| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.09 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Drake |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
Swarthmore College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.25 / 3.00 |
Elizabeth
Drake Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies
Yes
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
---
The policies, guidelines or directives:
The College has a published vision statement and guiding principles for sustainable purchasing:
Swarthmore College purchases with environmental and social consciousness, as well as fiscal responsibility. We are committed to being leaders in sustainable purchasing and using best practices in order to reduce consumption and waste production, operate at maximum efficiency, and to have a positive impact on our environment, economy, and society.
Guiding Principles
1. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are committed to improving our environmental performance through reducing waste, conserving energy, and recycling and disposing of our products responsibly.
2. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are committed to reducing unnecessary cost and expenses by appropriately limiting consumption and waste, promoting energy efficiency, and actively seeking the most financially viable option.
3. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We will uphold consideration of the human impacts that are a result of the manufacturing and disposal of our products, and include these considerations in their purchasing decisions.
Website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/purchasing-office/sustainable-purchasing
Swarthmore College purchases with environmental and social consciousness, as well as fiscal responsibility. We are committed to being leaders in sustainable purchasing and using best practices in order to reduce consumption and waste production, operate at maximum efficiency, and to have a positive impact on our environment, economy, and society.
Guiding Principles
1. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are committed to improving our environmental performance through reducing waste, conserving energy, and recycling and disposing of our products responsibly.
2. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
We are committed to reducing unnecessary cost and expenses by appropriately limiting consumption and waste, promoting energy efficiency, and actively seeking the most financially viable option.
3. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We will uphold consideration of the human impacts that are a result of the manufacturing and disposal of our products, and include these considerations in their purchasing decisions.
Website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/purchasing-office/sustainable-purchasing
Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Yes
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:
Swarthmore College requires the use of an LCCA calculator, including a shadow price on carbon, for all major capital projects. Language, shown below, is included in RFPs that requires contractors to use this specific tool:
Life cycle cost analysis on possible pathways will include:
- Net present value calculations
- Clear documentation of assumptions
- The shadow price on projected carbon emissions, currently valued at $100/MTCDE.
- Sensitivity analysis to changing costs and conditions
- Quantification of soft costs and risks where possible, including risks of technology failures, system failures, and fuel availability.
- Documentation of non-quantifiable soft costs and risks.
The tool can be downloaded on our website at: https://www.swarthmore.edu/sustainability/swarthmores-carbon-charge-program
Life cycle cost analysis on possible pathways will include:
- Net present value calculations
- Clear documentation of assumptions
- The shadow price on projected carbon emissions, currently valued at $100/MTCDE.
- Sensitivity analysis to changing costs and conditions
- Quantification of soft costs and risks where possible, including risks of technology failures, system failures, and fuel availability.
- Documentation of non-quantifiable soft costs and risks.
The tool can be downloaded on our website at: https://www.swarthmore.edu/sustainability/swarthmores-carbon-charge-program
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
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Swarthmore's Environmental Services department has committed to using Green Seal certified products and metered dispensing systems to minimize product waste. https://www.swarthmore.edu/environmental-services
Consumable office products
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
The College's Purchasing Office website (https://www.swarthmore.edu/purchasing-office/sustainable-purchasing) provides guidelines for buying paper with recycled content, and provides information on buying and recycling toner cartridges.
Furniture and furnishings
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
In the Furnishings section (Section 12) of the College's published "Design Standards Guidelines", the following sustainability criteria are considered:
1. Prefer Level Certified furnishings as they have been rated against ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard that considers materials, energy, human and ecosystem health
2. Prefer products that have 3rd party sustainability certifications, such as Green Guard Certification, Environmental Product Declaration, or Health Product Declaration
3. Prefer materials and products that are manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the campus
4. Prefer products that contain recycled content or are salvaged materials
5. All new wood products should be sourced from FSC-Certified wood
1. Prefer Level Certified furnishings as they have been rated against ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard that considers materials, energy, human and ecosystem health
2. Prefer products that have 3rd party sustainability certifications, such as Green Guard Certification, Environmental Product Declaration, or Health Product Declaration
3. Prefer materials and products that are manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the campus
4. Prefer products that contain recycled content or are salvaged materials
5. All new wood products should be sourced from FSC-Certified wood
Information Technology (IT) and equipment
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
The College has a published Sustainable Printer Policy, which provides guidelines for purchasing printers and associated supplies. The policy is available at: https://www.swarthmore.edu/purchasing-office/sustainable-purchasing
Food service providers
Yes
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
In order to become an approved vendor under the College's catering policy, catering vendors are evaluated based on their alignment with the College's sustainability goals, which includes their ability to provide recyclable and compostable products and source local ingredients.
https://www.swarthmore.edu/swarthmore-dining/catering-policy
https://www.swarthmore.edu/swarthmore-dining/catering-policy
Garments and linens
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
---
Professional service providers
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
---
Transportation and fuels
No
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
---
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
This data was assembled by Christopher Kane, Strategic Sourcing Manager. Email: ckane1@swarthmore.edu.
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.