University of Notre Dame
IN-13: Spend Analysis

During fiscal year 2016-17, an intern in the Office of Sustainability completed an extensive review of the University's purchasing policies and trends, bench-marking against institutions of a similar size and level of notoriety, and provided specific recommendations across commodity categories as to how to reduce consumption and improve green spend. As noted in the Procurement section, a definition of green spend has been adopted by the University. Within the Office of Procurement, there are four buying categories: 1) printing and paper products; 2) information technology and AV equipment; 3) scientific and medical equipment; and 4) facilities, landscape, maintenance, furniture, athletics, and food services. Each of these categories is directed by a procurement specialist, who oversees the relationship between A liaison from the Office of Sustainability has completed a comprehensive review of each of the buying categories with each respective procurement specialist. Current green spend data was disseminated, along with information regarding improvements made especially in the last fiscal year. Some highlights include: a 33% waste reduction in custodial products based on simple substitutions of fold towels to roll towels and the widespread introduction of coreless toilet paper; the complete conversion of incandescent lighting to compact fluorescents, resulting in a 70% reduction in energy usage; widespread adoption of 30% recycled paper at a reduced cost in comparison to virgin paper; and an award from a supplier for being their customer with the highest amount of Green Spend in the category of Private institutions. In addition, plans were put in place to further improve the university's sustainable purchasing practices. A sustainability clause was drafted, and will be placed in every RFP initiated by Notre Dame. There are plans to expand a rubber glove recycling program which will divert the majority of gloves used in labs from landfills. A representative from Grainger, a major supplier to the university, has identified green alternatives to many commonly purchased items in their catalog, and the process of integrating those suggestions into Notre Dame's procurement system has been initiated. Messaging and communication are being designed by offices of Sustainability and Procurement to decrease printer paper use and increase the already widespread use of duplex printing and recycled paper. Continued collaboration between the two offices will doubtless ensure that aforementioned improvements are carried out, and that the process of improvement is ongoing.