for pedestrians and bicycles.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Colorado Office of the State Architect: https://osa.colorado.gov/

OFFICE OF THE STATE ARCHITECT | ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM | POLICIES AND PROCEDURES | LIFE CYCLE COST POLICY: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B94R1zdbWHACYlhTSW9aa1lMTWc/view?resourcekey=0-24WCwA2uTRfzwYdoNtQN6Q

OFFICE OF THE STATE ARCHITECT | STATE BUILDINGS PROGRAMS | POLICIES AND PROCEDURES | HIGH PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATIONS: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tVPbwYf2taXYiRcWGznruUunCRSTIYmL/view

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.