University of San Diego
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Purchases on behalf of the university must consider the environment as well as economic and social responsibility. Sustainable purchasing allows the university to procure goods and services in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis, generating benefits not only for the university but also for the society and the economy, while reducing impacts to the environment. Purchases must meet the minimum green requirements and provided by an entity holding one of the university's recognized certification to be classified as sustainable. More information at: https://www.sandiego.edu/procurement/resources/usd-sustainable-procurement-guidelines.pdf

Cleaning Supplies must have one of the following certification or standards with a minimum of 50% of purchases certified by one or more of the recognized certifications. Green Seal, UL Ecologo, EPA Safer Choice, and FSC for janitorial paper products.

Copy paper and other paper office supplies must have a minimum of 30% PCRC or agricultural residue content and one of the following recognized certification or standards: FSC Recycled, PCRC, PCF, Green Seal, Agricultural residue content. Non-paper items must meet a minimum of 20% recycled content for writing utensils such as dry erase markers and be non-antimicrobial.

Meet at least one of the recognized standards for furniture and/or textile - GREENGUARD Gold, SCS Indoor Advantage Gold, C2C.

Electronics - Energy Star or EPEAT standards. Toner - High Yield or re-manufactured recommended. Purchases must meet one of the recognized standards.

Sustainable purchasing practices are followed for all products - food, packaging, merchandise and more. We carefully select vendors that have strong sustainability standards and practices. We require consolidated food and merchandise deliveries from our vendors, thus cutting down on natural resources and our carbon footprint while saving on costs. We utilize a menu management software (CBord) that allows us to purchase strict minimums of products as needed. This also allows us to buy “just in time” which reduces waste and our carbon footprint. We work closely with our prime food vendor, Sysco, to continue to provide an increasing number of sustainably sourced foods.

Organic and natural food and merchandise are available in all locations via a partnership with United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI Sustainability Reports

Fresh Point is our produce provider. The produce procurement priorities we have established are: #1 to be within the state of California, #2 within a 250 mile radius of USD, and #3 within the southwest US region. Menus also utilize ingredients from the on-campus community garden.

80% of our baked goods are made within 15 miles of USD.

All hamburger is 100% certified organic Australian Beef.

Straws are available only on-request and are made of paper instead of plastic. Paper plates are made from 100% reclaimed fiber, unbleached and compostable. The vast majority of disposable packaging is greenware (made of recycled content and/or biodegradable). Clear cups for cold beverages are made of polylactic acid from corn. Cups for hot beverages are made from renewable fiber with polylactic acid lining. Coffee sleeves and napkins are made of 100% recycled fibers. Wood stir sticks are compostable. Disposable flatware (EarthChoice PSM Cutlery) is a blend of materials, the majority of which is starch. 50% of the base material comes from corn. It does not come from corn originally intended for human consumption and is not genetically modified.

The University has contracted with CLC to issue licenses on its behalf. The CLC has strict Corporate Responsibility guidelines that vendors must follow in order to manufacture and produce products that contain the university logo.

As part of the Economic and Socially Responsible (EaSR) Spend category within the Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines, there is a stated preference for small businesses; minority-owned businesses; women-owned businesses; and/or veteran-owned businesses.